Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-23
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

| DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive distation OF
wood, asd the making therefrom Of tar or pitch
| pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention of appar-
! tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without nfring-
| ing my said patent. And, further that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as l expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the Of
said Porters invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
/ Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be-
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclamed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy OF his claims.
In the National I,,teLhgenesr of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
comports with the fact OF my patent Of December,
1851 and how far the threat iniimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and WIS
SO understood by the Patent Office, il appears
from the records of The Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused interfering with a
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, OF Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the "exclnrire right 10 making gas from wood
The siateintlI rarries absurdy on its front, and
is libel on The good sense OF the Patent Oace
II such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kn and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Oice will
show the true state Of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Apgna 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter Of this daie, asking
-. N
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing to him
or them the ercissstrs yfgh Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent.
which letters patent were ISSUED bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porters
Claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that q
patent has been granted heretofore for the ereln-
sipe righ Of making gas from toosd II would,
however, be unJustifabc 10 expect me TO mako
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
l am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of PatentA
'" Care siS Of Prof G 6. s'f Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent Ofoe-To all persons 10
schon these presents shall come Srsfinx:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office OF extract from a
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. b. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty -four.
In testimony whereof L Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused tho seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto afixed
IL s. this 25th day OF August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fhy-
four, and the independence the United
States the seventy ninth. G. MAsos.
Copy Of disclaimer of W. ID. Porter IN his orpiioa.
tion for an improved sfiH for making GOOD
gas, pfied August 5, 1854. Lsfters patsnf isspcd
Angra22, 1854.
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products OF destructive distlation
thereirom to a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w p. Mcconnell"
The UnaeS States Patent OEce-To all PERSONS 10
Dhorn these spresent, shall come greeting
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this Office Of extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof T. Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
r, :, affixed tins twenty.hfh day OF August,
u - in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence of the United States tbs
seventy-ninth. G. MAsoS.
Errraet from Specification Of w. ID. Psre, on
schieh letters patent issned august %, 1854.
CLarM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
co insisting Of a metallic other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw.
ings.n
The truth ofihe above may be ascsrtsin<d fror,
the records OF the Patent Office, TO which an have
access.
WIN. P. MCCONNELL
BY bis attorney CHAS. G. PAGE
sDOOR'S RAILROAD MAP OF THE
UNITED STATES.v--Tkis celebra
ted Map, recently euosized by Lieutt nsnt Msu
ry, in his "Virginia Leuers,p is on sale at
TAYLOR & MAURY'S