Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-27
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE 1t known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
apparatus for the destructive distiaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention Of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs 10 me,
as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further that the use of
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged TO be
pateniable 10 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 Intelligencer of the 25th lnstan,
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
COMFORTS with the fact Of my patent Of December,
1851 and how far the threat can ntimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent continuance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the Exclusive right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdiiy on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
IL such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
" if any patent has been granted to w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them the erclttsive right of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim 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. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezciu-
size right Of making gas from posd II would,
however, be unJust6able 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your
quest.
| am, respectfully your obedient servant,
G. MASON Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care Of Prof G. g. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons 10
tchom these presents shall come, greting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fity-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
f.. s.. this 25th day Of August, in the year Of
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffty-
four, and ofthe independence Of the United
Stat. he. uir,fb
Copy Of disclaimer of w ID Porter in has appiica.
tion for "an Improved still for making GOOD
gas pied AngHa $ 1854. Letters patent issued
Augusta, 1854.
81 do not claim us my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjectng the products of destructive distation
therefrom TO high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OFee-To all persons TO
.chom hssep,esen shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
Z In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
I, affixed this twenty.fflh day OF August,
in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seveniy-ninth. G. Mason.
Err,ad from Specification of w ID. Porter on
achteh letters patent issued Angnst 90, 1854
CLArM.--What claim as my invention and de.
sire to secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones + and d. daphram plate C. and exit nine
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth of the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.
MADEIRA NUTS, latest growth I cask