Washington sentinel., 1855-03-10
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.
DE 1t known that i, the subscribe

DE 1t known that /, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation oil
wood, and the making therefrom Of lar 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 any other person without infring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me,
as / expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further that The use Of
said Porer's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patenable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
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 InteHigsaeer OF the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right to making gas from
WOOD and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can niimidaie under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon n mo, able perforated diaphragm, and was
understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the record. Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at list refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. 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 10 making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
IL such claim right had been granted, il would
forbid every coa-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 ease:
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. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or AT any other time or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them the ereinsipe- right 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 informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that n
patent has been granted heretofore for the ereif-
sire right Of making gas from tcosd II would,
however, be unJustifable TO expect me 10 make
extended investigation TO answer your re
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents
w. p. McCoSAEIr, Esq,
Care Of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, ID. Q.
TIE United STATES Patent OGoe>-To all persons 10
tchOm these presents shall come, grefing:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office Of extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application Of w.
ID. Porter fer 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 ffty-fonr.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IT,. s. this 25th day OF August. in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and Of the independence OF the United
States the seventy ninth. e. MASON.
Coyy Of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter "a his appiica.
non for "an improved aH for making tcood
gas FLED Angna 5, 1854. Ietfers patent tssned
Ang0a22, 1854.
" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
sublecting the products of destructive distlaton
thereirom 10 a 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 Paint ORce- TO an PERSONS 10,
y tchoDa these presents shall rome grazing:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this Office of an extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Poners patent issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
r, affixed this twcntyGfh day OF August,
u - in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seyentynnth e.. Mason.
E,Iraa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
schich Lstsrt patent ,ccre issued AngWH %, 1854.
CLAiM-What claim as my invention and DC.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the
cones + and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
f. substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth the above may be ascertancd from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access
WIN. r. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CliAS. 9. PAGE.
ssnooR,s RAILROAD NAP or THE