Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-18
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE II known that L, the subscriber

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ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
an apparatus for the destructive distillalion 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
ing my said patent And further, that what is
patented by said Porter rightfuIly belongs 10 me
as ] expect 10 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 10 be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclamed as an
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his claims.
the National h,teigsnesr OF the 25th ,nstau,
Mr. forter announces that he has secured by
Palent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
WOOD, and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
Infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
coomports with The fact of my patent of December
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 contrivance. 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 woodh
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
II such a 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 STATys PATENT OFFICE,
August IS, 1854
SIR. In reply TO your letter Of this date. asking
pof~ hoe na, I'D 10, IN
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the erclnsipe right Of nafing gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. d. Por,er'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 sroin-
sue right Of making gas from, tcosd II would,
however, be unjustifabie 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
9. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
W. P. McCoNAELrr Esq,
Care Of Prof @. @. Page, Washington, d. G
The United States Patent OGcc--To all persons 10
whom these presents shall come, grating:
This is TO certify thai the annexed 10 true copy
from the files OF this Office Of an extract from
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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
L. 81 this 18th day of August, in the year Of
Lord one thousand eigh, hundred and city
four, and ofthe independence Of the United
St0tes
Copy Of disclaimer of W. d. Porter tn has appiica.
fion for "ah improved still for making GOOD
gas,"fled August 5, 1854. Letters patsnf issued
Augusta, 1854.
81 do 40, claim a. my invention and discovery
subjectng the products at destructive distiIaton
thereiyon TO high degree OF heat, substa ntiay
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United STATES Patent O6fce--To all persons to
fchom hsse presents 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. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffly:four.
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
!, :, affixed this tweniy-ffh day OF August
u - in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ifty.four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MAsoN.
Euyaa from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
trhtch kaers pateat ,oers issaed August %, 1854.
CLAIM-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 ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Offce 10 which all have
access.
VIM. r. MCCONNELL.