Washington sentinel., 1855-01-06
M MisfEIlaneGns
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
! DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
! I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
| pleasure, and gas; and that in the Judgment oj
competent persons the invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrlng-
! ing my said patent. And, further, that what ss
pateatsd by said Porter rightfully belongs 70 me,
as | expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, thai the use oil
said Porier's invention involves also 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 disclaimed, 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 instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right 10 making gas f-s,n
infringing ss shpssssas asI how this statement
comports with the fact ofmy patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimdate under
such circumstances Mr. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with q
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 wood"
The statement carries absurdity on It's front, ana
is a libel on the good sense III the Fatent once
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coalkiIn 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 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
/" if any patent. has been granted TO W. .. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 MN
or them ''Me ercfusive right Of making gas from
4oooan 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be C mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this office is not aware tnat
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1aa
size right of making gas from Dosd. II would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me 10 make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, D. y.
The United States Patent Ofce--70 all persons to
sohom these presents shall come, greting:
This Is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office Of an extract from a
paper fled in the matter of the application OF w
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and hfty-four
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
Il. 81 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-nintb. Z. MASON
Copy of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter ia his appiica.
tion for San improved stiu for making acood
gas, "fied Aagast 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
dugua22 1854.
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecing the products of destructive distillation
TO high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of W. P. Mcconnell
TIE United STATES Patent Ofee-To all persons TO
tchons M1sepresents shall come creating.
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of his Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fiity-four
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, !. I, affixed this twenty-Gfth day OF August,
u o. in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fffy-four, and Of the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy y-nnth G. Mason.
Eryract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
phieh letters patent scere issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.--Whst | claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
co nsisting OF a metallic or other cylinder d, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ciGcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
he records OF the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE