Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-21
WOOD GAs.-CAuTYoS.


DE 1t known that /, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851 tor
apparatus for The destructive distlllation 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 appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot he
used by him or any other person without lntring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me-,
as | expect To prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the OF
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
palentable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, up
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy, Of his claims.
In the National InteYigeneer OF the 18th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. l ask how this statement
COMFORTS with the fact OF my patent OF December,
1851, and how far the threat can intmiatte under
such circumstances! Mr.. Por,er's cla,in is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, md was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, OF Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, gwen be-
W..
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries ahsurdity on IT'S front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent O'hce
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:
UNTKs STATES PATENT OFFIcR,
Aggua 25 1854.
Sir. In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1851, or AT any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them I" The ezclnsiUe right Of MAKING gas from
,ooodn 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. Porter's
claims are believed to be c Mined 10 his appara-
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezcia-
SIRE rigM Of making gas from fc0sd IL would,
however, be unjustihable 10 expect inc TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
g. MAsoS, Commissioner OF Patents
w. p. McCoShELr. ESQ.,
Care Of Prof. G. @. Page, Washington, ID. Q.
Tie United .StGfes Patent Ogoe-T6 Ga PERSONS 10
rAom these presents shall come, greUg:
This is TO certify that the annexed il true copy
from the files Of this Office Of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter OF. the application OF w
ID. Porter for letters patent, IN accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 20 The
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, | Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
fl. s.. this 25th day Of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred aud 6fty-
four, and OF the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nintb. G. Mason.
Conn of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter "a has applioa.
ton for ian improved niH for making ,cooa
gas fi>d Angnst 8, 1854. Letters pateNf issNea
August %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subiectinr the products Of destructive disillaton
therefrom 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 United States Patent Office To oil ysrsons "a
,ohon these presents shall come greefipg:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office Of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and fhy-tour.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereuntC
affixed this twenty fifth day OF August
y N the year of our Lord one Thousand
eight hundred aud nifty -iour, and OF III,
independence Of the United States tn,
seventy-ninih G. MASON.
E1raet from Specification II W.-D. Porter o.
,ohioh letters patent Icers issAed Angpa -, 1854.
CLAm-Whst / claim as my invocation and de
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or still
co insisting Of a metallic or other cylinder B. th
cones l. and ID, diaphrsm plate G, and exit pip
+, substantially as described in the foregoing sps
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
i ings.'
| The truth ofthe above may be ascertained fror
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all hav
| access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
by his attorney CHAS. q. PAGE
rr.. ".