Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-19
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

II knOWn tndS OAC ouOSGilOcI Ub--
D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus tor the destructive distillation 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. D. Porter cannot be
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 use OF
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable 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 I,ltcligeneey Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent OF December,
1851, and how far the threat intmidate 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 al first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent conirivance. This claim, a. given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the '.cxciusiye right TO making gas from wood, !,
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense OF the Patent ONCE
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuactory
IN the country. @
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent once VIII
show the true state of the ease: g.t ct3
UNIrKs STATES PATENT OfFIcK,
August IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter Of this date, asking
If any patent has been granted 10 W. D. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing to him
or them the exclusive right Of maksng gGs from
rcoodn 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 TO be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eZclu-
stve right Of nakimg gas from scosd Il would,
however, be unjustiable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
W. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof C. 6. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent ORes-To all persons to
sohons these prese,lts shall come, grating;
This is 10 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 fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, i. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
H. ST. this 23th day of August in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6hy-
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nintb- Y. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter in his appliea.
tion for an improved stiH for making scood
gas, fLed august s, 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
August % 1854.
al do not claim as my invention sand discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz /:
subecing the products of destructive distillation
thereirom TO a high degree of heat, stantialy
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of W. p. Mcconnell"
THs Uri4ed States Patsnf OFoe--Io all ysrs0ns 10
tchon these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the records OF this Office of an extract from
the specification Of w ID. Porer's patent issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony Whereof 4, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hrreunio
affixed this twenty y-6fih day OF August,
y n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy ninth. Q. Mason.
Eatract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
whicA letters patent issned august 22, 1854.
CLArx.-What ! claim my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate O, and exit pipe
+, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of The Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. O. PAGE.