Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-21
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
IL Ir....uxr.. dIn.a A.

I'D taned letters patent in December, 1851 Tor
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making thereirom of tar piich al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment oi
competent persons the invention Of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without inring-
ing my said patent And further, that what as
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 m e.
as ! expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the OF
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which | am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adIudged 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 IpteUigsnoey 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,
1854, and nov far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porer's claim is based
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 first refused interfering with
prior patent Robert Fouls, of Canada for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, Is gwen 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 absurdty on It's front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Otice
If such claim right had been granted, it 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 ease:
UNITEk STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of tins date, asking
If nv nj has b.,.p orant ntaat IN w II parfpr
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing TO him
or them tie eacilsiue right Of making gas from
acood," aud whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not that
patent has been granted heretofore tor the eaciu-
stve right Of making gas t,on aco.d IL would,
however, be unjusti6able 10 expect me 10 make
extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. MCCoNAELI. Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
Tie Unitcd States Patent Ofce-To all PERSONS 10
rhom these presents shall come, gratag:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files OF this Office Of extract from
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifiy-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. 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-nlntb. - y. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer Of w d. Porter IN his appiica.
fio,l for /" an Improved still for making soood
gas, Pied Augmst 5, 1854. Letters pafent issued
Augnsf22, 1854.
" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjeciing the products OF destructive dstilation
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 Uzited States Patent O6fce-To oil persons 10
icLon these presents shall rome greetng:
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. d. Porter's patent, issued
in The twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-tour.
In testimony whereof, 1, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:. affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
= = n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hunureu anu nily-iour, ano VI .ho
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. q. MASON
Easraci from Specification Of w. ID, Poyter on
tohioh letters patent tcere issued Augna %, 1884
CLAIM.-What | claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting of a metallic other cylinder Il, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate g, and exit pipe
f. substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. q. PAGE.