Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-12
WOOD GAS.--CAUTION.

ID Il IL known that i, the subscriber OBJ
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
| an apparatus for the destructive dislillalion OF
wood, and the making thereirom of tar pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention of appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent. And further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
as i expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
pateniable TO the first inventor thereof aud which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclamed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy of his claims t.ta&o
In the National Iatelligencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
WOOD" and thfeHtcms pfcsccutiSn - ~ parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters 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 was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, 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.a
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. a4 lE9;s,tt
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case-:
UMTEp STATES PATENT OfFIcK,
Amgust 25 1854.
SIR In reply to your letter of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the ezei,esive right Of making gas from
1oood," 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. Porter's
claims are believed to be c mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1clu-
siue right Of making gas from acoSd. II would,
however be unjustifable 10 expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent O6fce-To all persons to
schou, these presents shall come, grating:
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office OF an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
d. 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 fifty-four
In testimony whereof, l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. ST. 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. 9. MASON
Copy of disclaimer Of w d. Porter in his applica.
tion for "an improved still for making toood
gas filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive dlstillauon
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"
TIE United States Patent O6fce-Io all persons TO
tchom these presents shall come greeting:
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. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
affixed this twenty-fifth day OF August,
d n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and iy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth @. Mason.
Ea1ract from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
sotioh letters patent issued August % 1854.
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is: g.r
"The construction of gas apparatus or stu,
consisting Of metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs.n r
The trhh of the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Of6ce to which all have
access
WIN. P. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.
nVopNINf, f.owNs.-A large and fin