Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-29
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE IL known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, 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 OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot he
used by him any other person witnout infrlng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which | am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged 10 be
pateniable 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 fateAigencer of the 25th 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. ask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent OF December
1851 and how far the threat can ntmdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a 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 interfering with
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as gwen be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm IL the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the aexclusve right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdy on its front and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent O.ice
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 Office Will
show the true state OF the case:
UNlTEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR In renlv 10 your letter of this date. asking
if any patent has been granted TO W. u Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other tlme or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them :" the enclusiUe right Of making gas from
,cood" 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. u. forters
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 sact1-
size right of making gas from rcosd II would,
however be unjustifable TO expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents
w. P. MCCONNELL Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. Q.
The United States Patent Ofice-Io all persons 10
10honl these presents shall come, grettng
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
d. Porter for letters patent, IN accordance win
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day oil august,
eighteen hundred and hity-iour.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he herennto affixed
IL. ST. this 25h day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hity-
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb Z. MASON.
Conn of disclaimer of W. d. Porter fn ms aPpitca.
tton for san improved stiH for making foood
gas" "f1d august S, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subiecting the products of destructive dstlllation
thereirom 10 high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification of w. 4. Mcdonnell
The United States Patent Offce-Io all persons 10
rohona these presents shall co1e greeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is 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 ify-our.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August
l. ST. n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Y. MASON.
Eazraot from Specification of W. u. Porter o"
,phieh letters patent aoere issued august y, 1884
CIAIM-What claim my invention and de.
sire to secure by letters patent is
"The construction of a gas apparatus or sun,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate z, and ext pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ciication, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertalned from
The records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access .-
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.