Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-11
MooD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

ID T. 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-
| lus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without Infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfnlly belongs TO me,
as | expect To prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office aud, 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 TO be
paieniable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dlsclaimed as APP
pears upon the public records of said office, or
which an Official copy is hereto annexed and also
copy of his claims.
In the National IntsLigsncer Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood,n and threatens prosecution to all parties
infringing his patent. ask how tins statement
comports with the fact Of my patent OF December
1851, and how far the threat can ntlmdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
40 understood Nv the Patent Once II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused n, interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, gwen be-
low aud 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 Omce
If such claim or right had been granted. il would
forbid eyery coal-kiin aud 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:
UNIrEI STATES PATENT oFrIcE
August 25, 1854.
.,f ate aski
if any patent has been granted 10 w ID. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the e1rinsiue right Of making gas from
acoodn 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. Porfers
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this office Is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1clM-
sivs right Of making gas tron1 'eo'a y wouia' nI
however be unjusti6able 10 expeci me 70 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
am, respectfully your obedieni servant,
c. M AsoN, Commissioner OF Paients
W. p. McConAEI.L, ESQ,
Care of Prof e.. g. Page, washington, ". v.
The United States Patent Oyfce-To all persons to
,ohonl these presents shall CONS, grazing
This is To certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files OF this ONCE oi an extract irou
paper fled in the matter OF the application OF w.
b. Porter for letters patent, ~ accordance win
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said W. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO he hereunto ahixed
H. s this 25th day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and nity-
four, and of the Independence OF the United
States the seventy-nntb. Y. MASON
f,,, ,r d;,cLa,m,r of w. d. Porter IN has applica.
tion for az, improved still for making ioood
gas, o6led August S, 1854. Letters patent tssned
August g. 1854. ae
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from WOOD, VIZ
subiectng the products of destructive distiatlon
thereirom TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described aud for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. P. McConnsil"
Iy.s Uaied Stales PatenI ODfoe-To all persons 10
tclonr these presents shall eonp greetrngi
This Is 10 certify that the annexed is 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 fihy-iour.
In testimony whereof, l, Chares MASON, So,h
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
L. 81 n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred aud ffty-four, and OF the
Independence of The United States the
seventy ninth. Y. MASON
Ezaraet from Specifications g w ~ Psrtsr on
phioh letters yatent tcere issued A"gHsf ~, 1894.
CIaIM.-What claim my inveatlon and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is: ~
.The construction OF gas apparatus OF su
consisting ol a metallic or other cylinder y, the
cones and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r. substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6ca,on. and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth OF the aboSe may be asceuaneu irou
the record, of the Patent Office, TO which all have
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. q. PAGE. :