Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-26
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

Id IL Ii known that L, the subscriber obs
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for The destructive dlstilatou OF
wood, and the making thereirom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure and gas and that in the judgment oj
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
| tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without lnfring-
ing my said patent. And further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuLy 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 To be
patenabe the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclamed, ap-
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which an official copyis hereto annexed, and also
u copy of his claims
In the National I,iteligencer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Por.ers claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al iirst refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert Foulis, of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrivance. This claim, 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 absurdity its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manniactory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Once VIII
show the true state OF the case:
UNTEs STATES PATENT OFFIcE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
g if any patent has been granted TO w. D. Porter
dated 22d August 1851, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 hn
or them =" tie exclusive 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. d. Porters
claims are believed 10 be mined TO his arpara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ernta-
size right Of making gas from acosd II would
however be unustiable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioners of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patent OGee-1o all persons TO
tcltons 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
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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL. $. this 18th 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. q. MASON
Com of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter in his appfea.
tio,, for an improved StiA for making loood
gas pied august s. 1854. Letters patent tSsH'd
August D. 1854.
Il do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subjeclng the products of destructive dlstllauon
theretrom 10 a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. T. Mcdonnell
The Uuitea States Patent O6oe-1o all persons 70
toho1a these presents shall come greetfng:
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. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy~four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused The
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereuno
affixed this twenty6th day OF August,
- n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
sryentv-ninth G. MASON
Eaaract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tcJlieh Stters patent ,cere issued August p 1854.
CLAIM-What | claim my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
THE construction of gas apparatus or sun,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder y, the
cones and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofihe above may be ascertained from
The records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access. s-
WIN r. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.
INFORMING cow Ns.-A large and i'm