Washington sentinel., 1856-04-01
WOOD GAS.-CAUTg0N.
DE it known that i, the subscriber o

l.
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
an apparatus for the destructive disilllation oi
wood and the making theretrom 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. ID. Porter cannot be
lug my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuy belongs to me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Ofce; 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
patenable 10 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 official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims
In the National Iateligenoer 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 ofrecembcr,
1881, and how far the threat can intmidate under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm and was
understood by the Patent Office, as il appear
from the records of the Patent Office lhaI his
claim was al first refused as interfering with a
prior patent TO Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for IN
equivalent contrivance. This claim, a. given be-
low, aud in which the perforated diaphragm IS the
SAVING clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdity its front and
IL iibei on the good OF the Patent Otice
II sucn claim or right had been granted ii would
forbid every coal-kiin and charcoal manuiactory
u the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Office will
show he true state of the case
UNITEs STATES PATENT OrFick,
AnguSt 25 1854.
SIR In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
II any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1851, or al any other time. or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the e1clasiUs rigM of plaking gas from
tcood" 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. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the eTcfu-
sive right Of making gas from arosa II would,
however, be unjustiiiable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. MAsos, Commissioners oil Patents.
w. p. MCCoHAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. q. Page, wv Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patent Ofce-Io all persons 10
splsona these prescmts shall rome, gretiag,
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this office OF an extract IRON
paper ied in the matter Of the application OF w
d. Porter for letters patent, IN accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO As
said w. d. Porter the 22d day OF August
eighteen hundred and htiy-tour
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. S.. this 2jth 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. u MASON
Com Of disclaimer of ". ID. Porter IN has applica.
tloa for San improved stil for making roood
gas pied august S, 1854 Letters patent tsssted
AugHSt22, 1854.
{" | do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecling the products of destructive distilauon
thereirom 10 a high degree of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth ii The specification Of W. u. Mcconnell"
The Utifsd STATES Pat,Ht Ofoc--1o all PERSONS 10
,sioDq fh1se presents shall conn greeting:
This Is 10 certify that the annexed ~ a true copy
from the records oil this Office of extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porers patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and flly-tour
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twentyhlth day OF August
: - n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty and OF the
Independence OF the United States the
..yenty-nnth c. MAsoN.
Egtract from Specification of W. d. Porter on
,cAiea leiters yatent were ISSUED August q, 1884.
CLAlM.-What | claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent Is
The construction OF gas apparatus or stu,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder -, the
cones T. and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
f. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6calion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertaned from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access. ..
VIM p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. 9. PAGE.