Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-09
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distaion OF
wood, and the making thereirom OF tar or 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 witnout inlring.
ing my said patent And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfuIly belongs me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Oiice 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 adudged 10 be
patenlable 10 the drst inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims
In the National IateItgencsr Of the 25ih instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact OF my patent of December,
1851, aud how far the threat lnlimldate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood bv the Patent Office, as appears
from the records OF the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls OF Canada, for
equivalent contrivance. This claim as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm Is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdlty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Othce
If such claim right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and 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 ease:
UNiTEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIX In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
"if any patent has been granted to W. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing TO him
them the ercltstpe right Of maht1sg 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. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be MINED 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eacfu-
siue right Of making gas Tram aoosd II would,
however, be unjustitiable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. McCoaAELL Esq,
Care of Prof. g. G. Page, Washington, ID. Z.
The United States Patsnt Oasce-Io all persons TO
lcJaou these presents shall come grettng:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office OF an extract from q
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, IN accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 tho
said w. d. Porter 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. S this 25th day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand egh, hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy u MASON.
Copy of disclaimer Of w. d. Poner his appiica.
tion for San Improved stW for making mood
gas'' MED August 8, 1854 Letters patent issued
Augast22 1854.
. | do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subjecting the products of destructive distllaton
thereirom TO a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OGce-Io all persons 10
rckoDs theSs presents shall conts greeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of extract from
the specification Of w. D. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August eighteen
hundred and hfty-four
In Testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty-6ith day OF August,
t. 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred anu ly-louTs dlu VI TUG
independence OF the United States the
seventv.ninth G. MASON.
Ea,ract from, Specification Of W. d. Portor on
zchtch letters patsnt qcere issued august %, 1884
CLAIM-What claim as 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 b, the
cones Z and d. rdiaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, aud shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertalned from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access. ..
VIM p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.