Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-08
wooD GAs.-CAurIoN.

WOOD GAS,-CAUIlON.
DE Ii known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December 1851, fol
| an apparatus for the destructive distillaion o.
| wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas; and that in the judgment o
| competent persons the invention of an appar
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrng
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me-
as 1 expect To prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and further, that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also "a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
patentabe to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclamed, as APP
pears upon the public records of said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
Mr. Porter announces tfat mo- he's secured by
patent the Exclusive right 10 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 and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr. Porters 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 at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
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 exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent Office
If such claim or 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 case:
UNITKB STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR. 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
or them "the erciusive right Of making gas from
wood," 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined to- his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTela-
Sivc right Of making gas from tcosd 1t would,
however, be unjusti6able TO expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully your obedlent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq.,
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. Q.
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
acl.ons these presents shall come, grating:
This is to certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this Office of 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, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office to be hereunto affixed
IL. ST. this 25th 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-nintb. y. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer Of W. ID. Porter In has applica.
tion for "an tmproved still for making acood
gas filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
August %, 1854.
g / do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjecting the products of destructive distllauon
therefrom 10 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 Ofoe-To all persons 10
tchoRl thesepresents shaH come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a 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 6fty-four.
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,
Z 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Ez4ract from Specification of W. d. Porter on
.cjieh letters patent soere issued august 20, 1854.
CLAIM.-Whst claim my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or stll
consisting of a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth Of the above may be ascertained from
the records OF the Patent 0fice, TO which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL,
by his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE s