Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-24
wOOD CAs-CAUTION.
nE II known that 1, the subscriber ol
n tanned letters patent in December, 1851 1

II tanned letters patent in December 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distilaton OF
wood and the making thercfrom 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
used by him or any other person without infrng
ing my said patent. And, further, that what as
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me,
as expect to 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 10 be
patenlable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed, 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 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 and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent centrivance. This claim, az 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 on It's front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Ofice
Ii such claim or right had been granted II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuiactory
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
UNIrEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854
/ SIR In reply 10 your letter OF this date asking
tod tn rtar
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing to hlm
or them the e1ciusivs right OF making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application ior 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 Tor Inc e1cla-
sips right Of making gas from fooSd. IL would,
however, be uuustinaoie 10 expect me " iiaAe
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
W. p. McCoNAELL Esq,
Care of Prof. 9. g. Page, Washington y. =.
IHs United States Patent OGce-Jo all persons 70
soAons these presents shall co1e, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office OF an extract from
paper hled In Inc matter Ol the dPPhcatioh VI
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 ifty-four
In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL g. this 25th day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hhy-
four, and of the Independence ofibe United
States the seventy-nlntb. z. MASON
Copy Of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter IN hrs applica.
non for "aa inaproped still for making acood
gas fled August s, 1854 Letters patent issued
Amgnst22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products of destructive distillation
thereirom to a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification of w. p Mcconnell"
The Un,ted States Patent OGce-To all persons TO
tchosp these presents shall come greeting:
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. d. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ifty-our.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twcnty-filh day OF August,
81 n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seyenty-ninth o. MASON
Ezzrad from Specifications Of w. ID. Porter on
phieh letters patent ioere issued august 22 1884.
CLAIM-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 b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described IN the foregoing spe-
ciication, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.