Washington sentinel., 1856-04-08
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

II ID 3
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillaiion oi
wood, and the making therefrom oftar or pitch n
pleasure, and gas; and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention Of an appar-
tus recently patented by W. p. Porter cannot be
ing my said patent And, further, that what &
patented by said Porter rightfuily belongs TO me,
as i expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Odice and, further, that the use of
said yPorlers invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
patentable TO the FIRST Inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed, a. ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, Of
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
ps II IL = Nsmai ~ fnsssxsssw of IA 2saA ,ns,.n,
MY Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood,o 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 intimldate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's 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 at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, az given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
sa wing clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the "exclusive right 10 making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdlty on lts front, and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid eyery coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country i.;..f 4 s,.-e .s..5ft ..eil ,t.t.t
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records ofthc Patent Office will
show the true state of the case .
UNITRB STATES PATENT OPFIcE,
AMgHa 25 1854
Sin. In reply to your letter of tins date, askins
if any patent has been granted 70 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854 or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them !" TIE exclsssivs right Of making gas from
toood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing tne
above date, YOU are informed that w. d. Portsrs
claims are believed 10 be g mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that q
patent has been granted heretofore for the srclN-
sive right Of making gas from s0Osd II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me to make
extended Investigation to answer your re-
quest. III .s hGi
Il am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents
w. P. McCoNAKLL, Esq,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, y. T.
TAs United States Patent OGes-TS al psysons to
u 4rhons these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office Of an extract from 4
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
d. 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 6fty-four. .y-!.,t.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
j., missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
u 81 this 25th day Of August, in the year OF onr
III Lord one thousand eight hundred and hf1y-
four, and of the Independence Of the United
!, States the seventy -nlnth. G. MACON
Cory of disclaimer of W. d. Porter ~ kis qppiiea.
ton for an improvsd stiH for Ssak'ng seood
gas,r ,rflsd Angnsi s, 1854. Lsftsrs patent 'ssaed
Angnst22, 1854. . +g... !. .f..y.9 al
/ !" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subjecting the products of destructive distlauon
therefrom to 4 high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sss
forth in the specihcation OF w +. McConnelL.r g.
iThs Unssed States Paisnf OGos-- TO &H y~sssss 10
srllom thsss presents shaH eopps gyssttnG :f
a This ia to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this ofhce Of an sxtrsct from
the specification Of w. d. Poner's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eignteen
Tn testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Odice 70 be hsreunto
>, affixed this twenty-hfh day OF August,
I 81 N the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-fonr, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy ninth. u MASON
Euraet from Specifications Of W. d. Psnev on
sshicA letters ynenf issHsd Angsa ", s34s.
CLArMs--Whsi claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent IL: -,
aThe construction of gas apparatus or still
con sisting Of a metallic or other cylinder B the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6catiou, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe absve may be aseertsined from
the records OF the Patent O6ice, 10 which al have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL, Fs'
IA, ~. s,,ornsv, CHAS O. PAGE. Z