Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-15
WOOD CAs.-CAUTIoN.

| II tanned letters patent In DeccmDer, loolj lor
| an apparatus for the destructive distiilation 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 without inirng-
| ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs To me,
| as expect 10 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
PateHt Office, and which has been adJudged 10 be
pateniabe 10 the first nventor 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
a copy of his CLAIMS.
In the National Iateuigsncsr 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 OF December,
1851, and how far the threat can intmidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by the Patent Ofice, as II appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was nj first refused interfering with
prior patent TO Robert FOULS, of Canada, for
equivalent contrivance. This claim, given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood
The statement carries aDsuruity on lis front, aHu
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent once
II such claim or right had been granted, itwould
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Once VIII
show the true state OF the ease:
UN1TEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
eff any patent has been granted 10 W. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them " the erriusiUe right of Dlahing gas from
7ooodn 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 informed that w. d. 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 e1cla-
size right Of making gas from acosd IL would,
however, be unjustiiabe 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. .McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care Of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
TIE United States Patent OGce-Io all PERSONS TO
schon 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
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 tho
said w. ID. Porter 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 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. S. this 25th day Of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hfiy-
four and of the independence OF the United
States the seveniy-nintb. 9. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter IN has appiica.
tioz for an improved stW for making foood
gas fled august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augnst22, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjecting the products of destructive dlstllauon
theretrom 10 a high degree OF heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. z. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OEce-To eli persons 10
tchom ttesepresents shall conn 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. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and hhy-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunio
affixed tins twenty.ffth day OF August,
d n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy-four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seyenty-ninth G. Mason.
Eazyact from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
toaich letters patent tceTe iSsued august %, 1854.
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or sui,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder II, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
The records of the Patent Office 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL.
By his attorney CHAS @. PAGE