Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-07
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

IL IL known that 1, the subscriber VD-
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
| an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar 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 inring-
| ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
| patented by said Porter rghtfuy belongs 10 me,
| as expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the Of
| said Porters invention involves also a 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. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed as ap-
| pears upon the public records of said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Isteligencer OF the 25th instant
| Mr.. Porter announces that he has 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 ntmdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as 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 its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Onice
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country n
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,
Augua IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
g if any patent has been granted To w. d. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, or AT any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them /" the ercintsiUs right of making gas from
1rood,' and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined TO his appara-
tus and, further, this office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the erciu-
StUe right Of making gas from acosd II would,
however, be unjustiiable TO expect me to make
extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
| am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents.
W. p. MCCoNAELIr Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
Tie United States Patent Office TO all persons 10
toh0Rs these presents shall come grettHg
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this office of extract from a
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 the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-lour.
In testimony Whereof / Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. s. 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-nmtb. y. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter in his applica.
tio7l for "an improved still for making fcood
gaSn Med august s, 1854 Letters patent issued
AWgast22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products Of destructive distlauon
thereirom TO a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. 2. Mcconnell
1hS United States Patent O6icc- TO all persons 10
tch00s htesePreseats shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office Of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ifly-our.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office to be hereunto
affixed tins twenty-fith day OF August,
L-s - N the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6fy-iour, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seyenty-ninth G. Mason.
En,ract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
schich letters patent tCere issued august Y, 1854.
CfAm-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
THE construction Of gas apparatus or stu,
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate Q, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth of the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. T.. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS @. PAGE