Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-08

TIE It known that 1, the subscriber OBJ.
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood and the making therefrom of tar pitch al
pleasures and gus and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention. of appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuy belongs 70 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
patentabe to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discamed, as APP
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 I,.teligencer of the 25th instant
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 intimdate under
such circumstancesa Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diapnrasm, ana was
80 understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was nj first refused interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, OF Canada, for an
equivalent coufrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm IS the
the "exclusive right TO making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
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:
UsrrKp STATES PATENT OFFICE
august 25, 1854.
SIR In reply to your letter of this date, asking
il any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or AT any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing to him
or them the ezcipsivs right Of making gasJrorr
scoodn 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. Portsr'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 erciu-
sfvs rrrhf of making gas from scoed IL would,
however, be unjusii6able TO expect me TO make
an extended Investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. McCosAKII, Esq,
Care of Prof c. @. Page, Washington, ID. G..
The United States Patent OHce-To all peysons TO
schon these presents shall come, grating:
This is to certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office Of an extract from
paper fled 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 fhy5our.
In testimony whereof j, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office to he hereunto affixed
H. ST. this 25th day OF August in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
.nI ~ fho md md of h~ nj fod
States the sevcnty-nlntb. @. MAsor.
Copy of diseiaisasr Of W. d. Porter IN has appiioa.
fsor for " an irprovcd sfH for making scood
gas,nfled Aagnsi 5, 1854. Lsftsrs patent issned
Angma2 ~, 1854.
al do not claim "a my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products Of destructive distation
thereirom 10 highsdegrcc Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF W. 2. Mcconnell"
| TA United States Patent OGee-To all persons 10
.chopp these presents shall come greefrng:
This is 10 certify that the led is true copy
from the records of this Office Of extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and 6ny-tour.
/ In testimony Whereof l, Charles Mason, Com
/ missioner Of Patents, have caused the
1 seal OF the Patent Once 10 be bereuntc
:. affixed this twenty -hfth day OF August
ISL n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6fy-four, and OF tn,
Independence of the United States tn,
| scventy-ninth. @. Mason.
| Errrns from SPECIFICATION Of w. ID. Psrey o,
schich ktfsrs patent acre issued Angss %, 1864.
sCLArM.--What claim as my invention and de
sire to secure by letters patent ia:
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or still
consisting Of metallic or other cylinder Il, th
cones knd ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pip
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be asccrtaned frou
access 4eui m
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS c. PAGE