Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-12
WOOD CAs.-CAUTIoN.

| DE IL known that i, the subscriber OBJ
| I'D tanned letters patent in December 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distlllaton 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 an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
| p0iented by said Porter rightlully belongs me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further that the use OF
said Porter's inventon involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged 10 be
patentabe the first inventor thereof and which
said w d. Porter has formally dsclamed, 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 Iatel7igencsr Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusve right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing dds patcat. y lask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent of December,
1851 and how far the threat can lntlmldate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters 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 at 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 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdiiy on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense OF the Patent Ofice
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Oihce will
show the true state OF the ease
UNITEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter OF this date, asking
"if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them :" TIE e1clitstvs right Of making gas from
,coodn 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. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office lis not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaclu-
stve right Of naaktng gas from tcosd IL would,
however, be unjustifabe to expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
The United States Patent OGce-To all PERSONS 10
rchona 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 oi w.
d. Porter for letters patent, IN accordance win
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and tifty-four.
In testimony whereof, l Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto ahxed
H. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and htty-
four and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy ninth Y. MASON.
Conn of disclaimer Of w ID. Porter has applica.
tton. for san improued sttA for making i0ood
gas flea august 5, 1854. Letters patent tss"cd
August %, 1854.
a do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjecting the products oil destructive als.iasl2n
thereirom to a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF W. 7. Mcdonnell"
TEs United States Patent OEce-Io all persons 10
tcho1a these presents shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is 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 fity-tour.
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffh day OF August,
L 81 n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fity-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the :.
seventy-ninth. u MASON
Ez1yac, from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,chieA ietters patsnt roere issued Augaa y, 1854
ClAlM-What claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is :,
The construction Of a gas apparatus or sun,
combating OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
The records OF the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.
ropNtNf. cow Ns.-A large and fin