Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-12
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
n. n

y
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom 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
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me
as expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that The nse Of
said Porters4 invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
paientable 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. 1IftG@I M
In the National Iatslligsnosr OF the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces, that he has secured by
patent the |" "1kSusive .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 intmdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a 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 as 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 s'excusive right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its 'front.' and
is q libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such a claim or right had been granted, it 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 case:
UNITEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August %, 1854, y.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
!" if any patent has been granted 10 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 erclatsiUe right Of making gas from
scood," 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. Porters
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tus; aud, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezctu-
size right Of making gas from aoosd II would,
however, be unjustifabe to expect me 10 make
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
C. MASON, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. McCoEAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent OGce--To all persons 10
schons 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 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four
In testimony whereof | Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
L. s.. this 25lh day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
q. a,l nFs he ind Aape nf he cd
States the seventy y-nlnth- G. MASON.
Copv of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his applica.
tion for san improved aiH for making cood
ga" Pied august 5, 1854 Letters patent issnrd
Augaa22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz:
subjectng the products of destructive distillation
thereirom 10 high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. z. Mcconnell
tn. U,,iled States Patent OGce-To oil persons TO
tohOm these presents 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 6fty-tour.
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
= 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth G. Mason
Ezzract from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
rohich letters patent cere issued august % 1854.
CIAIM.-Wh hat claim my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
aThc construction of gas apparatus or stu,
co insisting OF a metallic other cylinder Il, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertalned from
the records OF the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CIIAS 9. PAGE.
FORMING C.OWNS.-A large and fin