Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-22
WOOD GAs-CAuTIoN.

Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
apparatus for the destructive distlllalion 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-
lus 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 rigbtfully belongs 10 me,
| expect 10 prove.ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the OF
said Porlers invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon The public records OF said office, OF
which Official copyls hereto annexed, and also
a copy OF his claims
liz the National Intsuigeneer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent ihe "exclnsivs right 10 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 niimidae under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
understood by the Patent Office as II appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, 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 lis front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent Once
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records ofthe Patent Office will
show the true state OF the ease:
UNIrEy STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or at any other time. or
TO any other person persons, securing 10 him
or them :" tie eeacimsive rigAt Of making gas from
w0od," 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 is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercla
size right Of making gas from acoSd II would
however, be unustihable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason Commissioned of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. &. G Page, washington, IL. "
Tie United States Patent OGce-To all persons TO
sohona these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office of extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application OF W.
d. 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 hhy-four
In testimony whereof, /. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 he hereunto afilxed
IL. ST. this 25th day Of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and oft Independence OF the United
States the seveniy-nIntb. =. MASON
Copv Of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his appliea.
tioa for "am Improved stiH for making 'oooa
gas" fled august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augmst22, 1854.
" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjectng the products of destructive distillaton
theretrom 10 q high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification Of w. P. Mcconnell"
Tie Un1ed States Patent Ofce-Io all persons 10
rchom theSeprssents 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. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day oil August eighteen
hundred and hhy-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August
81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fiy-our, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Z. MASON.
Ezzroet from Specification Of ". d. Porter on
rcl.ich letters yaiest toere issued august 22, 1854
CLArM-What claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
The construction of gas apparatus or siill,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder Is, the
cones and d, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
f, substantially described in the foregoing spe'
riication, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe absve may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.