Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-17
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE IL known that Il, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distiaion OF
wood, and the making thererom 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 intring-
ing nv said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
as i expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further that the OF
said Porler's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
patenable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed, rs 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 I,ieligenoer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO 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 intmidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office as ii 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 given 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 a libel on the good sense OF the Patent once
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coa-1n and charcoal manuactory
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: 7#f
UNITEB STATES PATENT OFFICE
august 25, 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 10 him
or them I" the ezcl,ssiue right Of making gas from
acood," 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. u. Porter'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 erclu-
size right Of making gas from 1ooSd II would,
however, be unlustifable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest,
l am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. MASON Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. McCoNAEtL, Esq,
Care Of Prof C. G. Page, Washington, D. q.
The United States Patent O6fce-To all persons to
1ohonl these presents shall come, greing
This is to 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.
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, l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seat
OF the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL. ST. this 25th day of August in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and nifty.
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seyenty-nlntb u. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter IN his applica.
tion for an improved sfiu for making a0ood
gas FLED Angnst $, 1854. Letters patent '''ne&
Angnst22 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subecting the products of destructive distillauon
therefrom TO n high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell.
The United States Patent Obfoe-To all persons TO
Dlopp thesepresents shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a 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 ffy-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-fi fifth day OF August,
T. 81 n the year of ouy Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
scventy-ninth. Y. MASON
Eaa,act from Specification Of w. ID. Perter on
tcllieh letters patent tcere issued august % 1884.
CLAIM--What claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is: !,
The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ciicalion and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
The truth ofthe abeve may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.