Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-24
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distIllaiion OF
wood, and the making iherefrom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
ius 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
pateutsd by said Porter righlfully belongs 10 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 to 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 an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy OF his claims.
In the National hateuigencer 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
comporls with the fact OF my patent OF December
1851, aud how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's 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 a
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for
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 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdy on It's front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Ofice
Ii such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
.n the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state OF the case:
UNlrEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted TO w. u. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them tie earitsiue right Of making gas from
pood,n and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing tne
above date you are informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined TO his appara-
lus; and further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the erciu-
siUe right Of making gas from roosd II would,
however, be unjuslifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoHAELI- Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
Tie United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
acAons these presents shall come, gretig:
This is 10 certify that the annexed Is atrue 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 the, 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and hity-our.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL. s. this 25th day of August IN the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hiiy-
four and OF the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nIntb. T. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w d. Porter IN his orplica.
ton for an improved stiH for making 'oood
gas nfLed August s. 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
Amgast22, 1884.
~ do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ;
subiecling the products of destructive distlation
theretrom 10 a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. p. Mcconnell
Tie United STATES Patent OHoe-To all persons 10
tohoBl tLl1Sspres shall come greetHg:
This is 10 certlfy 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 hty-our.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ifih day OF August,
81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6fty-four and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. Z. MASON
Ezrraot from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tohieh letters patent issssed August ", 1894
ClAIM.-What claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and d. daphram plate Q, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe.
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofihe abave may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access. -
wM. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. O. PAGE.