Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-02
WOOD GAs.-CAUTToN.
DE it known that I, the subscriber Oh

n hnOWh tHdt TIC SuUSCTlUtF Ob-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
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 as
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me-
| expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; aud, further, that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged 10 be
patentable to 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 Iatelligencsr of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
peGana ahs sssxnlaasiys right so mak,ng 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 intmidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated Diaphragm and
understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for
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 tAClusIVc FISHl W gas iIoiH Woou.
The statement carries absurdty on lis 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim right had been granted il would
forbid every coaI-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence aud
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease:
UNITEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter of tins date asking
"if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them the egcfustUe right Of making gas from
soood" 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; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore tor the ercln-
size right Of making gas from wosd II would,
however be unjustihable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. Mason, Commissioners of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G.. Page, Washington, ID. 9.
The United States Patent O6fce-Io all persons TO
qcJtous these presents shall come, grettng
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this office of an extract from a
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.D Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four
In testimony whereof L Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
L. s.. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence ofthe United
States the seventy-nlntb. u MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his appiea.
ton for san Improved stiH for making aooOd
gas, flsd August 5, 1854 Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
:" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
sublecting the products of destructive distillaton
therefrom TO a high degree of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. P. Mcconnell"
The Uaited States Patent OHee-To oil persons ia
tcJtoDl these presents 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. d. Porters patent issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-6fth day OF August,
l. 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-nnth. y MASON.
Ezuraot from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tchtct letters patent issued august y, 1874.
CLAIM-What | claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is: -
"The construction of a gas apparatus or stu,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder Is, the
cones L and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertalned from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access. ..,.,,x
VIM r. MCCONNELL,
by his attorney CHAS g. PAGE.