Martin N. Diall, Terre Haute, Ind.--This inventor saturates wood by
immersing it in any hydrocarbon oil for from six to twelve hours, as
required by the nature of the wood, so that it may take up the
necessary quantity of oil for the required strength of gas. The wood
is then immersed in a bath of water, for taking up a quantity of water
outside the oil, and is then charged in the retorts, the same as coal,
and distilled in the same way. By this process the inventor claims
that he produces fixed gas equal to coal gas, much faster, and with
less expense, the wood and water furnishing the hydrogen, and the oil
furnishing the carbon.