New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-13

a. am Dear Sir, faithfully yours, JOHN JAY.
No Ii9 Asdison svsnSs Ner. York, Jan. 70, leo4.
The New IllaminatinR GAIA Reply.
To "a. Editor Of TIE N. y 7,iosas. 4
sIR: Some of your readers will, doubt not,
recall al article upon now Illuminating gas and mode
Of manufacture prepared by and published In Your
paper Of about Dec l. 1863 That article US published
had been changed in certain parts without my knowi
edge or consent and In such way as 10 mako me- 10
declare tho invention due solely TO the
study and investigations Of Dr. W. Elmer OF this city
thereupon sent you letter which appeared In your
ssue OF Dec 49, and in which claimed to have mysei
suggested certain important and indeed Indispensable
features OF the gas process Dr. Elners re"indef
To that communication published JAM IT, ut Affects 10
deny all that bad claimed, and Its spirit and aesa
tons arc such as are calculated only to do me still great
or Injustice than that before intended In the alterations
made In my articls. know well that the questions
which most directly concern the public ia this matter
arc those Of the practical availability and the economy
OF tho new method But not less convinced that.
in all casos Of the nature Of this now under consders
ton Il 10 the real interest and at bottom also the o.
sire OF the public to arrive Mt the actual truth and 70
see that Just award y renaeIeu vPon No., az ,st ron
will once more grant 1t least 80 much OF your valua
bic space is requisite to correct @
and 10 that end 70 state more clearly tho iacts upon
which the claim have made Is based
In his letter VI Jan IT, Dr. Elmer declares that nc
to which had referred as leading 70 ,e
invention Of the now gasprocess were inade IN III
own laboratory ty his own direction. and under MS
supervision; mark he does not say BY himself! But 10
adds that HENCE his name should have appeared IN tos
manuscript and charges tLst without the adoiuGns
compleip or my article implied intention TO r'Aeta
scts from the public which. stated would give credit
70 whom credit Was due" How could DR. Elmer make
hi. statement q attempt to s;en upon mo ne ss Ss ss
that In the article " Illumination" prepared by me
about year since and aPPesns IN the l"1Yas d Gs,"
sss By n. a: bAigpss (. SS S,si
in developing the invention IN question: though o.
course coupled that credit with the also Of
my own claim In the cssc--menonins there ootn oar
the results Contributed By each. PVT when came,
months later to write tho report wbch was published
in IHE THsuXE, introduced no name
sufficient Fira The purpose for which that paper was
prepared ala not require Chat any specific stsseaent 9!
the authorship Of the invention should b made. Sec
come fully swsre Of Dr. Elmers dsterminatoS MOI TO
admit my claim publicly. II ha could avoid 30 doingi
and long a. It appeared doubtful whether real Justice
would b. allowed In that paper BY including the names
Of both VI the persons directly concerned Ia originating
the peu Invention. considered proper not TO nsn
ton either.
sixn Of sueh complex being 10 effect some ond either
NOT before attained previously then
especially In any case Of highly involved or compA
Gated character that Of the manufacture OF light
ing gus nust BE- that 70 any complete invocation Two OF
more persons contribute each certain essential paris
.. they can BE- FONT tscsssers Or again. one per
sop can rnsh the xhole or leading part Of tie ideas
entering into an invention. while another may do tina
sn.r. work Of smbodns sSc.S dSss Y tao rsu,s
ton abounds In instances proving, a. wen - inustra
ing both these positions,
now. Dr. Elmer asserts th.s vas employed simply
Coo vross for q.
and ihs ,Hs susS Whiting
Hut that vss concerned 10 the oss! "'f~py- e. an
brought out and patented both 10 this COUNTRY and Ia
Europe tho new method Of sasmanufacture including
the use OF sine and high heat long time before Dr.
.sas asa sRs b. LINZ. ~ having
essmiss.' So wa no. Indebted for tho suggestion.
al mi. NSss s:s o. mps IL ;Ha Elmer:
I pronounce--!f we are 20 understand tho language
used according 70 It's plain ara obvious ntcntion-to
be positively and unQuAtdedly false.
let the fsc.s spest for themscves In the Winter Of
1880 81, DR. Elmer was snds.yoriug 20 devise al eco
nomiSsl and superior msthod,for the venius,Sn and
sired 10 obtain an abundant supply OF the element by.
drosen and 10 ihcn consulted me 10 respect 70 the
question 81 soma certain and economical meAne VI 90
drogrn from water ny decomposition Of the latter by
metal otherwise, and hs named trsr perhaps t's.
and ore or more other. but ac, .,s a. metals TIA;
ms q; once to suggest 70 hiui the only me's-riso
which $50 fr present knowledge eftends) would
satisfactorily meet tho objects he bad In view ard this
sugg..ton made 70 MIN at the tiae speaking Of the
management; of tie metal Ard ne oxide and giving for
thu Of the former substantially the r~sens stated In
my report of October last We discussed the proposed
Al Al In HlY a
time, ] heard no uorc OF Is In the summer Of 1861
ard think IN June Dr. Elmer gave me- In substance 10
Understand that he haa changed bis purpose at least
perior process for making an Illuminating gas. The
question Of tie availability Q! sine for this purpose was
tlea discussed between u.s. And again o. several meet
" his letter OF Jan r. Dr. Finer complains Of the
implication IN N, previous letter that DO stood IN
need OF 'ISsson; 'r ar sI. ss one
scout the ides that ny eradion furnished the dssid
erann.." Iha,s only to cay tha! there was better
ton q. delicate this to be settled BY public discus
.on that way was. TO have rendered single JUSTICE
nom the frs Tor his actual indebtedness For. at tbs
msny ys abc on. nom Distinguished CHEMISTS
and In the Of practising physician - DR. Elmer
has been there probably noting dispsraginS In the
and hi, svcC.tiun id not furnish him With that general
aud Intimate knowledge of SUBJECTS Of chemistry
requisite to tho satisfactory Development OF PFsetca
problem so difficult as that OF an Improvement on the
modes Of gas manufacture.
At tho pc. lod have been speaking os.ths Summon
Of ls6l-Dr Elmer and Itysclf discussed together the
questions connootad with hs pnrpose Of securing from
6en1oe nsph.ha and other siuiar hydrocer ools. al
the lighting material they coutain. aud In form of
much moro highly ght-givns gss thsn 10 the ordinary
coalgw II was Oh ~ assurance that without any
Doubt q chemical union would tale place BETWEEN the
hydrogvn cot free oy eoonomys sskc) BY sine, and
hydrocsrbo q the same time present In the
ss.sd ,"S 10. .nS va, ~ idea ca 9