The Russellville Democrat., 1881-06-23
THE ZERO MOTOR.
Steam Possibly to be Superseded by Am
 m,nhs and Water. Washington Iafier

steam Possibly to be Superseded by Am m,DLs and Water.
 Washington Letter.
 There is at the navy yard here an ap- paratus knowA as the Gamgeeice ma chIne. In fact, 1t has no distinct name yet, but when 1t shall be completed, some three months hence, 1t will be known as the zero-motor. The machine has ex- cited much interest among various per- sons, but Prof. Gamgee has only exnib. ited 1t in motion to President Garfield. Secretaries Hunt and Windom and few prominent officials.
 The primary idea of the inventor was to secure machine for the economical manufacture of ice, and he constructed a compound ammoniacal engine, to which was attached small engine of peculiar construction and an ammoniacal pump. all three of which are connected by the same shaft. The affair represents a large turning lathe mounted on iron boxes, the latter serving as boilers or genera tors The fuel consists of gaseous ann monia, generated from liquid ammonia by the heat in hydrant water of the or dinary temperature. So far as making ice is concerned the apparatus has prov en success. While making these ex- periments, Prof. Gamgee discovered that in his compound ammonia engine he could generate great power, and with out any trouble it could be controlled so as to be used for driving machinery. Therefore he has determined to cut of the steam attachment, ana will make Improvements by which he hopes in the near future to completely revolutionize the entire motive power ofthe world and dispense with steam.
 Chief Engineer Isherwood of the Navy department was detailed to investigate the machine, and he made report to Secretary Hunt, in which he stated that the scheme had an entirely practical look about it and that he doubted no; bu that, il short time should be allowed Gamgee, he would produce motor ca pable of furnishing power without the combustion of coal. 1t was for this req son. and with view to securing to the government the use of this motor, that the President interested himself in it.
 Prof. Gamgee exhibited his drawings and explained all the details, and when the President with critical and me- chanical eye, desired to know the use of some mysterous-l looking tubes which ex- tended about the engine, it was shown that they carried water to the joints and bearings, the acqueous fluid being used for lubricating pun poses instead of oil, which becomes heated. To the ordin- ary reader scientific explanation of the details would be only bewildering, and is therefore unnecessary. The only ingre. dients for generating the gas were liquid ammonia and pure water from hydrant near the machine shop. In short time the pipes were covered with hoar frost, which accumulated Tn great quantities. The power of the vapor could be dIs- tinctly felt when one placed his hand near gauge wh ich was suddenly open- ed. A small volume shot out, 80 cold as to send chill through the ~ ~hole body by mere contact with the hand, and of such force as to push 1t from in front of the cloud. No attempt has been made as yet to utilize the power for motive purposes, but the inventor asserts that he will be able to run steamships and cars and machinery without the use of coal, and that the day for boilers is fast approaching an end. When Keeley first started it was claimed that his engine was an ammoniacal one, but he disprov- ed this by drawing off the water and al- lowing it to be tasted. The present en- zine shows forty horse power, requires the services of one man, some hydrant water and small quantity of ammonia. Gamgee has been employed on 1t only few years, and has expended only small amount ofmoney. The power of expansion and contraction possessed by ammonia has already been applied-by the aid of other mechanism than Prof. Gamgee's-to the running of light ma chisery, but whether it is a practical motor Tn actual use or not is matter for future experiment.