DOMESTIC MOTORS. 491 



base, it might easily become a serviceable motor for domestic use. As 

 the quantity of oil used in such a machine would be small, it need not 

 be in any way more dangerous than an ordinary lamp or oil-stove, and 

 if properly finished would probably require but little more care. The 

 oil used would of course have to be of a high grade, such as is used or 

 should be used in lamps, and would cost considerably more than that 

 suitable to the larger machines, but the expense of running would still 

 be quite small. 



Such are some of the best of the machines which the demand for 

 comparatively small motors has, up to the present, called forth, and in 

 the list those desiring such a power can scarcely fail to find something 

 tolerably well suited to their wants. The various forms of heat-en- 

 gines have been brought very close to the limit of possible simplicity, 

 and show with some clearness what may be expected from further 

 development along the same lines. They have been mainly designed 

 to meet the requirements of industrial users, because the largest and 

 most constant demand is from these ; but they are all capable of a 

 reduction to the scale suitable in the household. For this purpose the 

 gas-engine appears, on all accounts, to be the best adapted. Efficient 

 and serviceable heat-engines are, of necessity, somewhat complicated, 

 and require in their main parts an excellence and accuracy of work- 

 manship that make it difficult to construct them cheaply. The gas- 

 engine seems to be susceptible of greater simplicity of construction 

 than any other of these, and can therefore be made at less cost. Pres- 

 ent prices are undoubtedly high, but, with a sufficient demand and the 

 competition that would result, they would decrease considerably, and 

 it is not improbable that an efficient and economical machine of about 

 one man-power could, under such conditions, be furnished at a price 

 not exceeding fifty dollars. 



But it is doubtful if such a machine would, after all, be the most sat- 

 isfactory solution of the problem of a domestic motor. The final solu- 

 tion, there is reason to believe, is to be found, not in a heat-engine of any 

 kind, but in a machine that will simply apply, in a convenient form and 

 economical way, a power already furnished. Of such a nature is the 

 water-wheel, which, for simplicity of construction, ease of handling, high 

 efficiency, and small first cost, is unapproached by anything at present, 

 and will probably never be surpassed by any future device. If water 

 under sufficient pressure were everywhere obtainable, there would be 

 no need of looking beyond this very simple and perfect contrivance. 

 Water-power is, however, limited, and is generally least available 

 where small motors are most wanted in populous cities. Doubtless 

 in many locations, where the windmill is employed to supply water to 

 a house, a combination of wind and water power might readily be 

 made which would prove quite satisfactory. A windmill of consider- 

 able power could be used to pump water into a properly elevated res- 

 ervoir, or into a force-tank, from which it could be distributed to 



