Bridge Law.
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At no stage in the history of road locomotion has it been more desirable than it is now, that bridges should be greatly improved. The growing importance of this subject has been well understood, for some years past, by the Executive Committee of the Commercial Motor Users Association, and that representative body has recently taken active steps to bring to a practical issue tire work which has been so quietly and unostentatiously done by its members. It is common knowledge, that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has joined forces with the owners of commercial vehicles and tractors, and this strong combination of interests, with, no doubt, in virtue of existing agreements, the sympathetic backing of the Royal Automobile Club behind it, unquestionably will command the hearty support of all who truly have at heart the progress and well-being of the business motor. The most-eursory examination of bridge law discloses its fundamental anomalies and discrepancies: old bridges can merely be brought up to their original strengths, and not to those often-inadequate standards without involved and costly legal action ; no general powers permit the taking' overof derelict canal or other bridges by willing county or other councils or persons; it sometimes depends upon local surveyors or residents to initiate steps for improvement, and they may be more inclined to regard a weak bridge as a useful barrier against motor traffic upon their own inferior roads than as a flaw in the nation's system of internal communication which should be eradicated ; also, there is no proper statutory provision for new building or strengthening by c'o'operation between interested parties. It will, therefore, be of more than passing import to our readers, that Mr. IT. froward Humphreys, whose knowledge of the subject and its bearing upon road transport is unrivalled, this week opens in these pages a concise review of bridge law and practice in that connection. We commend the close perusal of this series to all our supporters, in the belief that, whilst there is no desire to create a scare, their best interests will be served by a full understanding of the fact that bridge law will require to be altered very soon if commercial and military road transport is to progress normally.