Bavarian Motorbuses.
Page 9
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Some instructive statistics have been published in connection with State motor lines in Bavaria, which of all German states is showing the most progressiveness in this province of traffic. Bavaria must be reckoned fortunate in the possession of a Minister of Traffic who has grasped the potentialities of the motor and does all in his power to encourage and further financially the use of these modern engines of road locomotion. Von Fravendorfer carries his zeal to the point of motorising the railways, and steam bids fair to be banished from Bavarian railroads altogether in course of time. With this branch of motorism, however, we have little or no concern, railless vehicles being our business. Compared with the results of horse traction, those of self-propelled vehicles are indeed remark.able : this is shown by the number of passengers conveyed over three State lines since their inauguration, and a contrast of the results obtained with the old-fashioned style of travelling. The routes are—Trilz-Lenggries (opened June 1st, 1905), Tkilz-Biehl (opened June 30th, 1905), and Sonthofen-Hindelang (opened August 1st, 1905). The aggregates of passengers conveyed up to the end of October, 1905, compared with the numbers of passengers conveyed over the same lines by the old post wagons during the whole of 1904, have been :—(1) TolzLenngries (five months' working), 25,839, against 7,178 persons; (2) Tolz-Biehl (four months' working), 8, T90, against 3,321 persons; (3) Sonthofen-Hindelang (three months' working), 17,781, against 10,609 persons. Taking the monthly average as a basis of comparison, we get the following increases :-(1) A rise from 590 persons to 5,168 (approximately nine times as many); (2) A rise from 277 persons to 2,730 (approximately ten times as many); (3) A rise from 884 persons to 5,927 (approximately seven times as many). The receipts from lines i and 2 amounted to 16,830 marks. On the other hand, the entire expenditure, inclusive of sums written off and interest, totalled 19,615 marks, or a debit balance of 2,785 marks. The receipts from the SonthofenHindelang line amounted to 7,110 marks against an expenditure of 5,222 marks, which gives a credit balance of i.887 marks. The debit balance of the two Tfilz lines is explained by heavy expen§es: over the-initial -working, and the very
tardy delivery of the omnibuses, also to the fact that during the months of June and July, when the crush of visitors was at its highest, only the Tolz-Lenggries line was in operation. By working both lines right through the summer, and by developing the goods traffic satisfactory, better financial results are looked forward to with the utmost confidence.
We illustrate a very simple and practical valve lifter, which is being marketed by the Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd., of t-5, Poland Street, W. The device consists of a long lever, provided at one end with a jaw, whilst the other is formed into a hand grip. Near the forked end of this lever is a lug, which carries a pivoted tube ; this is hollow and has a thread cut on its interval surface for the reception of rods of various length. When required for use, themost suitable rod is screwed into the tube, and the forked end is placed under a valve spring, and the pointed end of the rod is placed in a convenient position near the valve gland. The cotter can then be easily withdrawn. Some type of valve lever k most useful; in fact, is a necessity for the quick detaching of a valve spring sold by the Laere Motor Car Co., Lt& from the stem. At the price-3s. 6d., including three rods of varying lengths—this useful addition to the tool-box ought to have a large sale among all users of motor vehicles. Motor omnibus drivers might, with advantage, be supplied with one of these tools for use in emergencies.,