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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

" The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—john Beattie Crozier.

Dorset Farmers' Views of Roads and Traffic.

The members of the National Farmers' Union: serving on the Dorset County Council and the other rural representatives on that body have been sent copies of the following resolutions passed at a recent meeting of the Dorset N.F.O. by the County Executive Committee of the Dm-set County Branch of the National Farmers' Union :—• All Roads Under On Authority.

"That. this conimittee recommends that all roads be brought_ under the authority of the .county councils, the rural district councils ceasing to be high. Way authorities, and be maintained entirely by the county councils, this committee believing that such a measure would conduce to both efficiency and economy.'' Scheduling of Roads Against Heavy Motor Traffic.

a" That this committee expresses the hope that this matter will bewatched closely by.the rural representatives upon the county council, in order to prevent serious interference with agricultural operations should agricultural engines for steam-ploughing threshing, hauling, etc., be prohibited from necessary passage over.-scheduled roads."

Basis of Taxation Of Motor Vehicles.

That this committee favours reverting :to the old method of taxing the motor spirit instead of the vehicle, considering that this is the more equitable."

Traffic from England to Wales.

Some indication of the extent of through traffic to Wales from English centres may be gleaned from the census figures taken over is recent week, which show the amount of traffic passing over Newport Bridge, the aqueduct that carries the main Londnn Road to South Wales over the River Usk. The figures, which are more likely to increase than decrease in future, afford ample justification for the erection of a new and wider bridge that has long been contemplated and now finally decided upon. A large percentage of the road transport figures has reference to vehicles passing to and from Bristol, Gloucester, and centres farther afield and Welsh industrial localities..

For the seven days ended August 19th, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., the average number of motor vehicles and -trailers crossing the bridge was 2,825, the total for the week being 19,779, and the gross weight represented being 50.043 tons, a dailyaverage

weight of 7,149 tons. Horse-drawn vehicles numbered 7,805 for the week, the da!ly average being 1,115 and the weight. per day 786 tons,

Nottingham Traffic Needs.

Some significant figures indicativeof the great growth of motor traffic have been forthcoming as a result. of the census, taken at the instance of the Ministry of Transport, of traffic passing over the principal roads of Nottingham for the seven days ending August 22nd.

One important conclusion to be drawn B20

from the returns is the necessity for the widening of important thoroughfares. Nottingham. like many of the other Midland arid Nortbent manufacturing centres, has long outgrown its capacity for dealing adequately with traffic in main pares of its municipal area, and nothing short of the early completion of a new thoroughfare which has been continuously advocated by -Mr. A. R. .,4,tkey, 111, P. , and ■Ulliers, affording means of entrance and exit at the southernmost portion of the town; by way of London Road, can meet the difficulty. This must necessarily be accompanied by the construction of a new bridge over the Trent or the extension of the present _structure..

The returns recently completed show that in the period for which the fignres were taken, 26,492 motor vehicles passed

over Trent. Bridge. _

Ford Assets.

The annual financial statementrecently filed by the Ford Motor Co. • of America shows that the total assets of the company are 409,820,132 dollars, including cash in hanctanclat the bank to the amount of 145,985.059 dollars.

A Protest Against Use of Roads by Heavy Traffic..

At a meeting of the Freehridge, Lynn, District Council a letter was read from the Wetherby Rural District Council, in which it was stated that members viewed with alarm the Heavy Motor Car Amendmeat Order, which permitted loads of -22 tons to travel at an increased speed upon highways which were not suitable for the purpose, and suggested that _it would cause greater danger to the travelling public. They urged that the railways were the.pror.er means of conveyance of such weights, •

The council adopted the following re

solution This district council considers the time has now arrived when the Ministry of Transport or other Government authority ought to impose iniportant restrictions upon the heavy traffic on the roads, with due regard to the -width and eondition of such roads ; or that the Ministry grant to us •such-sums out of Imperial funds as will enable us to put roads into suitable condition for such traffic. This council also considers that the Ministry of Transport or other Government authority should put into operation -some new regulations cot'trolling the use of chars-a-bancs, and should arrange for some form of qualifying certificate for all drivers of motors."

The clerk was instructed to send copies of the resolution to the Wetherby Rural District Council, the Ministry of Transport, the Rural District Councils Association, and the M.P. for the division.

Another Record—from America.

Production records in the motor vehicle industry of Americawould appear to be of monthly occurrence! According to figures recently issued, another record was set up, s,o far as the manufacture of passenger cars and lorries was concerned, for the month. of July, when approximately 246,000 vehicles were produced. This figure represents the larg• eat figure for the month of Jnly, and also -the third largest in the history of the industry, the record month being June, 1922, when 2E18,000 vehicles were produced. The figures for July bring the total production for the year up to 1,403,000 —a figure which indicates that 1922 will produce more statistical records!

Commercial Cycles in Demand.

The City Council of Dundin, New Zealand, is purchasing two 25_30-cwt. motor wagons for cartage work. Fourteen Harley-Davidson motorcycles and seven B.S.A. solo motorcycles are being purchased in Sydney by the Postmaster: General's Department. The sidecar combinations, which are being fitted with commercial-type bodies for use in rural districts, are costing £167 for a complete 8 h.p. 7-cylinder machine.

It is intimated that motorcycle taxicabs are likely to:make their appearance in Christchurch, inquiries concerning such machines having been made by the council's motor_ department. Apparently there is nothing -in the by-laws to prevent the use of such vehicles.

Sentinels for Sydney.

A committee of the Sydney (New South Wales) Municipal Council recommends the. purchase of two Sentinel gully-cleansing machines. The city surN eyor reported that he had fully weighed the claims of the Sentinel and another make of vehicle and came to the conclusion that the former would empty 1.100 more gullies in the course of 12 munths, a figure which represented £550. 'Ito surveyor's 'chief mechanical engineer, Who has examined the construction of the boilers, strongly favours the Sentinel, because of its simplicity of design and its adaptability for the removing of tee tubes for cleaning purro5es.

The American Slough.

According to statements from Nee York, the disposal of war-used lorries reimported into the country by the Slough Trading Corporation' of America is proceeding apace, and officials of the company declare that only about 300 vehicles remain to be sold at wholesale prices. Up to date the Slough Co. have imported about 1,200 vehicles into America, whilst about 200 vehicles have passed through the hands of other imparters.

It was expected that mane inoro vehicles would eventually find their way to their country of origin, but a number of the vehicles have been sold at tempting prices in Europe, and recent attempts of the Slough Trading Corporation of America to secure additionel machines have been countered with the statement, that the vehicleS are not to be had.

Almost all the commercial vehicles-reimported into America are of Mack, Packard, Pierce-Arrow and White manefacture.

A Useful Swivelling Wing Lamp.

Brown Brothers, Ltd., Great Eastern Street, London-, EX. 2,• have sent us details of a new design of Puco swivelling wing lamp, which may interest many of our readers, This neat little lamp has a bayonet fitting, which, in addlion to fixing the lamp so that the light rays are projected ahead, allows the lamp to. be fixed at right angles to the conventional position; thus, it can be turned outwards for tyre repairs and inwards for engine repairs and itispeetion by night. With the pair of lamps turned inwards, the. whole of the bonnet space is brightly illuminated, enabling work to be carried out with comparative ease. . The lamp is easily attached to the wing by means of a plate and two small bolts, and is well finished in black and nickel-plate. A pair of these deal, purpose lamps retail at 25s.

G.M.C. Tractor Lorries.

The tractor-lorry, which is gaining a certain amount of favour in this country,' bids fair to achieve popularity in the United States ; that is, if the efforts of certain manufacturers are an indication of actual and potential demand. The General Motors Truck Co. is .the latest caneerri to eater into this field of commercial transport, and they have just placed on the market three new tractorlorry models designed to carry 5, 10 and 15-ton loads.

The company claim that the tractorlorry enables transportation costs to be cut 50 per cent. 'in certain cases, and enables 15 tons to be safely carried withetit violating any State laws governing motor vehicle loads. Moreover, the distribution of the load over six or eight wheels enables compliance with the laws in respect of pounds per wheel truck load to be observed.

The usual type of G.M.C. lorry serves as the prime mover, The wheelbase of the' 5-ton model is 10 ft. 7 ins., and that of the 10-ten and 15-ton models 11 ft. 6 ins. The turning radius Of each model is as follows :-5-ton, 21 ft. right., 23 ft. left e 10-ton and 15-ton, 22 te. 6 ins. eight, 27 ft. 3 ins. left,

A Benefit from Buses.

Reporting on the increase of motorbus services in the area' the.. inspector to the Llanely Borough Comeeil commented upon a satisfactory coincident feature

of this growth of passenger teaeeport. He pointed out that the art omit and variety of food, agricultural produce, etc., brought for sale to the local weekly market had greatly increased with bus service development. Country people avail themselves of the increased faciiiVes for bringing goods te'market,

No Albion Preference blviuend.

The directors of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., had under consideration at a recent board meeting the question of the paymentof the half-yearly dividend on the preference shares, which falls to be paid at the beginning of October. Itwas resolved that, while business generally showed a decided improvement, the directors did not feel warranted in paying the half-yearly dividend on the preference shares due at that date.

The Saurer Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd., 21, Augustus Street, Albany Street, London, N.W. 1, advise us that the prices of special Sewer commercial vehicles, such as the three-way tipper, sanitary dust wagon, watering cart, etc., have been materially reduced as from September 1st

Birmingham Bus Routes.

The Birmingham Tramways Committee has decided to run omnibuses.on the following routes : (1) From Acocks Green across to South Yardley, on to Washwood Heath and then to Erdington.

. (2) From King's Heath (Vicarage Road) to Stirchiey and the CoLteridge, to.13ournville, Selly. Oak, Harborne, ter' minating at the "King's Head," Hagiey Road. _

(3) From the Stoney Lane tramway terminus along the Yardley Wood Road and on to Haunch Lane, Yardley Wood.

The question of the establishment of these services, which will link up a number of spareelV populated districts, has e.,pga.ged the attention of the committee fol some time past, but owing to the bad conditions of the roads it was deemed desirable to delay the project. Satisfactory arrangement's have now been concluded, however, and eight lignt single-deck buses of the one-man type eith a front entrance, built to seat 20-24 passengers, are to be put into service. The buses will in all probability be fitted with eenetrinatic tyres.

B.M.T. Service.

We are advised that the service sta'lion and repair works of the British Motor Trading Corporation, Ltd., have been transferred to Hanover Mills. Brixton Street, London Road, Manchester, in order to enable quicker and more suitable service to be given to the company's clients. , Leyland Motors, Ltd., have opened a Service Station and showrooms in Sydney, New South Wales.

Messrs. Arthur Legge and Co. recently competed in the Hammersmith Town Regatta, and their crew was seccessful in winning the Oh-Liter-Maynard Challenge Cup with half outrigged fours. As this is their first entry, the effort is certainly most commendable.

Bad Roads in Wales.

For some time past. drivers of motor vehicles in the Tenby-Manorbier district have complained of the lack of signs giving warning of the-"existence of dangerous turns in the roads. The matter has now been brought to a head by the action of the Automobile Asaomatton.

The Llanarth Council, at its monthly meeting, .considered a letter from the' A.A. calling attention to dangerous corners at Manorbier. The letter characterized one corner as " a death-trap to anyone not knowing the road," and protested strongly against the non-erection of a warning sign. If the council was not prepared to act in the matter, the letter indicated that the A. A. would assume responsibility for erecting warning signs.

Despite a protest from Col. Phillips that the council should not take advantage of the offer, but erect signs itself,

a resolution was passed accepting' the.

kind offer " of the-A.A. It is surely just to" place the obligation for the executiOn of the neCessary repairs'.

upon the council. •

The condition of South Pembrokeshire roads was also coniniented -upon at the Pembroke Council meeting, particularly. the bad 'condition of that road, much used by transport, between Berlherth and Pembroke. The council has decided to urge upon the county council the need for repairs.

Midland "Reds" on Pneumatics.

As is well .known, the whole of the fleet of popular " red " hoses belonging to the Birmingham and Midland Omnibus Co. have hitherto been built upon Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric chassis mounted On solid tyres. More recently, however, the company have introduced a number of smaller and lighter vehicles. The chassis used in this case is the Garford, and the bodies are built in the Midland company's own works. The buses seat 20 passengers, and the coaches of the same type 18, while in the Nuneaton district a 15-seater is in use. These new vehicles are mounted on large-size pneumatic tyres 'made by the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co:, lid.

B22 Passengers who have used the pnen-. matic.tyred buses and coaches speak very highly of them in regard to comfort and convenience,

Lancashire Road Improvements.

A stretch of road between Wigan and Preston on the main highway between England and. Scotland has recently been widened and the angle of the gradients reduced, the work being undertaken by the Lancashire County Council.

At the foot of the hill coming from the north, the road bends sharply to the right and passes under abridge of the L. and N.W. Railway. At first glance of the bridge there appears, as our illustration on this page goes to prove, to be ample room for two vehicles to pass each other; but there are really two bridges over which the four sets of rails pass, the first being a modern one with girded roof, the second, evidently built when the railway was first made, is a narrow

stone arch, with barely room for two light cars to pass, whilst When a chariibanes or commercial Vehicle is passing through it completely .hlOcks the passage.' At the farther side of the bridge there is a sharp bend in the road, and it is thus impossible. for any driver to see an approaching Vehicle until actually

under the arch. • The dangers of this bridge are all the greater in view of the remarkably wide approaches. Several crashes have _already occurred, fortunately, up to the present, without loss of life. hut at night, or when smoke and steam from a passing train obscures the vision, it is extremely dangerous to drivers of all vehi6les.

A Drastic Resolution.

At a meeting of the Welton Royal Council at Lincoln recently notice of a drastic resolution was given to the effect that all roads iii the district other than those classified by the Ministry of Trans, port should be closed to motor coaches and lorries. This is only another exampte of municipal short-sightedness, and the attitude displays a complete lack of knowledge of he dependence of the community in many respects upon road transport.

World Motor Statistics.

According to an American contemporary, there are 12,538,949 Motor vehicles in use in the world, of which number 10,505,660 are said to be in use in the United States. Of the remainder, Europe possesses 1,110,996 motor vehicles, Asia 134,730, Oceania 125,281 Africa 55,832, and the rest of North and South America 636,450.

Of the world total, the -United States claims 83 per cent., Great Britain nearly 4 per cent., and Canada 3,5 'per 'cent., the actual figures for Great Britain and Canada being 497,582 and 463,448 respectively. Exclusive of the United States, Crest Britain and Canada, the total is 1,123,259 motor vehicles, of which number France claims 236,146. Although the reason for the exactitude of the figures may be a. bit puzzling, they can be taken as being approximately. correct.

Advantage of Bus Competition.

At the last meeting of the Ogmore and Gam Council consideration was given to an application by Messrs. Jones, Morgan and Griffiths, bus proprietors, of Bryncethia and Polity°rimier, for sanction to mu daily passenger services between Blaengarw and Bridgend. The applicants promised to run the services to time schedule approved by the council, and agreed only to charge fares that met with the council's sanction. Several members spoke of the advantage of competition to the public, and the permit sought was granted.

Winter Mail Deliveries by Tractor.

The value of tractors and motor 'vehicles for the transport of mails in Finland has been fully recognized by the Government, and se successful have these vehicles proved on this class of service that mail routes are now being established to link up remote districts which have hitherto been unserved by road traffic. In good weather ordinary road vehicles are used for the work, but in winter the roads are well-nigh impassable, and tractors are accordingly 'drought into use. A recent tractor mail-carrying test was made with a track-laying tractor on the road between Revanieini and Ivalo. distance of 300 kiloms. Sleds laden • with 11,006 kilos. of mail and two sleds with official passengers were attached to the tractor. The tractor, it is stated, proved. suitable for the. purpose, and surpassed expectations in spite of deep snow-drifts, high.hills and 40 degrees of cold. The trip occupied 14: days.

Postal officials of Finland plan to establish several of these mail-tractor routes throughout the provinces of the country, and both mails and passengers will be transported.

Nottingham Cab Fares.

In accordance with the general tendency to lower provincial cab fares, the charges for the hiritig of Nottingham taxicabs have been reduced from is. 6d. to 1s. per mile within the city boundary. For work beyond that radius contracts. will be given at an aggregate of 1s. per mile in and out. In the city taxicabs called by telephone will be charged for only one way.

'A New Tay Bridge.

The fact that a new Tay Bridge is contemplated—to carry vehicular traffic and not a railway—puts it beyond question that Scottish local authorities are fully alive to the importanceof road transport. At present, the only way to reach Dundee from the South is round the head of the Tay estuary and through the town of Perth, involving a detour of • about 22 miles.

The Dundee -Town Council has long been considering the urgent need for a bridge in the vicinity of its large and flourishing town, and it has now come unanimously to the decision that immediate steps should be taken to provide means for the erection of the bridge. It has resolved to make representation.s to the Ministry of Transport, which, it is said, regards the scheme with favour, with a view to securing a substantial grant towards the cost.

The proposed bridge is, perhaps, the biggest project that has yet been formulated in connection with motor traffic— 'at least to the north of the Border. It, entails an outlay of fully half a million sterling, and the engineering difficulties are described as " very formidable."

Buses Instead 01 Trams.

At a meeting of the Nottingham Tramways Committee a few days ago it was decided to abandon the suggested scheme for extending the tramway service to Beeston. It was, however, resolved to run motorbuses between Nottingham and Beeston, and this new municipal service will be inaugurated at an early dale.

The Nottingham Corporation possesses statutory powers to establish a service of , public conveyances to and from Beeston, and no legal complications, therefore, will be inVolved. The bus service to Beeston has hitherto been in the hands of a private company, and it is common knowledge that the venture has proved successful.

The Proper View.

The question of road maintenance IVRS discussed at considerable length at a recent meeting of the Jeaburgh District Committee.

The chairman said that the annual estimate provided for a reduction of 3i. per £1 on the road rate, and, while that was satisfactory meantime, he was afraid they could not hope to keep the rate down in future. Heavy motor trafficWas doing great damage to the roads, and to mention only one item, they were faced with an expenditure of about £5,5C0 to rspair four miles of road at Carter Fell.

Mr. Bertram Talbot, Monteviot, said that they had to recognize that past methods of road-making were out of date, and that highways must be constructed to suit existing traffic. Pointing to the fact that the roads were for the use of the whole community, and to the legitimate right that heavy motor vehicles had upon them, he said that there was not the slightest doubt that the char-ii-bancs was a means of giving

pleasure to many people. So, far as goods-carrying is concerned, he said that the motor lorry provided a very convenient method for the conveyance of agricultural produce—to mention only one side of its usefulness. Discussing the possibility of a larger call on the rates, Mr. Talbot, made reference to the 50 per cent. Government grant for first-class roads, and said that, although he did not know whether the committee was getting as much from the Government as the amount oftraffic warranted, the only way to get more was to spend snore. Such sensible expressions of opinion are deserving of proper consideration at the hands of other municipal authorities whosc, perspective jean often at fault when debating matters of road construction and maintenarfce and their relation to modern traffic developments.

Swiss Postal Services.

We have on more than one occasion referred to the wonderful work of Saurer motor coaches engaged on postal work in the Swiss Alps, and it is because of onr knowledge of the conditions under which these vehicles onerate that we have perused with•more than fleeting interest a little booklet entitled, " Swiss Alpine Post. Automobile Service over the Alpine Passes," which has been issued by the Sourer Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd., of Augustus Street, Albany Street, London, N.W. 1. The object of the brochure is to give a brief survey of the routes taken by the Soarer coaches over the principal cols of the Swiss Alps, and it embodies a lucid description of each route and the aweinspiring scenery encountered.

COMMERCIAL MOTOR A .Scottish Fuel Depot.

'The new storage and distributing station for oil and motor spirit, built by the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., at Terry, was formally opened one day last week in the presence of alarge company of Aberdeen municipal and harbour representatives and business men. , The valve of -the underground pipe lines connecting the oil tankers Which bring the petroleara, etc., to Terry Dock, with the four great tanks at Mansfield Road, holding nearly half a million gallons, was released by Baiilie Gray. The baillie afterwards performed the opening ceremony at the distribution plant, which is a link in the modern system of sealed transference of oil from the ocean tankers to the motorcar tank without the vehicle user even requiring to leave his seat. It was illustrated how the spirit, etc., was carried underground from the ship to the storage tanks, thence to the travelling road tanks, next into the underground chambers to the self-measuring road pumps, and from there to the tanks of motor vehicles without once being exposed to daylight. The safety organization is so complete at the depot that even the sewers leading out of the place have been fitted with petrol interception pits.

Local Proceedings.

Rhondda Urban District Council has decided to purchase a motor lire-engine.

North Walsham Urban District. Council is to go into the question of motor haulage fur the fire-brigade.

The Whitechapel Guardians invite tenders for contracts for six months for motorcabs and motor ambulances.

Bolton Corporation Cleansing Committee is inviting tenders for the installation of an underground petrol tank.

The purchase. of a 1-ton Ford motor tipping wagon is recommended by the Burnley Corporation Cleansing Commit-. te e.

Salford Corporation Tramways Committee recommends the purchase of a. Leyland motor tower wagon at a cost of £823.

Manchester Corporation Tramways Committee has authorized the purchase of a new motorcar for departmental use and the disposal of the old car.

The annusil report of the Burnley Corporation Tramway's manager states that the powers of the corporation to use motor omnibuses are confined to the borough, and the question of their use is being considered.

Having had complaints as to damage to property by motorbus vibration, the Hull Corporation Tramways Committee has decided to fit the buses with super. resilient tyres and, if possible, to lengthen theback springs of the vehicles.

The Metropolitan Asylums Board invites .tenders for the supply of four 3-ton trailer chassis. Form of tender and .specification can be had from the Clerk to the Board. Victoria Embankment, London, E.C. 4, to whom tenders must be sent by September 23rd. Biddulph Urban District Council has granted 22 new licences to the British Bus to., and four new licences to the Potteries Electric Traction Co.

Leeds Corporation Tramways Committee has asked a sub-committee to consider the question of replacing three motorcars for use by committees and for departmental work.

Birkenhead Corporation has agreed to arbitration by the Ministry of Transport in regard to a motorbus service which the Corporation proposed to run in the urban district of Bromborough, The committee of the Park Prewitt Mental Hospital, Hampshire, suggests the acquisition of a motor fire-engine.

The Motor Exhibition.

The Society of Motor Mannfacturers and Traders has been informed by the Olympia Co. that they regret that. the new extension cannot be finished in time for this year's Exhibition. No expense or trouble has been spared in the endeavour to get the work done ill time. The Exhibition will, therefore, be held at the White City and Olympia as before, From November 3rd to November 11th.

Mr Iarold Binks, director and general manager of C. Rinks (1920), Ltd., wellknown manufacturers of carburetters and vaporizers, sparking plugs, etc., was married last week at Eccles to Miss Lucy Harrison.