Additional Stearn Motor Wagons for Chelsea.
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The works and general purposes committee of Chelsea Borough Council reported on Monday last having considered, as to the desirability of making arrangements for the collection of house dust and refuse by means of the counctl's Own motor vans and staff, and in connection therewith had before them a report by the borough surveyor. After the submission of the last-mentioned report, the borough surveyor had, by direction of the committee, obtained an estimate from the Lancashire Steam Motor Co., Ltd., for supplying ten motor vans. This information enabled the committee to draw up a revised estimate of the COSC of the proposed service, via., ten motor vans, L:5,350; water tanks for five motor vans, -....5.;200 ; drivers' wages, .1,05o; dustmen's wages, L,3,120; ma,intenance of motors, £4430; maintenance and alterations to dust vans for use as trailers, L:50; fuel, oil, etc., L:500; hire of horses in time of extra pressure, .3o; wages of extra carmen and dustmen, .-113o; insurance, L200 -total, £i x,000. It should, the report continued, be borne in mind that during the summer months a number of the motors could be utilised for watering purposes, which would, to an appreciable extent, decrease the foregoing estimate so far as it related to the collection of house refuse. In conclusion, the report stated that the committee had decided (subject to the usual sanction) to adopt the system of removing house refuse by motors, and to purchase ten motor vans—live to be supplied with removable water tanks.
The report of the borough surveyor, Mr. T. W. E. Higgens,A.M. I .C. E. , referred to in the foregoing is as follows: "When this year's annual estimates were under consideration, I was directed to submit an alternative estimate for carrying out the work by means of motor vans. The estimate submitted, excluding the barging, was as follows :—
Ten motor vans ...
Ten trailers ...
51100
Sheds for motors, alterations to Build
boo
ings, etc. soo-7goo Drivers wages ... io5o Dustmen's wages ... 3120 Maintenance of motors ... Maintenance of trailers
3°0
50
Fuel, oil, etc. 550 Hire of horses in times of extra pressure Wages of extra carmen and dustmen ... Insurance ...
30
100
200-555a
Total ••• LT3450 " This estimate was modified by the Committee, and was subsequently withdrawn, after the matter had been considered by the Finance Committee, as it was then seen that there was no possibility of having the motors ready for some weeks after the new year had commenced, if the Committee wish for motors to be in use at the beginning of April they should be ordered at once, and all preparations would have to be made in good time, as the motors and trailers would have to be built, and the drivers selected and trained for some time before the vehicles are re
ceived. In illy origin estimate I put the cost of the ten motors as
,Soo, and their maintenance at 45oo ; I think, however, that tte same number of motors could now be obtained for 45,600, and the contract for maintenance would not probably be more than Z400. The trailers I have estimated at Zbo each, but it might be possible to build up each of the present dust vans to hold about six cubic yards at the cost of £5 or X.6; but if this were done the vans must be repaired and painted in the usual manner during the winter and spring. The Committee, at their last meeting, directed me not to proceed with the renewal of the upping gear of these vans in view of the possible use of trailers with motors.
"As regards the motor sheds, I consider that the premises known as Ashburnham Works could be very well adapted to the purpose. I would pull down the two upper storeys of the old building fronting on to T_Ipcerne Road, and the upper storey of the building fronting on L'verdale Road, fill up the basements, and put up motor sheds with substantial concrete roofs over them on each side of the yard, leaving the centre portion open. At the present time there is so very much old material, such as heavy non joists and girders, remaining in the buildings, that I think not very much new material would be required. As so much old material may be re-used, it would probably be best for us to get a house-breaker to take down the upper storeys and deposit the material in the yard, and we could then, with our own n-,en build the motor sheds and pave the yard, though even the taking down of the upper storeys might be done with our own men. If this was done I consider that the cost would be very much reduced from my former estimate; the work would cost about £900, and we have still in hand the £850 which the Traction Company gave us towards putting the property in order. The capital expenditure, allowing for the amount in hand from the Traction Company, would thus work out at ,66,25o, including the trailers, instead of £7,900. As regards the annual expenditure, whic'h I estimate at L5,55o, it will be seen that this is somewhat in excess of the cost of removal by hired horses. The estimate for that work is as follows :—
Horse hire ...
Repairs and maintenance of vans ... T.adders, baskets, etc. Wages ...
1400 roo 6o • -• 3430 "The difference is largely owing to the fact that the drivers of dust vans leave their horses to load up the dust, but the motor driver would always have to be in charge of his motor. If motors were obtained it would be possible to use one or two of them or ordinary cartage or watering at the times when the dust removal is slack owing to people being out of London for their holidays, and the cost of this would have to be credited to the dusting. I have allowed for ten vehicles, as I feel that for all ordinary occasions this would be ample. As regards the type of vehicle, 1 •would have somewhat similar ones to those we now have in use, which were built by the Lancashire Motor Company, but as house refuse is very•light, the framework and sides of the vans need not be quite so heavy as the last three vehicles we had made. In conclusion I would add that, whatever the Committee decide about the use of motors, it is necessary that something should sc,on be. decided as to Ashburnham Works, owing to their being considerably out of repair."