Auxiliary Horse Power.
Page 18
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A Small Steam Tractor which Assists Underpowered Horses on Steep Hills around the Crystal Palace.
A letter which appeared in our columns recently, under the heading of " The Motor Drivers' News," contained a brief account of the work which is dealt with by a " Little Giant " steam tractor on the stiff hills in the vicinity of Sydenham's great glass-house. In order to obtain further particulars of this interesting undertaking, a member of the staff of this journal has since called upon Surgeon-Major George R. Poole, M.D., who has acted, in a purely honorary capacity, as manager to the service since its inception some five years ago. The origin of the scheme is traceable to several kind-hearted Norwood residents, who had, on many occasions, been unwilling witnesses of the spectacle of horses struggling to haul overloaded wagons up the steep gradients in the neighbourhood. Doctor Poole was commissioned to purchase a suitable machine at the Crystal Palace Show in 5903, and his choice fell on the " Little Giant " steam tractor which is shown in our photograph. Previous to this, chain-horses had been kept stationed at the foot of Anerley Hill to render free aid to other animals.
The actual machine recommended by the makers, W. Tasker and Sons, Ltd., of Waterloo Iron Works, Andover, was one of its A.'. pattern, single-cylinder tractors. Its engine has a bore of 51, inches and a stroke of 9 inches. The boiler supplies steam at 15o11). pressure, and the machine has tank capacity to carry, when necessary, 110 gallons. The total weight of the engine is 3 tons, 2 cwt. unladen. Its suitability for such work as that on which it is employed on the Crystal Palace hills is evident from the maker's statement that it will haul 5 tons on ordinary roads up a gradient of i in 8. We understand that identical machines in Hampshire have been averaging 300 miles per week for long periods, and that one very satisfied customer of Tasker and Sons, Ltd., has dispensed with the services of six horses by the employment of a single-cylindered " Little Giant " of more recent build.
When the " Horses' Friend," as it is locally known, first commenced its duties, five years ago, no charge was made for its services; drivers of distressed animals were, however, expected to leave a trifle in the collecting box attached to the outside of the engine shed for that purpose. This kind of charity soon became abused, and the calls on the driver and his machine became incessant throughJut the day. Requests were constantly being sent to the top of the hill for the engine, and, when it arrivedon the scene at the bottom, it would be found that either the had was too heavy altogether for engine and horses combined, or that the horses should be well able, unaided and without distress on their part, to take the load to the top. To check this class of imposition, it was reluctantly decided to charge is. each time the tractor was called down the hills. With surprising quickness, the demand fell off materially; at the same time, however, carmen began to appreciate the services for which they now had to pay, and there still remained plenty of opportunity for the tractor to lend its substantial aid. The manager invested the driver with powers to use his discretion, whereby he might, in cases of necessity, omit the charge of is. \\Then told by the manager that a charge of 55. was asked for towing a brokendown motorcar up the hill, our representative urged the adoption of a preferential tariff for all kinds and conditions of au ton mh i les .
The method employed is to attach the tractor to the wagon-pole of the overloaded vehicle, by means of a long
chain, and so to supplement the horses' efforts. The horses arc never removed so as to allow the engine undisputed sway. The driver is on duty from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., six days a week. He receives 35s. a week and to per cent. commission on the takings. We understand that in no cases, nowadays, do the horses show any nervousness at the presence of their mechanical friend. In some cases, it has been known that horses 'which have had an assisted passage up these hills before will refuse to move until the tractor fetches them, and then get to work with a vill : we have known horse owners whose attitudes towards mechanical traction has shown less " horse sense."
Considerable difficulty with the machine has been experienced, as might be expected, after a heavy snowfall; spikes and studs proved useless, and the only successful method of surmounting the gradients with the full load was to spread sacks under the wheels. Possibly, wooden treads would answer the purpose. Very little trouble has been encountered with the mechanism, but, this year, the boiler tubes have to be renewed. The only serious accident met with occurred some while back, when a lad, who had been clinging to the hind part of the engine, fell beneath the wheels, and was crushed to death. At the subsequent in quiry, the owners of the tractor were exonerated from all blame, as was the driver. In view of the fact that this small machine has been the inanimate means of relieving an immense amount ot cruelty to animals in the manner described above, it would be most regrettable if its period of utility were allowed to lapse from lack of financial support. Unfortunately, we understand, the present manager has been persuaded by his friends that his advancing years necessitate his abandoning some of his many activities. As such a course is apparently unavoidable, it would seem that the good work might well be carried on by a committee of management, composed of a few men with some business ability. It would, also, seem appropriate if such organisations as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Dumb Friends' League, were represented on the committee ; small annual contributions might reasonably he asked from firms whose loaded vans could be hauled free. We are inclined to think that, if a small controlling body definitely placed the organisation on a sound business basis, not only might the existing tractor remain on duty for many years to come, but others might be installed on such hills as Wimbledon, Highgate, etc., to do similar good work. The calls upon the time and private purse of SurgeonMajor Poole, during the past five years, have been considerable and it is mostly due to the persuasive powers he has exercised on his many friends in the neighbourhood that the work of the tractor 'has been made financially possible since 1902. The Crystal Palace School of Art and the Norwood Dramatic Society have lent invaluable aid. We are of opinion that the objects of the scheme would appeal in a large measure to the sympathy of the public generally, if they were more widely known, and it does not seem unreasonable to suggest that the burden of finding the money required annually should be spread beyond the few willing shoulders of those who have initiated and worked in the support of the organisation during the past five years. On the next page we append the balance sheet, which was attached to last year's report, and which will show the cost of philanthropic work of this nature.