WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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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 Crozger.
Report of Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co. •
The report of the Pristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd, for the year ended December 31st last, shows that the revenue of ihe company amounted to £1,145,474, whilst the working and general expenses and renewals involved an outlay of £1,033,203, thus leaving, with the balance brought forward from the previous account, a net revenue of £118,185. Of this sum £71,399 has been distributed in connection with interest • on mortgage debenture stock, etc., .ft dividend on the 4 per cent. preference shares (i16,000) and an interim dividend of 3 per cent. on the
ordinary shares (£21,090). • It is proposed that the remaining sum should be appropriated as follows :--By the payment of a final dividend on the ordinary shares of the 'company at 4 per cent., less tax, which will account for £28,000, and by adding 115,000 to the reserve fund for contingencies and renewals, thus leaving 13,786 to be carried forward.
The report mentions that the receipts of the tramways department showed an increase of 15,930, as compared with the previous year, and those of the carriage -department an increase of 142,132.
• Lord Ashfield and London's Passenger Transport.
During the course of his ,speech at the annual general meeting of the Underground Electric Railways Co„ of London, Ltd., the Rt. Hon. Lord Ashiield had much of interest to say concerning London traffic conditions and the way in which the public's demand for transport facilities is being met.
In dealing with the question of expenses, he mentioned that the principal
element of cost was wages and that the bills of the ccmpanies, in this respect, represented 61 per cent. of the _total operating expenditure. From 1924-28 the companies have increased the mileage run by . buses. trains and trams from 227 to 274 millions of miles, or by 21 per vent., yet the number of persons employed has only increased from 41,700 to 43,500, or by 4 per cent.
He had something to say concerning the dependence of the bus company upon petrol and mentioned that the recent increase of 21d. per gallon affects it seriously. The contract for supplies was, he said, not unfavourable, at any rate on a competitive basis, but since the, price is adjusted in relation to the current market price the company will this year have to find another £200,000 to meet its bill for petrol. Lord Ashfield also said that the present tax of 4d. per gallon bears heavily upon the undertakings; it represents a burden of 1400,000 per year to be met out of 1d., 2d. and 3d. bus fares, since the average receipt per passenger for 1923 was less than 2d.
Ile referred to the trend towards co-ordination which was manifest in all, the metropolitan cities of the world, mentioning that various modes of trans n20 port have been developed, these costing widely differing capital sums. For example, a mile of tube railway costs 1850,000, a mile of •tramway 150,000, whilst buses, to give an equivalent service on a mile of roadway, cost only £15,000.
A Malvern Concern Acquired, Messrs. Rice Bros., Springfield Road, Horsham, advise us that they have acquired a controlling interest in W. and B. Woodyatt Ltd., of Malvern, which, for a period of over 80 years,
has been associated with local transport affairs. The late Mr. -WoOdyatt founded the business and his livery stables were claimed to be amongst the best equipped in the .Midlands. ' -With the dawn o( the motoring era atention was naturally directed to the use of motors and, as time proceeded, the company purchased many passenger vehicles. .
The Royal Commission on Transport.
' The chairman of the Royal Commission on Transport announced that the Commission will meet in public at 2 p.m. to-morrow (Wednesday), March 20th, in Committee Room " E," House of Lords, to hear evidence on behalf of the Transport and General Workers' Union, the National "Safety First Association, Lloyd's, the Accident Offices Association, and the Nerth Yorkshire and South Durham Regional Advisory Committee on Traffic Control.
The Commission will resume at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday and at the same hour on Friday.
Owing to the intervention of the Easter holidays,' advertisements • to appear in our issue dated April 2nd must reach the Manager, 5-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.1, not later than 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 27th,
America's Growing Export Trade.
Much informative matter is contained in a report which has recently been issued by the Department of Overseas Trade, reviewing the external trade of the United States of America
in 1928. The motor market receives considerable attention and it is shown that the motor vehicle is' by far the most outstanding single item of the American export trade in manufactured products. In our issue for last week, on page 154, V.-3 published figures relating to American exports of complete commercial vehicles and chassis.
The progress made by American makers in the export field has been remarkable. For example, in 1924 27,352 lorries were shipped overseas, but by 1927 this figure had increased to 105,447. It is mentioned that the expansion of the export trade of the country is becoming more and more vital in sustaining the present rate of production.
It is interesting to observe that, in spite of the 33i per cent. duty, American makers were able almost to double their exports to the United Kingdom.
Sunsaloon Developments on the Continent.
As a result of the demand in Continental countries for the well-known Sunsaloon coach head, it has been found desirable to form a Continental company to cope with the business. The new concern, which is known as the Arbenz-Sunsaloon A.G., is operating from Hoschgasse 89, Zurich, Switzerland, and is now in a position to deal with all matters relating to the sale and distribution of Sunsaloon fittings in Germany and Switzerland.
We are told that branch offices will shortly be opened in a number of Continental capitals and plans are well advanced for the actual manufacture of Sunsaloon fittings in Germany and other countries.
Those who may 1:suire further information of the construction and application of the bead should communicate with Sunsaloon Bodies, Ltd., Castleford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham.
Committee on London Traffic Bills. The two London Co-ordination of Traffic Bills are to be considered by a Select Committee of the House of Comnaons, which meets to-day (Tuesday), 'March 19th. Sir Henry Cantley has been appointed chairman, the other members being Colonel Ainsworth, Sir Leonard Brassey and Mr. Shinwell.
Roadway Flotation.
The prospectus of Roadway Time Tables, Ltd., was issued one day last week and the company made a public issue of 320,000 shares at 5s. each. The share capital of the company is 1200,000 and its directors arc 1— Mr. H. S. Shrapnel-Smith, M.Inst.T., Sir Philip Dawson, Kt, M.P., Messrs. W. E. Therpe, J. S. MacBean and W. J. Merifield.
The Bradford Trolley-.bus Bill.
Reporting on the Bradford Corporation Trolley Vehicles Order, the parliamentary committee of the West Biding Council states that formal objections have been lodged to the granting of the powers proposed by the Order affecting 11 miles of county roads and twelve urban districts.
If the Order Should be proceeded with the sesolutions passed at the conference which the committee recently had with the local authorities will be te.rried into effect, and the Order will be objected to on the grounds which have been communicated to the Minister cf Transport.
From Norwich to the Midlands,
Messrs.. Eastern Motorways have been oPerating services from Norwich to London with much success and the. activities of the firm are now being extended by the institution of a daily service from Norwich to the Midlands, the route which is to be followed being through King's Lynn, Peterborough
and Leicester. It is stated that the rill has purchased two Bristol 26seater saloon coaches specially for this service.
Railway Bus Services in Scotland.
From information which has reached Glasgow it would appear that towards the end of the present month the London Midland and Scottish Railway Co. is to start the operation of motorbus services in Scotland, and it is said that a fleet of over a dozen 32-seater buses will be placed into service in the Greenock, Gourock, Wemyss By and certain other districts.
The railway company has in mind the linking up of its train services with the busesand the vehicles will also connect with the Clyde steamers leaving certain Ayrshire ports.
Presses for Making Safety Glass.
In our issue dated March 5th, we published an article entitled " Some Sidelights on a Safety Glass," -which dealt with the manufacturing methods employed in producing Xetal, and we now learn that the hydraulic press which we illustrated, in which laminations of glass and celluloid are cemented, was made and supplied by Hollings and Guest, Ltd., Thimble Mill Lane, Birmingham. As a matter of fact, this is one of a series of presses which this company has installed for the manufacture of Xetal safety glass, and we. are told that this type is giving highly satisfactory results.
Hollings and Guest, Ltd., has also supplied large numbers of specially designed presses to several other makers nroducing safety glass on a large scale.
London Street Accidents.
According to statistics recently issued, there were 30,248 street accidents to persons and property in the Metropolitan Police area during the months of October. November and December last. The number of persons killed was 365, whilst 13,132 were injured. So far as the deaths are concerned, motorbuses were responsible for 34, tramcars for 10, private motorcars for 126 and trade and commercial-motor vehicles for 101.
Heavy Traffic on Side Streets.
A communication has been placed before the Finebley. Urban District Council by the ratepayers' joint committee complaining that drivers of heavy lorries are in the habit of making Use of side streets in the district, which were never constructed to bear such loads. The council is replying that the matter has been placed before the Minister of Transport, whose reply regarding suggested action in the matter is awaited.
A Municipal Service for Sale.
The bus services of the I3edwas and Machen Urban District Council are to be offered for sale by the council to private enterprise. The council will consider tenders submitted by busowning concerns desirous of taking over this service and will then decide whether it is advisable' to dispose of the services or to continue them as a municipal undertaking.
The step is taken as the result of the long-continued industrial depression in South Wales and the small profits obtained latterly from the services.
Over the whole period of its existence this bus service has returned £800 to the ratepayers as profits devoted to the relief of rates. In the first half of the financial year now drawing to an end the services yielded a profit of £40.
Bus proprietors, intending to tender 'can obtain full particulars from the clerk to the council at liedwas.
Vickers Dividend.
The directors of Vickers, Ltd., have declared a dividend at the rate of per cent. per annum, less income tax, on the ordinary shares of the company far the year 1928.