WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficuteies of transport at whatever points arising, as a cairiage is by
the roughnesJ of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier,
The Transport Bill.
Qpposition. to the Transport Bill is growing rapidly, and there are many rumours about, one Suggesting that Sir Erie Geddes may give place to Mr. Churchill as first Minister. A feeling is also growing that the-Bill eventually will be whittled down only to include the control of railway's ; many of the other wanes in the Bill will therefore be eliminated. The movement against the inclusion of the roads. is particularly strong, as we have already recorded, but a later movement against that inclasion is a telegraphic request to Mr. Boner Law signed by 100 members of the House of Commons, chiefly Coalition Unionists, asking him to receive a deputation before a beginning is made with the report [stage in the House of Come . It is expected that the list of signatures now being made in the lobby total no fewer than 200 names when the deputation presents to Mr.Boner Law its arguments against the nationalization policy -Underlying the Transport
Bill. .
There is alse.very strong action ley.Sir William Raeburn end other members chiefly interested in shipping against the absorption of docks and harbours, and there is again another movement against placing the eleel.ric'al undertakings under the Transport Ministry. Yet another -body which is agitating against the Bill is a group of owners of railway wagons, who point out the ire-. poeibility• of •carrying on productive industry unless the wagon holders 'are allowed an entirely free hand in.the disposition of their wagons.
The Road Exhibition and Congress.
The 'County -Councils 'Association is making progress with the forthcoming road exhibition and congress. At a meeting of the Executive on Wednesday last it was decided that the event, to be held at the Agricultural Hall, should begin on Thursday-, November 20th, and conclude on Thursday, November 27th, Mr. F. Dent has been appointed chair man and Mr. F. H. Berryman vice chairman of the Congress Committee.
The following bodies have appointed
• representatives on the Congress Comimttee :—The Association of Municipal Corporations, the Urbaa District Councils Association, the Rural District Councils Association, the Institution . of Municipal and County Engineere, and.
• the County Surveyors' Society. The President or Chairman of each of the bodies asked to take put in the
, Congress, and the principal representative of each of the Dominion Gevernrrients have been invited to be Vice` Presidents of the Congress, and a very satisfactory number of acceptances has been received.
Invitations to take part in the Congress and•visit the Exhibition have been addressed to the 34 representative bodies selected by the Executive of the County • Councils Association, and a very eatisfactory number of acceptances has been received. The President of. the Local Govern
• mein Board has informed the AseociaO26 .
tion that he will be happy to give favourable •consideration t any application which may be made to the Board by local authorities, whose accounts are subject to Government audit, for the payment of the reasonable, expenses of two delegates in attending the Congress. The Board express the view that one delegate should be the snrveyor or other officer of the local authority.'' The secretary was inetruoted to communicate with the Permanent International Association of Road Corngrosses as to the attendance of represintatives of foreign Governments. The question of the subjects to be diecursed was considered, and it was arranged that the Congress should deal with the following main subjects (a) The reconstruction and maintenance of the reads; (b) The question of heavy traffic, both as to the regulation of the use of roads by particular types of vehicles and as to the Weight, construction, and speed of vehicles ; and.
(c) The future development of traffic facilities in rural districts..
Details of the papers to be read will be arranged by a sub-committee consisting of Mr. Rees Jeffreye, Mr. F. Dent, Mr. F. H. Berryman Mr. H. T.
Walieham, and the secretary. •
The Report on Bus Fares.
Sir Arthur Whinney, whose report, on the fares and working expellees of the L.G.O. Co., was issued a few:days ago as a White Paper.(C.M.D. 209, price one penny) by the Home Office, states that the increase in London Omnibus 'fares is justified. A few figures taken from the report itself will perhaps enable our readers to sum upfor themselves whether or no they are justified. Before the 1917 revision of fares, 1.60 miles was the distance which could be travelled for a penny in certain London areas, whilst the latest revisions have. reduced the distance to 1.25 miles. In the rest of London and suburbs the reepective distances were 1.52 miles and 1.31 miles. In 1913, when there were 2,448 buses in service, the takings were 8.57d, per mile, and thin amount gradually rose with a corresponding reduction in the number of omnibuses until in 1918, when there were only 1,660 buses in service, the takings per mile were 15.23d. The raising of the fares brought the company and its aseociatee in 1918 an increased revenue from traffic over that of 1917 of £687,856, even though the miles run were upwards of 760,000 less. The working expenees rose from L3,074,098 in 1913 -to £3:934,029 in 1918, this being equivalent to an increase foora 7.10d. per mile in 1913 to 14.05d. per mile in 1918. The wages bill, which in 1916 was £838,799, had risen in 1918 to £1,028,389 for drivers and conductors alone. The company also add that maintenance charges, which have more than doubled since 1914, have increased owing to the more costly upkeep of the type of bus in service. As to the revenue, while there was a net balance on Working account in /913 of £700,740, this had fallen on a substantially increased revenue to '£418„377 in 1918.
Scottish Petroleum.
The search for petroleum is being energetically pushed forward at West Calder, Scotland, the operations being under the supervision of a number of American experts. The engineers, who have had wide experience in their profession are very hopeful that an abundance of oil willehe struck. The big derrick has been completed, end large quantities of pipes are now on the ground. If the oil sands are not reached at a lesser depth, the bore will probably be put down 3,000 or 4,000 ft. The work may yield much valuable information concerning the character of the lower strata. With respect to the shale seams, they have already been well tasted and their possibilities are well known to the oil companies.
The New Straker-Squire.
The new model Straker-Squire is to he known as the " A.W.," but we have not yet been told whether this means After War." It certainly does not mean "AS you Were," for there are many new points in the design, not the least striking on a first glance at the vehicle being the disposition of the steering column outside of the bonnet, the connecting red and steering gear being placed in front of the axle. An aim has been made at low, petrol consumption, whilst affording ample power. The body space is capacious, and the chassis is mounted on long and flexible springs. We have been promised an opportunity of obtaining full details of this chassis at an early date.
Road Surface Experiments.
Road engineers have for years been engaged in experiments with a view to discovering the best materials and methods for re-surfacing roads in order to meet modern requirements Eight experimental statfons were put down in Scotland, one of which is on Crookston Load, and the Roads Committee of Upper Tionfeewshire accompanied by members of the Road Surveyors' Association, recently made an inspection of the results of these experi. ments, the machinery utilized in the production of the new surfacing, and the condition of the roadways so treated after they had been subjected to the wear and tear of heavy motor traffic. .
• Wellingborough Buses.
The past year of working of the omnibuses run by the 'Wellingborough Motor Omnibue Co., Ltd., has been most satisfactory. The result of the year's Working shows a net, profit of £4,353, which, together with the amount brought forward from the previous year, i.e., 2699. makes a total available for distribution of 25,053. A final dividend of 15 per cent, is being paid,. together with a bonus of 2s. per share, leaving, a balance of £1,053 to be carried forward. This company have purchased a number Of new vehicles and their services have been brought up almost to the pre-war. etandard.
Imports Allowed.
Motor lorry imports into Franco are 'low permitted on pre-war rates plus an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent, general tariff and 10 per cent. minimum. A lorry, according to the legal interpretation, is a vehicle weighing not lees than 2,500 kilos. Motor tractors can alao be brought into France, but in this case the ad valorem duty is 40 per cent, maximum and 20 per cent. general. In an official note the French Government statesthat it is believed the moment is now ripe for, opening the frontiers to foreign goods. The pre-war duties, however, were all based on weight, and as the value of goods has increased during the past five years the duty is no longer adequate. It is on this account that temporary ad valorem duties have been added to the fixed prewar duties. These temporary duties are liable to change from time to time according to modifications in the general situation of France. It is not promised that they will be repealed, but it is hinted that they may be reduced as values approach a more normal basis.
Girders by Garford.
Motor lorries nowadays are. often called upon to transport unusual loads, and the illustration which wfa reproduce on this page will afford some slight idea of the class of load which.. vehicles in the States are sometimes called upon to carry. The picture was taken in New York, and it shows a Garford lorry hauling a girder which is 136 ft 7 ins, long and which has a total weight of 68 tone. Before this class of work was undertaken by the Garford lorry, 52 horses were required to haul one of these girders, and it can be very easily imagined that the saving which can be directly attributed to the employment of the lorry was enormous—in fact, Willys Overland, Ltd., inform us that 1,000 dollars was saved to the company on each girder hauled as compared with the cost of hauling with horses.
A Canadian-made Chase Tractor.
The Chase Motor Truck Ca., of Syracuse, New York, have disposed of that portion of their business relating to farm tractors and tractor plant to a. large Canadian organization. The new company will operate under the heading of the Chase Tractor Co. They will continue the production of this make of tractor, which has a very good reputation for farm work in the 'States. The new company possesses modern manufacturing facilities which will enable them to produce on big lines. Tractors of the latest design, and repair parts for all models are available for immediate shipment, and all orders should be directed to the new company at their temporary loeation at 376, W. Water Street, Syracuse, New York.
Star Shares for Sale.
There are now offered for sale on behalf of George Clare and Co., 100.000 ordinary shares of £1 each in the Star
Engineering Co., Ltd„ the 'price of 21s. per share. The company has a capital of 2300.000. of which 70,000 in preference and £70,000 in ordinary sharps have been issued, and was formed. in 1896. Its business is principally that of manufacturers of motorcars and .lorries, but during the war it was also engaged on the production of aircraft engines, etc. The ordeis at present booked for cars and lorries is stated in the prospectus to exceed £400,000. Over the last 10 years profits have averaged £23,325 per annum, and dividends for the last two years have been at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum.
Italian War Output.
Whilst it is generally lsnown that the Italian automobile industry increased enormously in size and importance during the war, few definite figures regarding production were issued whilst the war was in progress. Some idea of the tremendous growth of this industry can be gathered from figures which have been issued by the Fiat,Co. This company, which is equal in. aize to atl other Italian motor factories combined, and which during the war employed more workpeople than any other motorcar factory in Europe, produced a total
of 56,069 motor lorries and touring cars during the four years of the war. Practically all this material was for use with the Allied armies, while& accounts for the fact that lorries predominate with a total. of 50,403, touring ears numbering 5,666.
These figures cover the years 1915; 1916, 1917 and 1918.
In addition to motor vehicles, Fiat also became one of the biggest aviation engine producers in Europe, the total number of engines produced being 12,357. These had. a total horse-power of about 3,600,000.
The Claudel-Hobson carburetter was fitted to the Rolls-Royer engines which propelled the Vickers-Vimy in its victorious flight across the Atlantic. Except in the matter of a few details to suit the carburetter to the engines, the fittings were Clandel-Hobson,standard.
We understand that the entire stock of Albion vehicles recently announced for disposal by the Ministry of Munitions was disposed of within a few days of the intimation to the public. Among several large buyers was the General Post Office, who purchased 36 W.D. 34..onners.
Personal Pars.
Mr. A. H. liaet,h 3 been elected a member •of the Ceara of the Dunlop Rim and Wheel Co., Ltd. Mr. Walter Bond, of St. Helens Rubber Co., Ltd., has joined Dunlops as assistant development superintendent, to Mr.
W. H. Paull. •
Sir Richard Glazebrook, the director of the National Physical Laboratory, retires from his pest, whidi lie has filled with such distincta success, in September.
We were glad to see Mr.. -Thomas Clarkson at the National Physical Laboratory reception. Be acareely needs the help of his stiLks and is rapidly en. the road to complete activity. The steering gear of ,a small pleasure car being driven by his daughter jammed up tight and brought mishap in its train. However, Mr. Clarkson looks well and fit, having that fresh colour that creates envy in the hearts'of those who cannot spend their hotass in the :country —and do not make a hobby of sea bathing!
Sir Frederick Black, Director of Naval Contracts, with the permission of the Board of Admiralty, has resigned his office in order to take up a position as managing diaector of the Anglo-Persian Oil Co., Ltd. Sir Frederick Black was appointed Director of Naval Contracts in 1906, before which he was Director of Naval Stores. In 1915 he was lent to the Ministry of Munitions on its formation as Director General of Munitions Supplies.
We understand that Mr. T. H. Dryden is relinquishing his connection as Managing director of the Sliefko Ball Bearing co., Ltd., Luton. He joined the above company in 1912 as commercial manager, and his tactful initiative combined with a..genial.personality soon gained for him the position of managing director. We have not been informed of Mr. T. H. Dryden's intended sphere of action, but we are quite certain he has the very best wishes of the many friend he has made in the engineering world.
Neglect of Roads.
A road expert reports that the recent drought had caused serious deterioration of many roads, which, through neglect, had developed innumerable inequalities in their surface. The traffic churned this into dust, which the rains have now washed away, thus exposing the foundations in numerous places. The slime formed on broken roads is also a potent factor in causing traffic accidents due to skidding.
It is now 'demonstrated that a definite policy of road reconstruction and repair should have been put in hand when the Armistice was signed. But, instead, the road administration was tacked on to that highly contentious measure the Ways and Communications Bill, with the result that no comprehensive policy of road reform has yet been put into action.
Wheel-rim Developments.
We understand that arrangements are well advanced for the introduction of a new ready-divisible wheel rim, adaptable for any class of wire, wood or steel
wheels. The new device will obviate
practically all inconvenience attendant upon the removal and replacement of punctured tyres or tubes, and will, it is expected; take a paramount position over
all devices in present use There will be no need for the employment of levers and tools to prise the tyre off the rim, or, vice versa, to put on a fresh tyre. neither will it be necessary to carry spare or detachable wheels or rints of any kind. The ssorld's -rights are vested in the Ready Divisible Wheel Rim Syndicate, Ltd, who hope to carry cut interesting road trials and tests before the end of July.
W. and G. Tipping Wagon.
An interesting departure from their usual desiggis has been produced by W. and G. du Cros, Ltd., Acton Vale, London, W. This is a tipping wagon built of strong steel plates with a tailboard hinged at the top, and is provided with a manually-operated tipping gear of good design and stout construction.
It is intended to fit this type of body
to either the 30-cwt. or 2-ton standard chassis ; one body has a -capacity for 30 cwt. of coal, coke or similar material; and the other for two tons, but the bodies can be made in special sizes to suit the requirements of customers.
Bradford Dislikes the Smoke.
The voice of complaint has been raised in Bradford, where, in addition to the other sources of smoke which pollutes its atmosphere, the city baszto suffer the occasional passage through its streets of heavy coal-burning steam vehicles " which emit black clouds of smoke and smuts." The local papers have given publicity to the complaints, but there seems to us to be an immense amount of exaggeration, because, from our knowledge of steam-wagon drivers, they do not take a delight, as is stated, in coaling up in a town so as to ,produce the. maximum smoke effect. The difficulty in Bradford is no greater than in other . parts of the country (except the southern and south-western areas where anthracite may be used}, and it has been demonstrated by the Technical Adviser to the Coal Controller that, using the soft Yorkshire coals, the smoke emitted, except when stoking, is not by any means excessive. So soon as it is possible to permit the transport from South Wales to the Midlands and northern portions of the country of anthracite coal the smoke nuisance, such as it is, will be readily abated.
Heavy Motorcar or Light Locomotive ?
A decision was given by the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House on June 18th, that a steam-propelled vehicle with two trailers attached is not a " heavy motorcar" within the meaning of the Heavy Motorcar Order, 1904. The vehicles were stopped by a constable on Tower Bridge, and it was found that the unladen weight was 4 tons 19 cwt., or 1 ton 7 cwt. in excess of the weight allowed by the Order. It was submitted for the defence that the car having two trailers was a "light locomotive," and consequently the order was not applicable. The Lord Mayor upheld this contention and dismissed the summons.
Benzole Storage:
Motorists have been severely handicapped by not being able to buy and store benzoleand other home-produced motor fuel in drums, without going through formalities which, owing to the -vagaries of the different; authorities concerned, often assumed formidable proportions. Existing regulations were interpreted in many varying ways, and no universal standard applied. . As a result of representations made by the Automobile Association to the Home Office concerning the liandicap iinposed upon the use of borne-produced motor fuel by the existing regulations for the storage of motor spirit, a valuable concession has been granted by the authorities. 'Henceforth it will be permissible to store 50 gallons out of 60, in a single receptacle,' without a licence, ender certain rests4ictions, whioh will be ,fully set ' out. in rthe 1:ondon Gazette.
When the Automobile Association brought this matter .before a conference at the Home Office,' the officials were quits sympathetic, and gave most careful consideration to the suggestions. Their decision to modify the regulations
will undoubtedly remove one of the most serious hindrances to the Use of benzole as a motor fuel.
Birmingham Buys American Lorries.
The decision of the Salvage Committee of Birmingham Corporation to purchase a score of motor dust lorries from an American firm at a, cost of £32,000 has evoked public protest from two members of the City Osumi!, who describe the committee's policy as anti-British. The purchase from an English firm we.s turned down. on a question of price. The explanation of the committee is that the American firm gave an undertaking that the work of construction with the exception of the batteries would be entirely British, and largely carried out at works they were about to establish at Birmingham.
It is reported that in connection with the re-organization of the Port of Marseilles hand-driven trucks are to be replaced by electric ones.
Hunslet's Electrics.
At Hunslet (Leeds) goods station on the Great Northern Railway, horsedrawn vehicles have been superseded— permanently so, there is reason to suppose—by electrically-propelled lorries of the type shown in the 'accompanying photographic reproduction. Although the actual figures of the cost of working the lorries are not, at the moment, available, it is believed that they compare very favourably indeed with those for horse-cartage, and there can be no question but that the employment of the lorries is in every respect eminently satisfactory to all concerned. Very ,wisely the company, in making the experiment, decided that mixed working should be eliminated and the entire cartage performed by motor karriee. This method will, of course, enable them the more easily to arrive at the exact cost of running their present local fleet of eight G.V.C. electric lorries, the carrying capacity of each of which is, we understand, 4 tons. Each lorry is fitted with a battery of 44 Ironclad-Exide accumulators, havinga capacity of 258 ampere-hours at a discharge rate of 50 amperes. The charging of the battbries is effected during the night, six plugs being fixed in the goods warehouse and two in the garage.
Each vehicle is manned by a driver and an attendant and collects and delivers about 14 tons per day, the average daily mileage being 16.
Blackpool Benefits.
At the annual conference of the institute of Cleansing Superintendents opened at Blackpool last week, Mr. James Bee, Cleansing Superintendent of Blackpool, was elected president, and in his address he spoke in praise of motor vehicles for-stmet sweeping and watering, and the collection of refuse. In dealing with street sweeping he said that the saving effected by using motors instead of horses is something like £1 per day, and the saving on street watering is at least £20 per week for each motor.
Tra‘le Registrations.
It is some time since anything has been heard of the Pedrail tractor, but it has now come to the light again in the form of B. J. Diplock, Ltd., which company has recently been registered as a private company with a capital of 25,000 in £1 shares. The objects of the company are to acquire patent rignts in Canada and various foreign countries in connection with the Pedrail system of traction, and the manufacture of Pedrail tractors and their accessories, etc., and to enter into an agreement with R. H. Brackenbury and J. G. W. Lowe. Of the initial capital, 3,000 shares will be allotted as fully paid pursuant. to the said agreement, 1,000 shares are to be subscribed for by the Staines Projectile Co., and no part of the remaining 1,000 shares may be issued without the Banclion of a general meeting. The subscribers (each with one share) are R. H. Bra.ckenbury and J. Cl. W. Lowe, and the Stained Projectile Co., Ltd., or other holders of the 1,000 shares referred to may at all times nominate two directors, and Pedrail Transport, Ltd., may at all times nominate One director. Should Messrs. Brackenbury or Lowe vacate office for any reason, the vacancy is to be filled by the trustees of the will of B. J. Diplock. The registered office of the company is at 3, Wyfeld Road, Fulham, S.W.
Harris and Resell, Ltd., have re; cently been registered as a private company, with aiespital of £30,000 in 29,825 shares of £1 each, and 3,510 deferred ordinary shares of is. each, to acquire the business. of motor engineers carried
on by a company of the same name at 141, Victoria Street, Bristol, and"Wharton Street, Cardiff. The subscribers are C. C.Harris, W. A. G. Hasell, G. Crispin, G. M. Gamble, and W. L. Cross.
Daimler Hire, Ltd., have been registered as a private company with a capital of £10,000 in 21 shares, to acquire that, branch of the business of the Daimler Co., Ltd. which relates to the hiring out of motel. lorries,. wagons, etc. The subscribers are E. Manville and Percy Martin.
Tudors (London), Ltd., have been registered as a private company with a capital of £25,000 in 22,000 preference shares of 21 each and 12,000 shares of 5s. each, to carry on the business of manufacture/1s of and dealere in inciter lorries, omnibuses, chars-fisbanes, and other vehicles. The. company has entered into an agreement with F. C. Tudor. The subscribers are F. C. Tudor and A. Burrows. The registered offices of the company are at 16-17, Devonshire Square, E.G.
Local Proceedings.
Hetton U.D.C. is to consider the purchase of three motor dust vans.
Morley T.C. has under consideration the purchase of a motor ambulance.
Plymouth T.C. is to consider the desirability of purchasing steam rollers and steam wagons.
Perth T.C. and Perth C.C. have before them proposals for the provision of a fireengine for their respective bodies.
Chadderton U.D.C. is applying to the L.G.B. forsanction to borrow money for the purchase of four motor dust vans.
Swansea. Corporation is recommended by one of their committee to purchase a light motor lorry, at an estimated cost of 2340.
Southgate U.D.C. is applying to the local Government Board for a loan for 25,500 for the purchase of four electric dust vans.
Margate_Corporatfort will apply to the Local Government Board for permission to amend the local by-laws to anew for increased taxi fares.
Ilford U.D.C. has instructed the Tramways Manager to report on the provision of motor omnibus services' for certain parts of the district.
Westminster C.C. has provisionally . accepted the tender of J. I. Thornyceoft and Co., Ltd., for ten motor dust vans and street-watering carts, at 21,075 each.
Manchester Corporation has, passed estimates for 23,200 for the purchase of motor wagons and motor sweeping inschines which are to be obtained for the cleansing department during the coming financial year.
Owing to the high wages now :paid, the Hackney Borough—Council suggests , purchasing a motor lorry to take men and inaterial to their jobs. At •present many hours are lost each day before men can get to their work.
in our issue for June 24th, in describing the exhibits of the Samiderson Tractor and linplernerd Co. at the Royal Show at Cardiff, a slight error crept into the description of the company's model G23-25 b.h.p. tractor. This machine has three speeds forward and one reverse, and not two and a reverse as stated.