Oxford City Council and Motor Omnibuses.
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Signs of Repentance.
Signs arc not wanting that protests by Oxford reiepey ers have had some effect. We reported at length, in our issues of October 5th, 12th, seth, and 26th, the proceedings which led up to the rejection of the motor omnibus scheme by 2 I votes to 16. It is evident that the capital expenditure of ,6200,000, and a prospective tramway rate, are influences which have not been entirely appreciated in the university. town. The clauses of the Bill to enable the local council to reconstruct the existing tramways were considered last week, and the Bill was deposited on the ieth instant. A special council meeting will be held before the end of the month, to authorise the necessary expenditure over the promotion of the Bill, and a ratepayers' meeting must follow early in January. It is within the power of a hundred ratepayers to demand a poll of the whole of the ratepayers, even if the town's meeting approves of the course so far adopted. Pressure by several far-seeing members of the council has already resulted in the addition of a seventh part to the draft of the Bill : this authorises the purchase and use of motor omnibuses-in certain parts of the city, and in certain. eventualities. The waste of public money over the purchase of the effete horse-drawn tramcars is a feature scarcely less unwholesome than the disquieting manner in which the claims of the motor omnibus were distorted and put aside. The whole proceedings savour of narrow-minded prejudice, to the attempted exclusion of a system of passenger conveyance peculiarly fitted for Oxford's needs, and we hope that no stone will be left unturned to render nugatory a false step which threatens to burden the ratepayers with an un
remunerative municipal undertaking. The " Oxford Times," from a recent issue of which we quote below, is of opinion that a company would he glad to have the privilege of undertaking to run motor omnibuses.
"If report speaks true, there have already been ructions in the General Purposes Committee over the Tramways Bill, and it is whispered that there was very nearly a rehearsal of "wigs on the green" at the close of the meeting on Tuesday, at which the clauses of the Bill were under discussion. If we understand the matter aright, a very serious difference of opinion arose over the clause in which the Corporation provide for the erection of a power-house and generating-station on Twenty-Pound Meadow. When it is pointed out that the Oxford Electric Company are naturally interested in the extent to which the Corporation are allowed to use the electricity generated at their own station, and that if the Oxford Electric Company think that their own interests are being interfered with they can cause the city great additional expense by opposing the Bill in Parliament, it will be understood that the wording of that part of the Bill that relates to tho power-house and generatingstation is liable to give rise to some difference of opinion. There is evidently a very uneasy feeling in the minds of the supporters of municipalisation that they have not a majority of the citizens behind them, a feeling which the result of the November elections would naturally intensify, and the opposition in the Council itself is sufficiently strong to make munici. calisation improbable, provided tho Council is not beguiled by the would-be rnunicipalisers into running up such enormous preliminary expenses that nobody can be found fool enough to take on the concern at all. The Bill on Tuesday, we believe, was subjected to severe criticism, not so much because of the manner in which it has been drafted or because it does not • give full power to the Corporation to work the tramways themselves or lease them to a company, but because it commits the city, willy nilly, to an electric system, and it is becoming every week more evident that there is a large and growing feeling of hostility amongst the ratepayers to electric tramways in the city at all.
Too Much Haste.
" Readers of the Oxford Times will be aware that previous to the Council deciding in favour of electric trams, we protested again and again against the altogether unnecessary haste with which the negotiations for the purchase of the useless and obsolete horse trams and the committal of the City Council to an electric tramway system were being proceeded with, and the rushing of the matter through committee and Council during the Long Vacation, when a number of members were absent and before the opportunity afforded by the municipal elections of ascertaining the feelings of the ratepayers on the subject could be taken advantage of. The reason assigned was that unless the matter was pressed through at once a year's delay might arise in obtaining Parliamentary powers, not a %try serious delay in a business of this magnitude. It is not too much to say that the result of the November elections has materially altered the aspect of affairs, and so doubtful are some of the Council reported to be as to the result of the poll which will probably be demanded, that the question is even said to have arisen whether it would not be better to drop the Bill altogether, and put up with the loss of the money which has so far been expended. The Motor Bus Factor.
'One important factor in the matter is undoubtedly the growing popularity and adaptability of the motor omnibus. The Council, with fatuous shortsightedness, unable, many of them, to realise that there could by any possibility be any better system of street traction than the electric tramcar, rushed upon their fate by declining to entertain in any shape or form the possibility of a motor bus service answering the needs of Oxford would not even allow it a trial when it could have been obtained without cost or trouble. There was hut one system of traction in all the world for them, and that they would have. They would not wait even one short year to see whether the motor bus would fulfil the promise of its infancy. As a sop to the ratepayers, who plainly showed their wishes at the polls on November tst, provisions have been inserted in the Bill for running the much-derided motor bus in certain thoroughfares. Moreover, the General Purposes Committee on Tuesday, me understand, so altered Clause 63 of the Bill, which provides for the running of motor buses, that under it the Corporation might take up the tram-lines from St Giles' Church to the Hinksey terminus and run a motor bus service instead. That is all very well, but it is not at all probable that any such half-and-half sort of measure will pass the House of Commons Committee by which the Bill will be dissected. A disadvantage of which not much notice seems to have been taken is the increased width of the track provided for in the Bill. There are parts of Cowley Road and one or two places elsewhere where a loaded wagon can scarcely be passed by the present cars. The result if the gauge is made 84 inches wider, as is proposed, can only be constant interruption to traffic, and inconvenience which will not be devoid of danger. And where double tracks of this wide gauge are laid, the obstruction will be accentuated. Unless there is some very substantial reason for rhe increased gauge, we certainly think it should be reduced to the old size.
The Question ol a Poll.
"Ratepayers have, of course, the power of refusing to sanction the Bill, and thus of effectually putting a stop to the Council proceeding with the scheme. The letters we are constantly receiving indicate a growing feeling of hostility to the proposal, and are evidence of the folly of hurrying on the business withalit first ascertaining the views and wishes of the citizens. A Town's meeting will be held, probably in January, at which a resolution, sanctioning the Bill will be moved. If that resolution is carried, a hundred of the ratepayers dissenting from it may demand a poll; and even the ardent advocates of muncipalisation are beginning to realise that the result may not be in accord with their wishes. As we have already pointed out, in the case of an adverse poll all the expense hitherto incurred and that for which the Council may have made itself liable, will be wasted. But if that happens the responsibility for the waste will undoubtedly lie at the door of those members of the Council who would rush on without listening to more prudent and cautious counsels. Oxford Times." December eth, tees. The District Railway Company has reduced its fares, especially between stations which correspond with cross-London omnibus routes.
Early next spring, Kitzingen-on-the-Main and Markbreit will he connected by motor buses. The company working the line will put on a couple of omnibuses, each to carry to passengers. The materialisation of this project means a blow, to the Kitzingen-Marktbreit railway, as the rails between these points make a sweep which takes up a lot of time; the motor buses will furnish direct communication.
It is a pity that the majority of 'natalomnibus companies do not consider the convenience of their patrons by introducing suitable destination indicators, which should be illuminated at night time. It is very confusing to pick Out the right omnibus, particularly having regard to competitive speeds, where several companies' vehicles run along the same thoroughfare. We commend this matter to the notice of all operating engineers.
The Salisbury-Jones group of motor omnibus companies has issued a manifesto as a retort to that of the older London companies. The burden of the communication is a comparison between the capital accounts of the rival companies, and a recapitulation of the types of omnibuses on order for the London Motor Omnibus Company, the London and District Motor Bus Company, and the Motor Bus Company. According to "The Rialto," these several companies may he expected to amalgamate before long. A contemporary which is generally unfavourable in its comments on the motor omnibus thinks that these vehicles are very dangerous in crowded streets, and that "their boasted lateral mobility, enabling them to work round obstacles, makes them much more dangerous than other mechanically-propelled vehicles whose lateral position is always known." We think that the writer of this criticism based his remarks upon observation of a side-slip. A writer on labour subjects in the " Daily News," referring to the unhealthy and highly inconvenient characteristics of the horsed buses in London, adds : " I look at the faces of my eleven fellow-sufferers and wonder if their owners know how easily the whole matter could be put right. Here are the people. of the greatest city in the world, who can command capital at about 3 per cent., content to suffer at the hands of profit hunters, content to know that their servant* are mercilessly twerworked, content that their pennies are diverted into prolate pockets, content to be cramped up on eleven inches of dirty cushion per man, content to travel slowly, content to be treated uncivilly, content to have their time wasted, content to fight for seats in vehicles which they themselves permit to be licensed! " Who is to say whether motor omnibuses, which are a great improvement upon the old type of vehicle, may not prove to be the first step towards municipal omnibuses? The Portslade Urban District Council has approved the issuing of licenses to the Brighton and hove Omnibus Company for the service between Brighton and Worthing, via Shoreham.
The Tramways Committee of the Liverpool City Council has again been requested by a deputation of tradesmen and others to institute a service of motor omnibuses along Edge Lane. The chairman of the committee, Sir Charles Petrie, has promised that full consideration shall be given to the arguments that were advanced.
From the Mansion House to the Hotel Cecil in seven minutes is travelling that puts to shame many a hansom cab, let alone the South Eastern and Chatham Railway from Cannon Street to Charing Cross. Yet one not infrequently sees this mile and a quarter covered in the lime mentioned during the evenings when horse-drawn traffic is light and the streets are comparatively clear.
The London Motor Omnibus Company is " sweetening " a new route between Piccadilly Circus and Kentish Town, via Regent Street and Great Portland Street : the Northern terminus is now the Boston Hotel, Junction Road. The service was instituted with one omnibus, but three vehicles will be put upon the route in the next few days : three more will be added by the beginning of the new year.
The Ryknield Motor Company, Limited, of Burton-onTrent, has just finished a second omnibus chassis for use as a feeder to the Leeds tramways. A successful trial of its running powers was made on the ei.th instant at Burton, when its climbing capacity was shown on some hills of T in in, which it negotiated with the greatest ease. The engine gives out 35h.p. at 850 revolutions per minute, the cylinders are cast separately, and a special feature is made of the accessibility of both the inlet and exhaust valves. The patent spring drive seems particularly efficient, and its shock-absorbing qualities were noticeable when stopping or starting the chassis. The first bus built by this company started running on the r6th instant. The route at present is from the tram terminus at Heading-ley to the golf links, and the single fare is two pence.