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Opinions from Others.

22nd May 1913, Page 25
22nd May 1913
Page 25
Page 25, 22nd May 1913 — Opinions from Others.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commer ial motors. Letters should be on one side of the paper only, and type-wraten by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted. In the case of experiences, names of towns or localities may be withheld. .

TrailerSouplinga : Separating Leaves of Springs. The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1205] Sir,—In a recent number of THE COMMERcIAL MOTOR I noticed two things.

1. It was stated that drivers of vehicles with trailers attached were often nervous lest boys or men should be riding on the drawbar, and it is well known that bad accidents do occur from this cause. It would surely be a simple remedy to have the drawbars made with the upper edge too sharp for anyone to sit on it without suffering. Such a. shape in section as this would settle the matter once and for all, or a in. wire might be fastened on the top. 2. A description of an instrument for separating the leaves of carriage springs for cleaning and oiling showed two tapered points which are forced between the leaves to separate them. Would it not be better that they should be edged like the face of a screwdriver, so as to have a, simple wedge action, and not action by a pyramidally-formed tool? The wedge at the screwing side mild easily be arranged to be pushed forward by the screw without revolving with the screw.--Yours faithfully,

Edinburgh. J. H. A. MACDONALD.

Work on Rubber Estates.

To the Editor of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1206] Sir,—I enclose a cutting from the " Straits Times" of Singapore, 8.5., which has reference to rubber-estate motor transport in its several uses, arising from your 1913 Overseas Annual. I have underlined the references to rubber estates, but I have specially marked that part referring to cultivation. [We acknowledge this.—En.]

To plough and generally cultivate flat or undulating, soft, friable soils, free from timber and tree stumps, is not much stress on the disc plough, and bullocks can perform the'work, at less capital outlay than a motor means, and less trouble in upkeep and care. The motor tractor and plough, etc., wanted out here is to cultivate steep hillsides, stony and altogether broken surface, matted underground with ironwood stumps and roots, and closely covered with the same timber in all sizes of logs and fallen tree trunks, all kinds of soils from laterite to stiff clay yards deep, and intersected everywhere by ravines and watercourses.

Are the South African kopjes well known to agricultural motor tractors? For, such are the conditions here in many parts, added to which is the excess of ironwood timber on and in the ground, which will not finally rot away for a hundred years, and which refuses to burn, and is too expensive in cutting up and transport to remove for sale. On this hilly land Para rubber thrives, but initial expenses are at present enormous to bring the trees to the bearing age. Put a motor tractor or motor plough on the market out here, fully capable of cheap work under conditions as stated herein, and a big sale should safely ensue at once.

Terracing is very expensive work, so this motor must work up and down these steep hills somehow, or somehow drag the plough or other cultivator over and through the soil under the above conditions. The new land being taken in nowadays is not very great in extent, but an effective cultivator working cheaply and costing little in upkeep would attract many buyers for the sun-baked soil in the thousands and thousands of acres already under rubber. The estates out here are just beginning to waken

up to the need of manure for Para rubber in bearing:, and aevral large firms are already doing a large business here. But, as a practical planter out here for many years, I can safely assert, without contradiction, that cultivating the soil is worth all the mat:turas in creation, and is, when cheaply carried out, much cheaper than artificial manures of any kinds, and far more lasting in its beneficial effects. Tens of thousands of acres under rubber have never been cultivated from the day the land was cleared of its jungle growth. Monthly scraping and scraping on its surface, the dearly-Ioved clean weeding brought from Ceylon and instituted there for tea and coffee, which do require it, has, in these years passed now, resulted in a hard, sun-baked soil, on which rain or sun has little sweetening or strengthening effect to benefit the rubber growing there.

Clean weeding is not essential to Para rubber, but cultivation is, if my experience is worth anything. I have seen rubber put on inches of girth in six months, following a thorough digging over of the soil ; and I have seen bark renew almost as quickly that had shown no signs before such cultivation—and the yield from trees jump in lbs. per annum.—Yours faithfully,

A MALAY PLANTER.

The Reason for American Battery Trucks.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1207] Sir,—It is with keen interest that I have read and carefully weighed up the points of a recent article concerning electric vehicles in the U.S.A., by Mr. Hugh P. MacConnell. I do not doubt for one moment the facts and figures set down by the author, as his experience on this side of the Atlantic should have given him a. good opportunity for comparisons, but to my mind he has not touched on the most important point of argument, viz., the facilities of getting at the "juice," as it is most commonly termed.

Petrol lorries could not be run successfully without the means of easy access to the petrol and that at a fair price. This fact applies to electric vehicles in this country. Electric power here is as general, or more so than, any other commodity, and, above all, it is cheap. Why this should be so in comparison with the Old Country, I fail to understand, taking into consideration the fact that productive labour is about 40 per cent. ahead of the price in England. Probably it is due to the fact that electric power distributing plants are go-ahead business concerns and are not in the grip of municipal Mr. Bumbles.

I venture to state that, had the facilities, coupled with the price of electric power, been anywhere on American lines in England, electric vehicles would have had quite as big a. show in England as in America. I think Mr. MacConnell must agree with me on this point. Anywhere within 100 miles of New York City, be it city, town or village, is equipped with some kind of a power station within easy reach. Can you give me anything like this within the above range of London? Every State of importance in the U.S.A. has the same conditions, thus the small village business man can have his own charging set without troubling any intermediate or local concern in the least. This is the whole gist of the argument, and probably in the near future we may enjoy the same up-to-date conditions in England. I should like to hear my fellowreaders' opinions on this point, especially on this

side,—Yours faithfully, Kosrt. 50th Street, New York.

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