Toronto's Trucks and Traffic.
Page 16
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By Our Own Correspondent.
I am able to servl you further information with regard_ to developments in the Toronto Fire Department. You will recall that I have already coirenimieated the act that the chief of the Pire Department here, with other city officials, has visited New York in order to investigate the problem of the motor in its application to fireUghting service. Last week I called upon the Commissioner of Works, and he informed nie that the city has granted Fire Chief Thompson 50,000 dollars to be devoted to the purchase of motor fire equipment. Tenders at the time of writing are out for motor tractors and for combination chemical and hose wagons. At present the department only owns four motor vehicles. I am pleased to be able to send you a photograph of a typical machine. All the present plant is by the Seagrave Co., an American concern. The photograph was taken especially for THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
It may be well to quote the equipment that is carried on this particular truck, as it is typical of much similar plant that is in use on this side of the Atlantic. The chassis has an 80 h.p. air-cooled engine. It carries 1200 ft. of 24t-in. hose, two 35-gallon chemical cylinders, an IS-ft. extension ladder, a 12-ft. roof ladder, and two three-gallon Babcock extinguishers. This particular machine was purchased and put into service at No. 10 Fire Hall on 14th February, 1913.
For the past 12 months there has been great talk of Toronto acquiring a fleet of motorbuses. I asked the WIrks Commissioner if there was likely to be anything done in the matter in the near future, and I learnt that it is receiving very care rd attention at the hands of the Board of Control at the time of my writing. " The Toronto News," in a recent issue, announced that Toronto was to operate a motorbus service in its outlying districts. A by-law is likely to be passed before very long to authorize the expenditure of 300,000 dollars upon the purchase and operation of motorbuses in the outlying districts. Works Commissioner Harris is to report on the whole situation after he has inspected the operation of certain motorbus services in other cities.
At a prinate conference between the Board of Control and the Works Commissioner, it has now been practically decided to purchase 20 motorbuses, and to put the new transportation experiment into force in the newer sections of the city, which, as a matter of fact, are at present practically without transportation facilities of any kind. I shall hope, in a future let
ter, to infoim you how these developments go ahead. It is obvious that, even so far away as this city, the effect of the motorbus challenge to the tramcar is a very convincing one indeed, and one which is likely to bear fruit all over the world during the next year or two.
Commercial-vehicle firms in Toronto are, on the whole, busy.
Industrial Motor Trucks, Ltd., of 85, Dupont Street, Toronto, is doing well with Commerears. I enclose a photograph of a recent sale to the British American Oil Co., of this city. In July last this company purchased its first Commercar fqur-ton truck, for delivery of oils, grease, etc. This gave every satisfaction, and a second choice for its new tank wagon has turned out to be a, Commercar. The tank, racks and canopy were built in this city. The wheels and chassis are painted yellow with black lines, and the remainder of the vehicle is .red, which makes a very smart turnout indeed.
The latest development in respect of heavy haulage work in this part of the world is the founding of a new company called the AutoTransportation Co., Ltd., of which the offices and garage are at 19, Agnes Street, Toronto. It was formally incorporated in October, P313. At present it owns two new five-ton Packarch with dump bodies. So far the company has had much more work offered to it than it can possibly accent. The two lorries in question are proving very satisfactory. There is an extensive livery branch of this concern which shows signs of developing.