Motorbus World.
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The sixth and last cartoon of our present series on "London Traffic Quotations" appears on page 504 of the present issue.
Carrying the War into the Enemy's Camp.
The paper entitled "Motor Omnibus or Electric Tramcar," which was read by the Editor of this journal, before the recent International Road Congress at Brussels, is to be reproduced in the French journal " L'Industrie des Tramways."
Tardy Appreciation.
" The Daily Express" and " The Evening Standard" have just discovered the L.G.O. Co.'s silent X-type of motorbus, of which 50 are now on the streets. The first two, which started service in December of last year, were evidently too quiet to be noticed.
Croydon-London Tramways.
A through-booking arrangement between the L.C.C. and the Croydon Corporation tramway systems came into operation on 31st July, 1909. The general manager of the Croydon Tramways appears to be greatly gratified at the number of through tickets which have been issued in the past twelve months-over half-a-million by each of the partners to the compact. It would be interesting to know how many of these tickets were long-distance ones. The motorbus service, which for a short period ran down the Purley route, was only maintained to cover the gap which previously existed between the two tramway systems. It is to be regretted that the Croydon manager cannot expedite the service on the Norwood route. Chars-a-bancs for Canada. We repr.raluee, on page 511, a photograph of a useful fleet of Albion charsii-hancs which are to ply for hire in
Ottawa, Canada. On page 515, in the columns headed " Out and Home," the "Extractor" has something to say about the initiation of this enterprise.
L.G.O. Dalston Employes Jubilate.
The annual outing of the Dalston Depot of the L.G.O. Co. took place on Saturday, the lath inst., when, despite the elements, a most-enjoyable day was spent at Margate. Dinner was provided at the George Hotel. Mr. H. Darby, district engineer, presided, and he was supported by Mr. L. Cro mack. Mr. Darby, in the course of a short speech, referred to the present position of the Dalston Garage, which has reached a place amongst the company's other depats that is not far removed from the top of the list, whereas, three months ago, it was nearly at the bottom. A remarkable improvement had taken place in the general running, the labour cost, the petrol consumption, and last, but not least, in the general tone. This improvement was due to the co-operative efforts of the whole garage, and Mr. Darby thanked both the mechanical staff and the drivers for the splendid manner in which they had all moved in order to achieve this result. The excellent arrangements were made by a committee consisting of Messrs. E. Brown, F. Miller, it Johns, W. Baldwin, and the honorary secretary, Mr. G. Gane.
Splendid Progress of the G.E.L.M.O. Co.
We are indeed justified in congratulating the directors of the Great Eastern London Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., upon the solid progress to which the report and accounts for the year ended the 30th June last testify. There is nothing to hide. Sir Thos. Pile, Bart., the Chairman, Mr. Fred Griffiths, his active colleague, and the company's manager, Mr. M. J. Davey, have done very well: they have, by hard and well-directed labours, in spite of keen competition and low fares, again demonstrated that a reasonably-capitalized and properly-handled motorbus company is able to achieve and to maintain a sound position in London. In our summary below, the figures in parentheses refer to the corresponding items that were shown for the preceding twelve months ended the 30th June, 1909.
The balance, from traffic and other sources, transferred to the credit of Profit and Loss Account, is £24,849 (215,365); payments for directors' fees, interest, law, income-tax and sundry charges leave £22,762 (£14,1631 for appropriation ; £6,500, the same as in the previous year, is set aside for depreciation ; £3,000 (£1,000) is written off Preliminary Expenses Account. which is thus reduced to £9,397 ; sundry other provisions absorb 2883 (£150) ; there is then transferred to the balance-sheet, £12,378 (£5,513).
With the sum of £2,659 brought forward at the 1st July, 1909, the direc tors have at their disposal a. balance of £15,037. What do they propose F
We are glad to see no foolish jump in the dividend ; safe as the position appears, last year's 5 per cent, is increased only to 6 per cent. This is both conservative and prudent; it absorbs a total of £6,577 (£4,924), and no less than £8,460 is to be carried forward to the next account.
The total issued capital is now £115,733, which includes 5,000 deferred shares of is. each, but it is highly satisfactory to learn that these deferred shares are to be surrendered and extinguished, in exchange—we understand—for one ordinary share per five deferred shares. This is a. fine bargain for the shareholders, as the holders of the existing deferred shares of is. each have one vote per share (if exercised) and other valuable privileges. There is a debenture charge of £20,000, but the cash in hand, at call, or on deposit or loan exceeds £32,000. The stock of motorbuses numbers 91 good vehicles: these have been well maintained, and they stand in the books, after depreciation, at £57,576. Sundry creditors (25,626) are less than was the case a year ago (£7,508). Horses and harness, etc., stand at £30?—not an extravagant sum.