LIVERPOOL CORPORATION AND MOTOR VEHICLES.
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
FOR MANY YEARS past the Liverpool Corporation have favoured the employment of motor vehicles for their various municipal requirements, and it is only to be expected, in view of this fact, that they, at the present time, possess Something in the nature of a, comprehensive fleet. Mr. J. A. Brodie, M.Inst.O.E., the city engineer, employs in connection with the work of his department 40 petrol vehicles, including the following makes : —Halley, Leyland, Pagefielcl, Dennis, and Austin. These vehicles are engaged in the collection and haulage of household refuse, whilst some of them are also used for general cleansing work in the city, and also for the general haulage work of the department in eonnection with the-transportatiori of material for the purposes of mnstraction and.maintenance of roads, tramways, sewers, etc. On this class of work a total load of material averaging 1,200 tons per day is dealt with, in addition to its petrol vehicles, the department has on order five steam wagons, four electric vehicles, and a further eight petrol vehicles. Mr. Brodie states that the department is endeavouring-to obtain up-todate knowledge of the comparative costs of operating the various types of machines, and it is for this reason 026 that petrol, steam and electric vehicles are being purchased. It is naturally expected that each type will justify its retention for certain work. Horse vehicles are used as well as motor vehicles, and each type is used so fax as possible for the class of work for which it is found to be most suitable and economical.
A feature in connection with the collection of house refuse in Liverpool is the fact that many of the back passages are only 9 ft. in width, and are so constructed as to demand motor vehicles with a short wheelbase and specially-shaped bodies in order to enable them to pass round right-angle turns. The refuse -bins are placed in the back passage wall and emptied direct into the wagons without requiring a -second handling. On this work alone 24 vehicles are engaged, and the system has proved extremely successful in operation, both as regards saving in cost over horse haulage and in the total number of men employed. Street watering in the summer is also carried out by motor vehicles, and tanks having a capacity of 1,000 gallons are mounted on the chassis. These vehicles are of similar type to those used for refuse collection, the bodies being interchangeable with those fitted on the latter vehicles.