WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—Joh-n Beattie crozier, Reducing Traffic Dangers : A Substantial Prize Fund.
An important announcement appears on page 64 of this issue concerning the offer by the proprietors of this journal and its associated journals, The Motor, The Light Car and Cyclecar and Motor Cycling, of a sum of £250, divided into 150 awards (10 sums of £10 each, 15 sums of £5 each, 25 sums of £1 each, and 100 sums of 10s. each), for the suggestions of readers which are considered by the editors of the journals mentioned to be the best contributions towards solving the problem of traffic dangers. It ii felt that motorists and motor drivers, with their wide knowledge of the highways, of the vehicles upon them, and of the habits, customs and weaknesses of the average road user, are better qualified than any other class to suggest ways and means of making the highways safer for all users.
Saving 4s. 7d. per Ton.
The Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce has approved the scheme for a proposed new motorway from London to Liverpool, via Birmingham, Waiverhampton and Manchester. It was stated that the proposal had received the unanimous approval of the local authorities, and, assuming that the road took five years to construct, it :would provide continuous employment for 14,000 men.
It, was-stated that on the suggested charges-for the use of the road, travellers would save as much as 4s. 7d. per ton as compared with the .railway, rates charged 'from Wolverhampton to Liver-, pool.
Bus Friction in Cheshire. Relations between the Birkenhead • Corporation and some of the local councils in the Wirral peninsula are not too ceirdial on the question of running powers for motor omnibus services. The district is thoroughly served by the Crosville Motor Bus Co., of Chester, and the Birkenhead Corporation, on seeking to extend its services, is encountering difficulties.
The corporation has just been in .communication with the 'Wirral Rural District Council with reference to its project to run buses via Prenton to NVondchurch, and the council, after discussing the application for permission to use local roads, decided to decline the request.
It was alleged that the Birkenhead Corporation had not treated the council generously in the past, and Mr. Griffiths said that if the Birkenhead Corporation wanted concessions it should be willing to grant concessions also to the motorbus companies licensed by the Wirral Rural District Council. The motorbuses were run for the public benefit, but a little competition was good in all cases, and he would suggest that the council should be quite willing to allow the Birkenhead Corporation to run niotorbuses in the district on condition that it allowed the licensees of the Wirral Rural District Council •to–ruis through the borough of Birkenhead without any restriction.
The surveyor.was of the opinion that there was no necessity for such a service. There were few people who lived at Woodehureh, and there were certainly fewer still, he said, who wanted to travel all the way from Birkenhead. to visit "that sylvan spot."
The Kent Council's Application.
The official inquiry into the application of the Kent County Council, which has applied for an order under the Roads Act of 1920, to prohibit or restrict the use of heavy motorcars and locomotives
on certain roads, is to be held this month and is likely to occupy a considerable time as a result of the opposition which is being raised to the application.
A Closed Main Road.
One of the main roads at Burry Port is to be closed to traffic for a time, and drivers formerly passing throng h Church Road should note that traffic will be diverted through Cathy and Pen. cold Roads.
Seeking a Speed Limit in Wales.
A special meeting of the Milford Council recently considered the matter of enforcing a speed limit on motor traffic using the North Road, the main inlet to and exit from the towts• Special danger attaches to the road at the junction of Charles, Greville and Robert' Streets by virtue of schools emptying at that point. The motion was that a limit of 8 m.p.h. should be fixed as a maximum at the dangerous spots, and that 10 m.p.h. should be the speed reatriction through the town generally. It was decided to appeal to the county councillor the necessary sanction to enforce these restrictions, and to ask the police specially to keep observation on the road.
Owing to extreme pressure on our space this week, we have been compelled to hold over our regular features entitled ".Esuipping a Coach for Wireless Reception" and "Opinions from Others.''
A Miniature Railway Displaced by Road Motor. • The G-arforth Colliery Co., who have maintained a miniature railway service between Garforth and Aberford for some time past, recently gave notice of the withdrawal of the passenger service, which was familiarly known as "The Fly." When the railway was first instituted,, a horse was used to set the only carriage in motion at Garforth, and the animal was then carried on a bogie behind the moving vehicle, which descended the slope to Aberford, some 2i miles away. For the return journey the horse was used to haul the carriage back to Garforth.
At one time a daily service was operated by this means, but with the increasing growth of passenger road vehicles the seiviee has been little used, and for some time past it has only been maintained for two days a week.
Deputation Seeks Lower Fares.
A reduction in bus fares in the Swansea district is foreshadowed. -A deputetion recently waited, on behalf of the Llansamlet Labour Council, 011 the South Wales Transport Co., Swansea; the largest bus-owning concern in Wales, to request a reduction in the fares charged on the Llansamlet-Swam sea route.
The deputation was informed that the directors of the company were carefully considering the matter, and that they would shortly make an important announcement with regard to the question of reducing fares on the services.
New Midland Excursion Fares.
Possibly the new excursion faxes Instituted by the Midland Red Omnibus Co., which came into Operation a week ago, are among the lowest-priced in the country. The tickets are availabl4 on all main routes on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Cheap return tickets are available every day except on Sundays and Bank holidays, but these excursions represent a further reduction in price on the ordinary return fares.
The fallowing will show examples of how the fares compare with ordinary and cheap return tickets :—
Destination, Single Return Exeur.
Ord. Ord. sion.
s. d. s, d. s. d.
Worcester to Birmingham ... Worcester to Kidderminster Worcester to 29 50 36 1 8 3 0 2 0 Stein-bridge ... 2 '7 4 6 3 0
The excursion faro from Worcester to Birmingham costs only Sd. mere than single train fare, ;and the same difference in price of railway excursion tickets issued on Thursdays.
We are informed that the Memini Carburettor Co., Ltd., 235, High Holborn, London, W.4J.1, have purchased the sole manufacturing and selling rights for Great Britain and the Dominions of the. Memini carburettor.
Railless Traction Results.
Details of the services by railless vehicles are given in the 1922-23 report of the Bradford Corporation tramways authorities. On the tramway system there was a net serplus for the year's working of £65,108, but a loss of £7,946 is recorded on the railless cars. The income from the railless buses was 12.992d. per car-mile and the working expenses 16.233d. Interest, etc., represented 1.621d., so that the deficit averaged 4.862d. per car-mile'.
The total income from the railless vehicles was £21,230, and the working. expenses were £26,527.
The corporation has 20 railless cars in service. The first. railless section was opened in June, 1911, and vehicles of this type now operate over nearly 10 miles of routes.
Leeds Cab Fare Proposals.
The Leeds Texi-ewners' Association has suggested to the local watch committee that the scale of charges for hackney carriages should be at the flat rate of Is. 6d. per mile, instead of as at present-1s. 6d. for the first mile and is. 8d. for each subsequent mile; that waiting time for travellers and shoppers in the city should be at the rate of 7s. 6d. per hour instead of 10s., and that mileage and waiting charges should be 4s. per hour. The proprietors also suggest that the jurisdiction of the watch committee should be eestricted from a radius of 10 miles to a radius of six miles from the centre of the city.
A New Mann Catalogue.
A new catalogue compiled in the interests of Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd., has recently been prepared by the Courtrnan Stock Complete Service for this well-known Leeds company. The catalogue is extremely well put toqther, and it contains much instructive information relating to the construction of the Mann wagon and to the various models which are manufactured by the company to meet a diversity of needs.
The opening pages of the catalogue deal with that much-debated subject, steam versus petrol, and reasons are expounded in favour of the steam wagonfor certain classes of work. A 'detailed description of the company's latest production—a six-ton wagon—is included, as well as details relating to working costs, fuel consumption, speeds, etc.
We notice that, in accordance with the trend of modern developments, brief details are given of a tractor-lorry unit for use with the Mann wagon.
The catalogue is well illustrated and, apart from depicting uses to which the Mann vehicle is put in connection with goods haulage, we notice that the final illustration is of a wagon and trailer fitted with bus bodies.
New Roads Mean New Bus Services.
Many new roads have been or are being, constructed in and around Leeds, and it is expected that., as a result1 additional bus services will be instituted. At the present time it is deemed impracticable to substitute buses for tramcars on the main routes, although the tramways committee is keenly alive to the utility of motorbuses. In fact, it. is said that the committee has asked the general manager to report as to the advisability of opening up other passenger-vehicle
routes in Leeds with motorbuses, and the report is expected to be ready for the next meeting of the committee in September.
• New Manchester Bus Services.
At a meeting of the Manchester Tramways Committee a few days ago it was decided to run a bus service from Cheetharn Hill Road, through Lower Crnmpsall to Rochdale Road, in addition to the service which has already been agreed upon for the Higher Crumpsall to Blackley route.
Parking Places for Motor Coaches.
The list of parking places. for motor coaches compiled by the Commercial Motor Users'Association has now been reprinted, and a copy will be forwarded post free on reference to the general secretary of the Association at 50, Pall Mall, London, S. W. 1.
The booklet contains details of parking places at more than 170 cities and towns in the country, and in view of
I le great difficulty experienced by many drivers in obtaining suitable accommodation when visiting unfamiliar places, should be in the hands of all those who are in charge of vehicles engaged on touring.
Tractors in Greece. • _There are about 400 tractors in Greece, 200 being of American make, whilst . Germany and Great Britain have supplied about 100 arid 50 machines respectively. Last year imports were affected by the adverse rate ot exchange, which gave Germany a chance to jump to the front, American salesmen only dispoSing of five machines during 1922.
Expropriation is adding considerably to the large number of small holdings in the country, especially in the north. Consequently, the small 12 h.p. tractor, capable of pulling two ploughs, is the most popular machine, although a sufficient number of large estates remains to justify the expectation that heavier makes will sell well ultimately, A stable, rather than a lower, exchange rate is the prime essential to increased sales. Greek farmers are fairly prosperous, and the co-operative movement is rapidly growing.
Isle of Man Traffic.
The Surveyor-General of the Isle of Man has had a census taken of the number and weight of motor and horse vehicles which pass over the main roads of the island. The various classes of traffic are tabulated in the returns, which show that the motor traffic very largely outweighs. the horse traffic, the actual fig ores being 11,969 motor vehicles as against 4,080 horse-drawn vehicles. At one of the busiest parts of the island, on the Douglas-Peel road, at a point 100 yards on the Peel side of the Quarter Bridge, the number of motor vehicles that passed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for a week was 3,632, their tonnage being 8,273. The number of horsed vehicles which passed in the same period was 1,897, representing a tonnage of 1,085.
Nottingham Motorbus Traffic.
Considerable developments of private enterprise in relation to motorbus traffic are DOW being witnessed in Nottingham and its suburban districts, consequent upon the city corporation exercising its statutory powers relative to the running of vehicles to Beeston and Hucknall Tor kard. An attempt is, however, still being made by many who are associated with Nottingham public affairs to disparage the possible revenue-earning powers and convenience of buses in contrast with tramways, and in this connection plentiful use has been made, within the last few days, of the findings of the Manchester Corporation committee.
But these various contentiens laCk potency by reason of their omission of the salient consideration that for rural, as well as urban areas, buses are immeasurably preferable by reason of their flexibility.
Bus Service Control.
Baznsley Corporation has obtained powers which will enable it effectively to regulate motorbus traffic. Routes can he prescribed by the corporation' whilst certain streets can be reserved for special classes of traffic, or scheduled as one-way thoroughfares. Stepping-places may be fixed by the corporation to ensure public convenience and to avoid congestion.
Gloucestershire Roads.
In the annual report of the highways, works and general purpose committee of the Gloucestershire Connty Council mention is made of the fact that of the 1,034 miles of roads in Gloucestershire (inclusive of•34 miles of district roads) a mileage of 441 is now traversed by regular motorbus services. It is satisfactory to note that the surfaces of the main roads generally show an improvement, and that the council is making efforts to meet the needs of modern traffic, although, as a result of the inattention to the roads during the years of the war, the work of keeping abreast of modern requirements is somewhat slow.
raAccording to the report the cost of maintenance of county main and contribution roada was L323 12s.• 7d. per mile, the cost of superintendence being 2.54 per cent. It is stated that.the use of Spramex-surface dressing has proved satisfactory.
An Enterprising Bus and Coach-owning Company.
The Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., who operate a most comprehensive network of bus services in NorthEast England, which are controlled from their headquarters at Chester-leStreet, have recently published an instructive and informative guide dealing with their regular services and also with the special motor coach tours which they run to Yorkshire, Scotland, and the Lake District. The object of the booklet is to make known the travelling facilities which the company provide, and the important part which is played by the road motor in linking up remote end isolated areas with busy centres.
• We note that the company run • 17 different regular services, apart from nine motor coach excursions, which include three-day and seven-daytours. In the booklet brief details are given of the most interesting associations connected with each run.
The company operate an extensive fleet of single-deck buses and coaches, which, as a result of their immunity from breakdowns and the excellent condition in Which they are maintained, have built up a reputation which is much cherishedby the company.
Useful Suggestions from Employees. During the month of July 370 suggestions were received by the management of the Underground Combine from staff members. Of this number, 28 were adopted and suitable awards made si24
to the members of the staff who conceived the ideas. Amongst the successful suggestions we note an improved driver's footplate for use on the K-type. bus, sod the incorporation of departure tiwes of special night buses in the bus guides.
Commercial Car Concessionnaires for Scotland.
It is interesting to note that Commercial Cars, Ltd., of Luton, have appointed the Norfolk Motor and Coach Works, Ltd., of 45, Keppochill Road, Springburn, Glasgow, sole concessionnaires for Cominer Car vehicles for the whole of Scotland. This company will be in a position to undertake all repairs and overhauls, and also to supply -spare parts.
For Lubricating Tyre Beads.'
'A new material for lubricating the beads of pneumatic tyres has recently been placed on the market by Harvey Frost and Co., Ltd., 148, Great Portland Street, London, W. I. It is known as H.F. Lubrene and is a solid lubricant packed in a handy case provided With a tape by which the stick of lubricant can be withdrawn so that it does not
have to be handled. It is priced at is. 3d., and it is intended to make easier the fitting and removal of tyres. and to preserve the beads against damaga by tools and rim rust.
A Dodge Brothers Brochure.'
We recently received a very wellarranged brochure relating to the vehicles marketed by Dodge Brothers (Great Britain), Ltd., of Stevenage Wharf, Stevenage Road, Fulham, Loudon, S.W. 6. This brochure contains a large number of photographs of various types of Dodge Brothers vans, a brief detailed specification of the chassis and a technical description of some of the more important components. It also gives particulars of the Graham Brothers 30-cwt. chassis, which includes the
Dodge. Brothers engine. A copy of this brochure will be posted to any reader of this ioureal on application to the address given.
We learn that Messrs. Commercial Hirers, Larches Street, Birmingham, have been appointed sole distributive agents in Birmingham for Firestone solid tyres, and that at their, premises a tyre press is installed to facilitate the removal and. fitting of tyres for users.
Short-period Licences.
The Commercial Motor Users Associa tion has been officially notified that the Departmental Committee cannot examine its proposal for one-day licences (at a charge of one per cent. on the annual licence duty) until a decision is reached concerning schemes for a reversion to the fuel tax.
The plan of the Association for 1923 was, as a tentative measure, to allow any licence expiring on September 30th to be extended to October 31st by suitable endorsement at any post office dealing with licences, on payment of one-third of the quarterly fee.
Bus Services at Birkenhead.
At a meeting of the Birkenhead Watch Committee letters from the Grosvilla Motor Co., Ltd., applying for permission to run motor omnibus servi-es into and through the borough were considered.
The town clerk laid before the committee certain communications• received from the Ministry of Transport with regard to the matter, and -lso a letter from the Birkenhead Trader' Association.
Consideration of the matter was deferred, and the town clerk was asked te communicate with the Crosville Motor Co., suggesting that a conference should take place between representatives of the corporation, and the company for the purpose of discussing the applications put forward by the company.
Bus Service Popularity.
As a result of the increasing popularity of Aldborough as a holiday resort, it has been found that the motorbus service, which is run in conjunction with the tramways in Hull, is being taxed to its uttermost. The proprietors of the buses are now experimenting with a 15-min_ service on Saturdays and Sundays, which will be maintained throughout the season if the remits are sufficiently satisfactory.
Midland Accessory Makers.
The Pennant Manufacturing Co., Ltd., have recently completed the erection of new premises at Reddings Lane, Sparkhill, Birmingham, where they are concentrating on the manufacture of their various utility devices. Amongst the company's products are to be found adjustable spanners, chain rivet extractors, pliers luggage carriers, mirrors and other such useful accessories. The company have recently issued a catalogue which gives brief details of their specialities
Local Proceedings.
Wealdstone Urban District Council proposes to purchase a motor fire-engine.
Stirling Town Council has decided to purohase a Dennis turbine motor fireengine, Warrington Town Council has detided to introduce electric vehicles for refuse collection.
Rochford Rural District Council is inviting quotations for the supply of .a motor ambulance.
Sidmonth Urban District Council has decided to invite tenders for the supply of a motor fire-engine.
Swarbage Urban District Council is about to consider the desirability of acquiring a motor fire-engine.
Birkenhead Corporation accounts show a profit for the year on the municipal bus services of £13,000.
Melton rural and urban authorities are discussing the desirability of the provision of a motor fire-engine.
Bolton Corporation has appointed a committee to consider the provision of a motorcar for the parks' superintendent. Taunton Rural District. Connell is .negotiating with the Taunton Corporation regarding the-provision of a motor fire-engine.
BurnleyCorporation Gas Committee recommends the purchase of a Ford motor wagon from Messrs. Knape and Son at a cost of £115,. less 5 per cent.
To obviate congestion of traffic, the Glasgow Corporation Markets' Committee recommends that no motor vehicle he permitted to enter or remain in the • meat market between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m.
. The. managing director of the Ribble . Motor. Services, Ltd., has appeared before the Burnley Watch Committee in
• support of an application for licences to ply for hire within the borough,' and the committee has arranged to go into the matter. Whaley Bridge Urban District Council is, in conjunction with the New Mills Red Cross, considering the question of the purchase of a new motor ambulance.
Burnley Corporation Tramways Committee has asked the trainways manager to report on the question of providing a motor omnibus service to Stoneyholme.
Burnley Chamber of Trade has sent the corporation a resolution in favour of the granting of licences to ply for hire by motorbuses within the borough.
Manchester Corporation has recently placed a. repeat order for a. 3-ton Guy vehicle for use by its gas department. A vehicle of this type, fitted with a large steel tipping body for the conveyance . of coke, was supplied to the corporation three years ago..
The annual report of the parcels departinent which the Bradford Corporation runs in assoeiation with the tramways service refers to a ton Ford van purchaied during the year, which has • proved a very cheap and efficient means of delivering parcels.
A Trade Union's Advocacy.
The national secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, of which 60,000 drivers of commercial vehicles and 35,000 drivers of buses and tramcars are members, has stated that the union stands for the institution of driving tests for all applicants for motor driving licences. Representatives of the union have already met officials of the Ministry of Transport, and, having put forward their case, have been promised further facilities for ventilating their views.
American Exports.
According to a recent advice from America, the exports of commercial motor vehicles in the month of June of this year, excluding electric vehicles, totalled 2,129, valued at 1,143,036 dollars. Of this number, 580 were imported into Belgium, 408 into Sweden, 297 into Australia, 140 into Canada, whilst 59 vehicles were absorbed by the market in the British Isles.