WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be stowed by all difficulties of tratteport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the reitegliness of the roads over which it rans."—John Beattie Crozier,
London Street Accidents.
The following statistics of street accidents, recorded by the Metropolitan Police Authorities during the niontb.s of April, May and June, are worthy of close perusal, for they enable the responsibility for such occurrences to be correctly apportioned amongst the various classes of traffic using the London highways.
The figures under (a) are it/eluded in those shown under (b).
Passenger Traffic in Scotland.
Large excursion parties from different parts of England have been frequently seen in Scotland during the current Beason. Only a few days ago three wellappointed vehicles from Southampton journeyed across the Border' up through Stirling and Perth, and right on to Inverness. They each contained about 20 passengers, and all arrangements for the trip had been made well in advance.
Visitors from the North of England are common, and these, after touching at Edinburgh, the Trossachs and other places of interest, extend their runs very often to Wick and Thurso on the Pentland Firth. . Buses are this year more popular than chars-1-banes for longdistance excursions, the reason, of course, being that the weather has been so unsettled.
Traffic in North Wales.
A census of read traffic has been taken at a number of Welsh resorts, and some remarkable figures arc forthcoming. At. Abergele. a census was taken during the seven days from August 11th, and the total number of motors, horse-drawn vehicles, horses and live-stock •noted during the period waS 12,591. The heaviest traffic was on the Sunday, when it exceeded by 180 vehicles that of any other day.. No fewer than 11,525 motors passed during the week, and horse-drawn
vehicles numbered 407. Motors averaged 1,646 per day, and their total tonnage was 17.559. Fifty per cent. of the motor vehicles were ears and 25 per cent. motereyeles,
The following are statistics from other points : Bangor—On the main road to HolyC2,0 head the number of vehicles which passed during the week was 9,403, of which 5,904 were motor vehicles. Had the census been taken in High-street, the figures would have been considerably greater.
Llanfairfechan.—The traffic passing through the district during the week ending Saturday, August 19th, was as follows :—Ordinary cycles, 1,537; motorcycles, 1,364; motorcars, 3,995; motorvans, 209; and motor coaches, 746, Bethesda.—The figures for this town are :—Ordinary cycles, 766; motorcycles, 434; motorcars, 1.517; motes-vans, 41; motor omnibuses, 494. Colwyn Bay.—The figures for Colwyn Bay are amazing. During the seven days 33,189 vehicles passed through the town, including 12,462 motorcars, 5,571 motorcycles, 1,662 motorvans, 2038, motor buses and coaches 2,004 motor lorries, 5,542 ordinary cycles.
Heavy Traffic Test Case.
In view of the far-reaching effect of the judgment against the Glasgow Corporation in the case against a company in respect of damage to streets by traffic of excessive weight, the statute labour committee of the corporation now proposes to appeal to the House of Lords.
Linking Up Birmingham's Suburbs.
Birmingham Tramways Committee ha,s decided upon an cuter circle of omnu buses on new direct suburb-to-suburb routes. The new omnibuses will probably be of light, single-deck construction and have entrances at the front. It is expected that the service will start in about two months.
Dangers of the Road.
As a result of the large number of road accidents recently, Mr. Walter Forrest, M.P., wrote to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport asking whether the Ministry, apart from specific inquiries, were making any general investigatiou into the whole question of motor traffic under modern conditions.
In, reply he has received a letter from Mr. Arthur Neal, M.P., explaining the policy of the Ministry, from which we have extracted the following • " Dealing first with the road question, the Minister, at the present. time, has no statutory powers to inquire into road accidents and their 'causes, but, by friendly co-operation with the police authorities, reports of all accidents attributable to these causes are forwarded to the divisional engineers of the Ministry, and these officers make inquiries into the causes of the accidents and report thereon: Where from such reports it appears that the nature or character of the road, or its sueface, was the cause, every endeavour is made, through the highway authorities, to remove the danger and assistance to do so is given from the Road Fund to such authorities, " Further, under Section 7 (4) of the Roads Act, the Minister has power, upon the application of a County Council, or County Borough C-ouncil, after holding a local inquiry, to prohibit or restrict the driving of vehicles of any specifiedclass on any specified highway in which it appears to li:na that a vehicle of that class cannot be used on that highway without endangering the safety of the vehicle or of persons therein, or of other traffic using the. highway, or that the highway is unsuitable for u-se by a vehicle of that class. County Councils and the County Borough Councils have been asked to consider their areas as a whole in making such applications under this section. A very considerable number of such applications have been received.
" It is considered that public service vehicles which carry passengers for reward, including omnibuses, motor coaches, taxicabs, etc. afford a somewhat special class of Vehicle, which may properly be subject to more .regulation than other vehicles, and a representative'committee -is now sitting, with wide terms of reference, to inquire into and report upon what regulations it is desirable should be made to govern these vehicles, and this committee are at. present engaged in considering the question of the desirability of both tho vehicles and the drivers being subjected to examination and inspection as to fitness and suitability, but, owing to the extensive nature of their inquiry-, I. fear it will not be possible for them to report for some considerable time."
Experts of commercial vehicles (excepting eleetrics) from the United States during the month of June totalled 1,121, valued at 786,279 dollars. Of this numbee 156 were imported into Canada, 135 into Mexico, 86 into Japan, 39 into Australia, a-nd 35 into Great Britain.
Petrot Plant Economy.
The Cleansing Committee of the Birmingham Corporation reports that there are still 171 dumbwells within the city area. The present methods of emptying clumbwells are 1— 1.—By hand pumping with diaphragm pumps into 250-gallon horse tumbler carts. 2.—By a vacuum plant, consisting of three vehicles, the body of each being a cylindrical iron tank. The ignition of a mixture of petrol and air in one tank creates a vaeuurn, which draws the contents of the dumbwell into one of the two carrying tanks, three -explosions being necessary to fill each tank.
The plant was purchased nine years ago from Paris, and, while it is a eoneiclerabie improvement on the handpumping method, it leaves mach to be desired. The process is extremely slow, and in Ifighfielcl Road, Hall Green, where there are six dumbwells to serve 14 houses, it takes two days out of every
ten to empty the wells. As may be imagined, the process if accompanied by an obnoxious odour.
A petrol-driven vehicle, having a. capacity of 1,000 gallons, has now been placed on the market, which, by means of a petrol-driven air pump, can empty T,000 gallons in 10 mins. During a test carried out by the department, the six dirmbwelts in Highfield Road were emptied in half a day, as against two days taken by the present method. Two of these machines would deal with all the clumbwelis in the city, and the committee recommends that. it be authorized to purchase two such vehicles at an approximate cost of £1,570 each.
• The Longest Traffic Bridge. To avoid_ the delays at the Liverpool and other cross-river ferries, motor coach and haulage traffic bound for the North Wales district frequently makes the circuitous journey via the Runcorn transporter bridge to Chester, which accounts for an extra dozen miles. It is claimed that this bridge has the longest span of any bridge in the United Kingdom designed for carrying road traffic, the clear space over •the-River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, which runs parallel, being 1,000 ft.,. compared with the span of the Clifton suspension bridge of 702 ft. and of the Menai suspension bridge of 570 ft. The Runcorn transporter bridge is 15 miles from both Liverpool and Chester, and consists of a platforin-55 ft. long by 24 ft, wide. It is suspended from the trolley by steel rope wires, so hung that they prevent either side or end oscillation of the car, which holds about four vehicles in addition to 300 passengers. The time occupied by the car in crossing is about four minutes ; allowing the time for loading and unloading, it is capable of making about six trips per hour. The bottom of the -car is about 12 ft. above high-water level. A regular service is maintained every 20 minutes. The bridge is extensively used by manufacturers, road transport. companies and motoriste, generally for quick despatch by road -between Liverpool, the south-west area of Lancashire and Cheshire, Chester, North Wales, etc.
The Scottish Motor Exhibition.
Mr, D. A. FairIey, secretary, Scottish Motor Trade Association, has notified Glasgow Corporation that the Association is now prepared to negotiate for the Kelvin Hall from January 26th to February rd inclusive for the twenty-first annual Scottish Motor Exhibition. The Kelvin Hail Committee of the • Corporation recommends granting the use of the hall for the sum of £1,850.
Ford Plants Closing Down.
According to an advice from Detroit, the Ford Motor Co.'s plants at Highland Park (Illinois), Deraborn (Michigan), and Riverrouge (Michigan) are closing down on September 16th owing to lack ef wet: The company's assembly plants throughout the country are also closing down. It is said that the suspension of work will affect 85,000 workers directly and several hundred thousand indirectly.
Mr. Ford intimated that how long the shut-down will last depends on the future of the coal supply.
Republic Enterprise.
Messrs. Republic Trucks have removed their sales and service premises to 18-26i, Peterborough Road, New King's Road i Fulham, London, S.W. 6. In future this company will be carried on under the direct control of the rnamufacturera; instead of by a concessionnaire as formerly, and it is for this reason that, extensive offices, showrooms, a service station, and a parts stores have beeg opened at the address given above, order to enable the company to cater' more efficiently for the growing number of users of Republic motor vehicles. Coincident with this removal, we would, draw the attention of our readers tti the reduced prices of Republic vehicles :— OM Price. New Price'.
Model 75, 1-tun chassis ... £430 ... 4385 Model 10, 30-owt. chassis... £445 A3515 Model 11, 2..ten chassis ... £495 ... 4425
A New Motor
The United Petroleum Products Co., Ltd., who market Redline motor spirit, announce that they have recently placed on the market a new No. 1 spirit of exceptional quality. This new' Redline spirit has been thoroughly tested to give. rapid acceleration, and has proved its economical qualities, with absence of pinking—essential factors that should prove of much interest to motor vehicle users. Many expressions of appreciation have been received by this company from some of their largest consumers who have given the new Redline spirit a thorough trial, its chief feature, they point out, being the increased mileage secured so far as their machines • are concerned.
A Well-used Motor Park.
The number of motorcars and charsà-banes whicb• have been parked in Carnaryon during the last quarter has increased considerably compared with the corresponding period last year. Figures for May, June arrd July of last year are May, 147; June. 260; July, 528; total, 935; and for 1922: May, 198; June, 586; July, 826; total, 1;610. This shows an increase of 676. A.E.C. Literature.
Although catalogues and other trade literature are produced with one obvious intention in mind, such literature is always worthy of close perusal if it is attractively produced. For this reason motor vehicle users generally will be interested in three booklets which theAssociated Equipment Co., Ltd., of Waltharnstow, London, E. 17, have produced, and more particularly one of them, which, under the heading of " Suggestions for Keeping Simple Running Costs," gives valuable hints on a subject which does not always receive the attention it demands; the specimen running-cost sheet is always, helpful as a guide.
The other booklets deal with the company's railless trolley-bus and the 35 model 4 chassis, and both are tastefully produced.
Traffic to Preston Guild.
Motor coach proprietors in the Lancashire manufacturing towns are hoping that the Preston Guild celebrations being held this week (September 4th to 9th) will give a good fillip to trade. Malty owners have arranged to book single seats, but others are angling for private party work. One concern, the Lanca7 shire' United Tramways, Ltd., yesterday (September 4th) sent ten. coaches booked up by a private party.
The Preston motor omnibus proprietors are alive to the possibilities, and as an example of what is being done, the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., are running an extra service between Wigan and Preston. From 7.35 until 19.35 a.m. there is a half-hourly service, after which the omnibuses are run at intervals of one hour. The return journeys in the evening are run every hour until 9.30, and then half-hourly until 11 o'e.; a single fare of 2s. is being charged.
By requirement of the police authorities, the Ribble Motor ,Services, terminus has been temporarily removed from Market Square to London Road.
Institute of Metals Lectures.
A notable feature of the forthcoming Swansea meeting of the Institute of Metals will be the inauguration of a series of annual public lectures on " Subjects of Practical Interest to those Engaged in the Non-ferrous Metals Industry.." The lectures areadditiOnal to the well-known annual May lectures of the Institute of Metals, which have constituted a notable feature of the Institute's work since 1910.
Dr. R. S. Hutton, a member of the Council of the Institute and director of the British Non-ferrous Metals Research Association, is to deliver the first of the new lectures, this being entitled " The Science of Human Effort (Motion Study and Vocational Training)." The lecture will be given, at. 8 p.m. on See tember 19th at the Y,M.C.A., Swansea.. Tickets can be obtained from Mr. G. Shaw Scott, 36, Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1.
The proceedings at Swansea include the discussion of 15 papers. on various metallurgical subjects, civic and other receptions and entertainments, visits to works, and a motor tour round the Gower Peninsula.
Side Wings for. Coaches.
In most types of motor coaches side wings fitted to the windscreen give passengers additional protection from dust, wind currents and driving rains. Those proprietors who study little points of this kind and desire to provide passengers with the maximum of comfort will be interested in the. Sidno side wings which have recently been introduced by Messrs. Cooper, Webb-Jones and Co., of Stockwell Works, 'Walsall, who epecialize in fittings of this description. The screens are made with a brass or nickel frame and a polished celluloid' window, and what will appeal to users is the fact that they can he easily and, quickly fitted without the need for drilling -or screwing the screen standards, two screws in each door sufficing.
Traffic in ,Surrey.
A typical indication of the rapid growth a road motor transport throughout the country is afforded by the figures which have just been issued by the licence department of the Surrey County Council. The number of licences issued by that authority up to July of last year and the same month of this year are
shown in the following comparative statistics :— 1921 1922.
Licences for vehicles... 25,540 27,966 Drivers' licences ... 21,285 25,775 These figures show an increase in the issue of vehicle licences of 2,426 and of drivers' licences of 4,490. Further evidence of traffic extension and development is embodied in the census of traffic taken at the Milford cross-roads, beyond Godalming, on the four days of the Goodwood races by the direction of the surveyor to the Hambledon Rural District Council. The figures which deal with 14 hours' traffic from July 25th-28th inclusive, are as follow :— . Totals ... 13,640 16,630 + 3,091
The total tonnage represented lw this traffic was 27,134 compared with N,394 in_1921, It is interesting to observe the increase in motor coach traffic.
New York Traffic Schemes.
A pretentious scheme for the construction of a new passenger transport subway system through New York, to be municipally owned and operated, and to cost 600.000,000 dollars (about £1135,000,000) is announced. The system,. it la stated, will embrace 3,5 new routes and extensions, with tunnels and bridges. It will cover a total of 237 miles, and a uniform fare of five cents will be charged. ft is estimated that the work will take 15 years to Complete. The new scheme, when it is finished, will link up the municipal bus services throughout New York, which are being planned at a cost of 25,000,000 dollars.
Local Proceedings. • .
The Reigate Town Council is considering the purchase of a fire-engine.
Truro City Council is to consider the desirability of providing a motor fire. engine for the benefit of outer districts.
The Watch. Committee of the Oldham Borough Council • invites tenders for the supply of a motor prison van, or patrol wagon, to seat 10 persons.
The Aberystwith Rural Council has decided to Invite tenders for a steamroller, the estimated cost of which approximates £900. A saving of £200 per annum will be made by acquiring a roller instead of hiring as at present:
• Lighter Buses in Demand.
On page 82 we reproduce an illustration showing two Vulcan single-deck buses fitted with 20-seater bodies made by the Northern Counties Motor an,-). Engineering Co., Ltd., of Wigan Lane, Wigan, and supplied co Ribble l‘lotor Services, Ltd.
The Ribble Co. already have in their service 45 vehicles (the smallest with a carrying capacity for 30 passengers), ail of which are run on solid tyres, but competition and public requirements for taster means of transport have compelled them to experiment with the lighter vehicles shod with Dunlop Magnum cord tyres.
The bodies of those vehicles' have rear partitions behind the driver, and rearentrance half-folding doors. The seats are well upholstered in red antiquf, leather and provide plenty of knee room. Drop windows are fitted at the sides, and a sliding window next to the driver. 'Vie Ribble Co.'s standard colours, red and lemon with black wings, are utilized for the vehicles, which are at present running between Preston and Southpert and Preston and Blackpool.
Mr. S. A. Wallace's New Move.
A new depot devoted to Ford interests has beau established at Central House, Kingsway, London, by Wallace-Harmer Motors,Ltd., with an admirable service station at 'Whiskin Street, Clerkenwell, and within five minutes' run from the depot. Mr. S. A. Wallace, one of the directors, was formerly associated with the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., as works manager, and, with International Motors, Ltd. His knowledge of the Ford and its capabilities is profound. Mr. G. F. Harmer, the other director, was formerly associated with Daimler Motors, Ltd., and has a thorough acquaintance with British trade requirements. The combination is a very good one and should make for success. The depot is one of the brightest in London,
well equipped and comfortably furnished and being on the confines of the City, in the heart of the business district, trade should flow steadily and increasingly through its portals. Already a substantial number of sales has been effected, and prospects are regarded as most encouraging. Particular attention is being paid to the commercial vehicle section of the Ford business, for this branch -of the trade is thoroughly well understood. A point is made of equipping the vehicles with any description of tyre demanded. The service side of the business will be adequately exploited.
COMMERCIAL MOTOR A Russian Transport Journal.
We have received the first issue of Mechanical Transport, a journal published by Mr. N. Kousnetzoff, C.E., S.A.E., and printed in London in the Russian language for circulation through
out Russia. tr' Its aim and_object are to encourage the development of transport, whether by railway, water, air or road, and to acquaint Russian readers with the progress of the British engineering indus. try and particularly that portion thereof which is connected with mechanical transport. The journal is to be published monthly, and its first issue contains—inter alia—articles on the adaptation of motor lorries to railway tracks, whilst steam, petrol and electric vehicles, and their uses in various countries and in various industries, are dealt with in short articles well illustrated.
The address of the editorial office is 88, Bishopsgate, London, E.C. 2.
Welsh Passenger Traffic.
According to the annual report presented by the inspectors to the Llanelly Borough Council, a great increase in motor traffic licensed in the 'area was made in the year ended December 31st. last compared with the preceding twelve months. Licences granted for omnibuses show an increase of ten, whilst drivers' and conductors' licences have been nearly doubled.
Hackney carriage licences have increased. enormously, and it is stated that from Llanelly to every town and village within a 15-miles radius there is now a regular omnibus service. Eightyone passenger vehicles are now on service in the borough.The council decided to grant no licences in future to passenger-carrying vehicles with a seating accommodation for fewer than 14 passengers; and, moreover, to frame the regu
la,tions so that the council has absolute control over bus time-tables, Termini are to be centralized.
A Guide to the Country.
The Underground Railway authorities have just published a guide to the countryside north of the Thames, served by motorbuses, Underground trains and trams, The guide is called "London's Country," 4nd is very fully illustrated. There are 23 pictures of typical beauty spots and 23 specially drawn maps, which will simplify the rambler's journey by fieldpath from point to. point.
The guide, which contains no advertisements, is printed on good paper, bound in a stout board cover. Every Londoner should have, a copy of this book by him, as it will open new fields for, exploration in the evening or during holiday time. Its price is Is.
Threefold Traffic Increase.
This traffic census on the 'Monmouthshire main roads has revealed an amazing increase in the number and tonnage of commercial vehicles on the road, compared with pre-war times.
It was reported to the Abersychan Council recently that a Week's census on the Osborne Reid, a part of the main road to the eastern mining valleys, enabled an estimate•of the traffic for the current year to be made that indicated a threefold increase on the 1914 fignres ; the 1922 estimated tonnage was 846,924, as against 321,049 in 1914. The surveyor remarked that this clearly proved the growing importance of road construction and maintenance.
Having considered this report, the council decided to spend £6250 on improving the Carnarvon and Hospital roads.
Enfield's Useful Electric In his annual report. the Enfield sanitary inspector says the 23-.ton Edison electric vehicle has proved a very great acquisition for the removal of house
refuse. Formerly it took three horses and carts, but by the use of the electric vehicle an efficiency and control have been secured not possible with horses.
Reduced Overland Prices.
At a lunch recently to Mr. John N. Willys, president of the Willys-OverlandCrossley combination, attended by agents from all parts of the country, new and reduced prices of Overland Four cars, vans and chassis were announced, while a special feature for 1923 is to be a commercial traveller's brougham. All prices now include a fifth tyre and tube and are as follow :—Van, £240; 100-in. commercial chassis, 200; traveller's brougham, £290.