Pioneer Transport in Africa.
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The History of the Government Motor-Transport Service in Southern Nigeria.
The Ibadan-Oyo motor service was started five years ago by the Government of Southern Nigeria with a 16 h.p. two-cylinder 24-cwt. delivery van on an unfinished road 33 miles in length connecting these places. Four similar-powered vans, but to carry two tons, followed, then a 24 h.p. 3-ton van was added, and last year a 30 h.p. four-cylinder 2-ton lorry brought the number up to seven ; the length of the road on which the vans can run has now been increased to 78 miles.
The first two vans were driven by Europeans, under the management of the Lagos Railway, but it was found advisable to put a technical officer with business experience in charge, and the result has justified the change of management. The earnings for the month of January, 1907, were £9, as compared with 2498 in October, 1911, and the percentage of expenditure to receipts was reduced from 153 per cent. in 1909 to 101 per cent. in 1911.
Trouble.
The successful development of the service, as indicated in the report for the nine months ended 30th September last, has been, to a considerable extent, retarded by the unsuitability of the first five vans, which were under-powered and not " hefty " enough for the arduous work required of them. The wooden wheels and beaded tires (since replaced by steel wheels and band tires) caused constant breakdowns and accidents. Another cause of trouble has been the state of the roads, especially in wet weather. With the exception of the last van, the fleet is composed of vehicles designed between 6 and 7 years ago.; that such a fleet can show such good results under the difficult conditions which obtain on the West Coast of Africa, where ex
penses are almost doubled, and the natives are of the most backward and lowest type in the world, indicates a prosperous future for motor The last report of the service shows the expenditure and receipts worked out in pence per mile for the different items. It will be therein seen that : supervision accounts for 3.82d. per mile ; European mechanic, 1.25d.; labour on repairs, L63d. ; depreciation, maintenance and exceptional replacements, 4.67d. The conditions of Government service in West Africa render a relief necessary for each European officer, which, in the case of the motor service, almost doubles the expense for supervision and mechanics. Labour on repairs has also been a very heavy charge owing to the unsuitability of the first four vans. Depreciation at 20 per cent. on the vans and spares has been much increased owing to the large amount of £1350 spent on the spares issued to the first four
16 h.p. vans. This, however, includes the cost of six steel hind wheels and about £200 for replacements due to accidents. These four vans have been in service 44, 4, 3f and 3:4 years respectively. As compared with them the cost of spares issued to the 24 h.p. van averages less than £13 per annum for the three years it has been running. Another heavy item of expense is fuel, on which a supercharge of over 100 per cent. is allowed for freight, etc., over the cost in England. From 15 per cent. to 30 per cent. is also allowed in this respect on all stores, spares and tires, besides the Lagos Railway freight of 1078. per ton from Lagos to Ibadan.
The addition of several vehicles is contemplated for the Ibadan-Oyo and two adjacent services ; the estimates show little addition to the items of expenditure under the headings of " supervision " and " general office," and it is expected that the profits will be large.
With the 2-ton 30 h.p. lorry type of vehicle the earnings per mile have averaged over 20d., and, as a larger fleet will result in economy in many ways, the expenditure should not exceed 15d. per mile. In this case, if the vans average 1000 miles each monthly, the profit on a fleet of 12 vans will amount to S:3000.
Native Transport.
The population of Ibadan has been recently estimated at 270,000, yet it is difficult to engage head carriers, i.e., labourers who bear their burdens on their heads. When it is possible to employ them, they are paid from 9d. to is. each per day ; the average head load is 56 lb., and the time allowed from Ibadan to Oyo and back is three days for the 66 miles. At this rate the cost per ton works out from 90s.-120s., against 61s. by motor.
Each ton carried by the motors relieves 40 carriers, and, though at present the service does the work of only 300 people daily with the small fleet running, the result to be obtained by augmenting the service at Ibadan and of operating other services, where the development of the country warrants the expenditure, cannot be over-estimated.
Since the motor service started, several European trading firms have opened branches in Oyo, and they are only waiting for a regular service to Iseyin (another large and important town) to commence business there.
Roadway Extensions.
The road has already been constructed to the latter place, which is 60 miles from Ibadan, and is being continued to Saki some BO miles farther on. In the opposite direction from Oyo, a road is near completion to Ogbomosa (29 miles from Oyo), and the construction of its extension to Oshogbo is in progress. This town is on the Lagos Railway, 60 miles above lbadan, and its importance is due to its being the centre of a vast agricuI tural district. The British Cotton Growing Association has erected one of the largest cotton gimaeries in the world here. The motor road from Ogbornosa to Oshogbo is extended to Ilesha, another 20 miles, on which road a service of one motor was started in October last. A large quantity of rubber is collected every season in the vicinity of Tlesha, and this, with other produce, is estimated to keep a service of at least six 2-ton lorries going. They are to go out.
Although most of the motor traffic is between Ibadan and Oyo, the vans (when available) occasionally run to Iseyin, and at Madan local motor roads lead from the garage in several directions connecting all the important places with the Lagos Railway station, notably the Governor's Rest House, the Sanatorium and the Residency and Court House, all of which are on a hill ell miles from the railway station.
The Madan Native Government owns a 25-ewt. Albion van, which is being continuously run for this local traffic only, but it is frequently unable to comply with all demands, and the Nigerian Government vans are often called upon to help, in which case arrangements are made for such local trips when they return from Oyo. Another road has been made from the garage to these places, and this runs through the lbadan native town ; it passes the European Merchants' Stores, also the Government Pottery, where natives are being trained in European methods with very satisfactory results. Visitors seldom leave the Pottery without taking with them interesting souvenirs and many leave orders far beyond the factory's present capacity. Motor roads now connect the railway station with the hospital (i mile), the barracks (1 mile) and the racecourse (1 mile). The hospital is kept very busy with native as well as European patients, who are sent there from so far away as Jebba on the Niger. Several officers with a company of native soldiers occupy the barracks which is also a depot for Reservists. The racecourse is also used as a polo ground ; polo is a popular sport at Ibadan.