Out and Home. —By " The Extractor."
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I ;lin indebted to Mr. H. Thomson Lvon, M.I.E.E., chairman of the Highways Committee of the Westminster City iCouncil, for a copy of the accompanying comparative statement. Phe data have been compiled under the immediate supervision of Mr. J. W. Bradlev. the Ciry Engineer and Surveyor, and they show not a few interesting examples of development in connection ‘Nith the growth of commercial motors of several varieties. The reductions in some of the totals of foot passengers, and notably at Piccadilly by St. James's Church, suggests that a nutedier of them have been patronising the new facilities for travel, and I ‘yould that all these new facilities VAT(' on the surface : it is. it long way to the platforms of seine of the tube stations.
I am one el those who, rightly or wrongly, deeply deplored the action of the House of Lords over the Licensing Bill, and my language on the action of these hereditary legislators is apt to he '' frequent and painful and free but eiN.perience a throb of genuine commercial satisfaction, anyway, now that the air is cleared, and " the trade " again begin to cast around and to consider their requirements in the shape of motor vehicles, I hear, from several sides, of activity with orders from brewers already placed, or just on the point of being settled. " Beer is the beverage for the Britisher—beer has made England what she is," a friend of mine impassionately declaims on occasion, and then he proceeds to his club, for a meal, and orders Burgundy. I won't say more power to the brewers, because. ‘N-ith their friends in the House of Lords, they have enough; but it is 'highly satisfactory that the transition from quadrupeds to steam and petrol is to be renewed apace.
A roomy garage with a good entrance—a most essential thinghas been opened, just in the quarter where it seems to be most needed, ofT The Tottenham Court Road, and one difficulty for local manufacturers or distributors is thus swept -away. Ample room is here, and reasonable rates for storing and repairing motoryans and lorries. The name and address is Messrs. Bell and Smart, 48 and so, Tottenham Street, Tottenham Court Road, W. I took the trouble to view the place for nay own information, partly because I thought if they had the facilities (and I. find they have) it would be 'interesting to make a note of, and partly on account of Mr. Smart's being an old motoring friend of mine he for many years represented the Quadrant Motor Company in IAmdon, and he is one of those painstaking, capable men vho do whatever they take in hand with all their might. Mr. Bell, J understand, was several years engineer to (1.011don), Limited, now in liquidation ; he has a thorough knowledge of Argyll and other cars and yans. I feel sure that garaging or repair %%orb-. will be in good hands v ith them.
Smithfield Show is on us again and there are iitaiiv interesting tractors to be seen. Fowlers, of Leeds, are in great force; Clayton and Shuttleworth also show one, and Mr. SParkes and his travelling represent:I:ices declare themselves extremely busy; one of these travellers covered 1,7oo miles last week, and all in the British Isles, too; Ransom,., Sims and Jefferies also have a tractor, and I caught sight of Mr. Edward Ransome in close attendance on the Prince of Wales during H.R.H.'s tour round. Avelingand Porte:show a tractor coated with aluminium paint, and it looks quite dainty—if such a word he applicable to a tractor : it certainly looks distinctive. Wallis and Steevens have, as usual, a good display, and Marshall, Sans ;tad Company show their excellent oil tractor. Task-er's are in the Gilhey Hall, and, although out of the centre, they are not complaining. Garrett's have a fine showman's vehicle, and the Savage is in evidence. The prominent makers present who are not showingtractors, principally for lack of isnace, are Foster's, Burrell 's, Brown and May, and Ruston-Proctor's, whilst Allchin would certainly have had a wagon on view, hut that they have not room, and I heard that Foclen's were inclined to come back to the fold, but were unable, at present, to book a space. Saunderson's agricultural motor is there, and Mr. Saunderson himself, fresh from recent trials in Italy, and confident of the ultimate decision of the judges in those trials in favour of his vehicle. Mr. T. C. Avtling told me, tit Birmingham last week, that he has now completed his arrangements with Broom and Wade, Limited, to represent that company, for the sale of its wagon in the Provinces; it is also proposed to use the same paraffin engine in making a motor roller, about which more anon. A start is to be made with the New Year, and Mr. Aveling may be depended upon thoroug,hly to demonstrate its merits. Ile is, in himself, an engineer of the first order, and, as was seen duringthe R.A.C. trials, quite a popular personality.