Utility Motors in France.
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Notes from Our Paris Correspondent.
Motorcab Tariffs.
Under the presidency of M. Charles Humbert, deputy for Verdun, a meeting was held last Thursday evening in Paris, the object of which was to unify the scales of charges now obtaining in the French capital for the use of motor cabs. The widespread interest taken in this question was made amply clear by the attendance and participation in the discussion of a large number of manufacturers, representatives of exploiting companies, agents, chauffeurs, and the public which bears the burden of the existing diversity of fares. The resolution submitted urged the necessity of bringing the different com_ ponies into line in respect of tariffs, ow ing to the number of disputes arising daily between chauffeurs and "fares," through the varying prices charged for conveyance over the same routes. A committee of the Paris Municipal Coun cil is already trying to solve the pro blem, but it was pointed out that, although such bodies knew when they entered upon their work, they never knew when they would finish. The public showed such impatience to get the matter settled once for all, and the suspense was so alienating favour from a means of conveyance which was ob viously necessary and would undoubt edly be universally popular under different circumstances, that the "Auto" had thought it advisable to initiate a discussion of representatives of the parties interested so that their desiderata might be firmly and definitely expressed. Briefly put, the position at present is this. The companies and agents are now tied down by the Prefecture of the Seine to three maximum tariffs ; these they cannot exceed, but they may reduce their charges if they so please Under the stress of competition, lower tariffs have been adopted in some cases, but their application has been left to the pleasure of the chauffeurs, who may legally exceed them, since they are below the officially-decreed charges. The prefectoral tariffs are as follow : Cabs with two seats : for first kilometre, if. 25c. ; for each succeeding kilometre, 500.
Cabs with four seats : for first kilometre, if. soc.; for each succeeding kilometre, 6oc.
Landaus with four seats and cabs with six seats : for first kilometre, 2f.; for each succeeding one 8oc.
Extra for night service in Paris only : all classes of motor conveyances, if.
Indemnity for conveyance beyond fortifications, entering or leaving Paris (to cover octroi charges) for all vehicles, if.
Indemnity for return for cabs picked up outside the fortifications, per kilometre as the crow flies and according to the plan provided by the Prefecture, soc.
If these tariffs were universally applied, no confusion, at least, would
arise. It would be well-nigh impos
sible, however, to enumerate the varying scales of charges actually existing. In place of the above, the Meeting formulated the following amendments, which were adopted with a decision that they should be submitted to the Prefecture and the Municipal Council for approval and enforcement : There shall be no distinction between the charges for vehicles, whether they be of two or four cylinders, or of two or four Seats, but the following scale shall apply : for first 900 metres, 75c.; for each succeeding kilometre, 4oc. Charge per hour, 3f.
The indemnity for conveyance beyond the fortifications (coming or going) shall be suppressed.
For each passenger above three, 23c. extra for any distance.
For return to Paris by any cab picked up outside the fortifications, according to the prefectoral plan, 40c. per kilometre.
From to o'clock at night to 6 in the morning, supplementary tax, if. per hour.
The Administration shall forbid the plying of any motorcabs with tariffs higher than the above: The advantages accruing to the public from these amendments would be : to know exactly what a journey by motorcab will cost, which is now impossible ; a reduction of front 2o to 25 per cent, on the existing legalised tariffs; the suppression of exorbitant octroi charges, unjustifiable since the duty on petrol is less than the fee exacted from the passenger, hitherto making it advantageous to the companies to run out of Paris.
There can be no question that, if the amendments are ratified, the motorcab will be greatly popularised. There are many such vehicles now on the streets of Paris, but not a few spend much time in waiting for cautious " fares " who are reluctant to hire cabs when the charges depend, up to a certain point, upon the caprice of the chauffeur.
Agricultural Motors.
In the early part of November, a competition for agricultural motor vehicles and implements will be held in France. The scheme is due to the initiative of the " Auto," the editor of which, in explaining the objects of such a contest, says that the moment has come to make new efforts for the diffusion and utilisation of the explosion motor in agriculture.
The competition, it is provisionally stated, will be divided into two classes, as follow : Class I.—(a) For tractors drawing agricultural machines. (b) Machines carrying motors themselves.
Class 2.—For automobile winches, and winches operated by motor.
It is further suggested, without any definite decision -being arrived at, however, that tests for the following work should he made :—
Ploughing, both shallow and deep. Dragging implements: harvesting, reaping, pulling beetroots, sowing. Transport : drawing of hay, straw, and beetroot wagons across fields. Formwork : winnowing, straw-pressing, etc. M. Turgan, director of the Societe des Automobiles Agricoles, of Arras, has already signified his intention of entering for the competition. Various awards are offered.
Motor Lorries in the Army.
With reference to the participation of motor vehicles in the recent French Army manceuvres in the East and South-West, the Marquis de Dion, for the A.C.F., has sent to the manufacturers interested the following letter received from General Picquart :
"The information which has reached me, as to the utility, during the manoeuvres which have just taken place, of motor vehicles for the victualling of the troops, brings into prominence the great services which can be rendered by these conveyances to soldiers in campaign, and permits one to hope that this mode of transport will be henceforth employed in time of war. At my request, you were able to obtain three Renard trains and 40 lorries, furnished by different firms. I am happy to attest my entire satisfaction with them, and beg you to be so good as to transmit this sentiment to the manufacturers who were so kind as to place their vehicles at my disposition, and who have thus enabled me to appreciate, by conclusive experiments, the valuable qualities which motor trains and lorries today possess. I should also be obliged if, at the same time, you would ask the manufacturers to congratulate, on my behalf, their employees for the zeal and devotion with which they supported the strain and fatigue imposed upon them during the manoeuvres." The recipients of this communication are : Societe des Automobiles Aries, Scciete des Automobiles Commerciales, Berliet, Brillie, Cohendet, Darracq-Serpellet, Delaugere et Clayette, De DionBottton, de Dietrich, Emress, Mors, Pantz, Panhard et Leyassor, Peugeot, Purrey, Societe des Trains Renard, Usiru-s, de Puteaux, and Turgan, Ltd.
Paris-Madrid Trials.
The Madrid correspondent of the "Auto," referring to the possible selection of the Paris-Madrid-BarcelonaParis itinerary for the next French commercial motor vehicle trials (already alluded to in "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR"), writes : "I have had a long conversation on this subject with Don Hilario Crespo, the president of the Spanish Manufacturers' Union, who is quite ready to do his best for the development of this proposition. The " Seman.a Sportiva " intends to enter at once on a campaign in its favour. If the trials were held in May next and such a run were made, the arrival of the competitors in Madrid would probably coincide with the second Spanish Motor Salon."