The Wheels s of Industry.
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The wheel 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."—John Beattie Crozier.
Orders for Agricultural Implements.
The Controller, Agricultural Machinery Department, Ministry of Munitions of War,8, Northumberland Avenue,' W.C. 2., will be requiring for his department, .during the next twelve months, a minimum of agricultural implements as follow —8000 horse drawr ploughs; 2000 cultivators ; 2000 seed drills • 2750 rollers ; 5500 harrows of ridged and jointed type ; 400 land presses ; 7000 self-binders ; 1400 disc harrows, both tractor and -horsesdrawn ; 400 horse-drawn farm tip-carts ; 100 horse drawn fiat top lorries ; thrashing machines (31 ft. and 4i ft); cultivators for tractors ; some thousands of two-furrow ploughs fors tractors of a special design. Any firms, who, in addition to their normal output, could undertake the whole or part of this -work are askedsto communicate, stating total output, date delivery could commence, and rate per week.
Coal and Coke Rations.
We deal editorially (page 405) with the' important requirements of the Coal Controller (S, Richmond Terrace, Whitehall, London, S.W.1) concerning steam-boiler statistics. Every owner of a steam wagon or tractor should write to that address' forthwith, marking his letter " Reference D.W.1," and apply for a form of return in respect of coal or coke now in use, and future needs: The forms whichare furnished, although they primarily appear to apply to fixed plant, are, in fact, to be applied in practice to all movable steam boilers.
Mr. Guy Calthrop, the Controller of Coal Mines, in calling upon owners of steam wagons and treetops to make returns without delay, has intimated that special arrangements are necessary, in connection with the favourable distribution of supplies of special coal fuels, and that, unless particulars are received from users immediately, it will not be possible to give con
sideration to requirements. s
There is no time to be lost. Users should write in at once. The C.M.T.T. A. has already circularized its members (see page 413), but we wish to cover by our further publicity owners who do not yet belong to that national body.
As was announced generally in the daily Press recently, the Controller of Coal Mines has adopted a system under which Great Britain is divided into 20 producing areas, each of which areas is only allowed to supply to specified consuming areas. -We have not space to go into detail, apart from the wide publicity that has already been given in the daily Press. The object is the saving of unnecessary haulage, but provision is made for the issuing of certificates to authorize supplies of coal of a special type, at the discretion of the Coal Controller. We gather that speeial supplies of anthracite or
elsh steam coal will not be authorized for steam-wagon users, who will have to rely upon local supplies, within the limits of the soherrie. They will best of all obtain the details as to this from their ordinary suppliers. This rationing of supplies of coke is not likely at present, we gather.
Motor-sweepers at Hackney.
Mr. Norman Scorgie, borough engineer and surveyor to the Hackney Borough Council, has issued an interesting report on the working of his council's motor-sweeping machine, a Laffly-, during the year ended the 15th May last. The machine worked on 255 days, averaging 35 miles of running per day. It was occupied in sweeping during 5.1 miles of running per day. The discrepancy between total mileage and sweeping mileage is rather remarkable, in, the absence of any explanation. The total mile age was 8925, and the sweeping mileage 1300. The total petrol consumption was 1038 gallons, and of lubricating oil 50 gallons, whilst 140 lb. of axle grease were used. There were 33 broom refills, the average life per broom being 7.7 days, and the average wearing distance per broom 270 miles. The total cost of the machine, including six spare broom-spindles, -was 2670 15s., and the total working cost £453 18s. 5d. (inclusive of depreciation at the rate of -121 per cent. per annum). The foregoing data show that the cost per mile of roadway swept was 6s. 11.6d. Mr. Scorgie states fhat the cost of equivalent work, if done by horse brooms, inclusive of the washing down in front of the brooms, would-have amounted to £1474—say, 22s. 6d. per mile of roadway swept. As it was 'found necessary to s include horse-broom work to the amount of .28.90, the annual economy.. upon the previous year's working, when horse brooms only-were used, proYes to be 2129, notwithstanding the increase in wages and the higher prices for various consumable stores and repairs.
The economy is certainly not less than £200 a year on the one machine, under normal conditions, apart from the great advantage of the mechanically-driven vehicle after periods of snowfall.
Straits Settlements Regulations.
The Board of Trade announces that the Governor of the Straits Settlements is not allowing the further importation of motorcars, " beyond those shipped by the 16th May, or in respect of which there was payment or confirmed credit before that date. No restrictions are applied to the importation of lorries or public-service vehicles, so far as the Government )f' the Straits Settlam etas is concerned.
Proceedings of Local Authorities.
Jarrow T.C. is to obtain a motor ambulance.
The Lewisham Guardians are to obtain a motor ambulance from Ery's Motor Works.
Afts.a.• the war the Ilkeston Town Council proposes to purchase a motor water sprinkler.
Gateshead T.C. is inquiring for: .a combined motor pump an ten der for the fire brigade. r
The Sheffield and District Teachers Association, is to raise funds for another motor ambulance.
It is proposed that Hammersmith B.C. purchase for the newly-established Municipal Kitchens Department two motorvans at a cost of "about £250.
The General Manager of the Sheffield Municipal Tramways and Motors Department has been instructed to inquire as to the purchase of additional motorbuses for use on a new service.
Owing to labour difficulties the South Shields Corporation has lately been unable .to make use of its street watering wagon.
The surveyor of Walt'namstow has reported to the District Council that a five-ton Clayton steam wagon has been impressed by the War Office, the value being assessed at £610. The surveyor has been instructed to make inquiries with a view to purchasing a wagon to replace the one taken.
At a meeting of the -Nuneaton T.C. a report was received from the 14ighways Committee, which recommended that motorbuses be adopted with power to run to neighbouring towns and villageslii
moving the adoption of the report, it was pointed out that the Highways Committee had discussed two systems—overhead electric tramways and niotorbuses. From inquiries made where both systems were in vogue, they were convinced that tymotorbus service would be more convenient, cheaper and the more likely to he remunera tive. It was estimated that the
cost of an electric-tramway system would be between £9000 and £10,000 a mile, and that they would have to apply for a Bill for anything up to X150,000 for putting down such a system. It was estimated that a motorbus service of 15. vehicles, with garage, petrol stores, etc., would cost about £18,500.
Recent Registrations.
The Blackwall Engineering and Welding Works, Ltd. (£3000), by W. Cook of 59, Gracechurch Street, E.C., to carry on business as electrical and mechanical engineers, welders, etc.
Woking .Au tecar Co., Ltd. (£8000), ny J. W. Barton, Bank Chamber, Woking, to take over the business now carried on by F. Derry at 20, 89, 91 and 93 Chertsey Wind, Woking. .
Stephen Bindon, Ltd. (£12,000), by A. C. Hillman, 18, Sussex Gardens, Eastbourne, to take over an existing business of furniture removers and warehousemen, at Pevensey Road and Cavendish Place, Eastbourne.