Motors for the Burmese Postal Service.
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The use of the motor vehicle is rapidly being extended into the uttermost parts of the earth, and the accompanying illus tration shows the design for the new, postal motor wagons, a dozen of which are to be installed as a service by the postal authorities of Upper Burma. Sturmey Motors, Limited, of Coventry, has secured the contract, and this company is now at work upon the first of the series, an interestingvehicle which will, we understand, form a part of its exhibit at the forthcoming Olympia Show. It is a standard, 12-18h.p„ " Lotis " chassis, so far as the two. cylinder " V " engine, epicyclic gear, pedal control, and other mechanical arrangements are concerned, but the wheelbase has been extended from 7 feet to q feet and the track has been increased to 5 feet, so that the vehicle may run in the tracks of the native carts, which are of this gauge. As will be seen, the design is partly that of a single-deck omnibus, the roof being arranged to carry baggage. There will be accommodation for one European passenger by the side of the driver on the front seat, immediately at the back of which a side door gives entry to a comfortably-upholstered and roomy seat, arranged transversely, for two more European passengers, whilst, at the rear of these, is the compartment for the mails, an average of about tocwt. of which will be carried. It will be noticed that jalousies or louvres, are fitted to the sides of this, an arrangement which has been introduced for the reason that the interior is to be fitted with two folding benches, which can be let down when mails are not being carried to give accommodation for six native passengers. Roller blinds of Willesden canvas are arranged at the sides of both of the front seats as a protection to the occupants, both from the sun and from the torrential rains which frequently occur there. These vehicles are to run a daily service of 104 miles, some 600 miles up country, and it is understood that the roads are to be specially made up for • .them by the Government, though it is hardly to be expected that they will at any time conform to European ideas of what a really good road should be. The cars are to average 12 miles per hour over the journey, and will be capable of 2om.p.h., on the level. There is no gradient on the road steeper than i in 15. Solid tires will be used.
The outcome of this service will be interesting, and, if successful, an object lesson to public departments.