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ECONOMY OF MOTORS FOR MUNICIPAL HAULAGE.

15th August 1922
Page 9
Page 9, 15th August 1922 — ECONOMY OF MOTORS FOR MUNICIPAL HAULAGE.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Value of the Light Motor Wagon for Small Towns. Running Costs for a Fleet of Ford Tonners.

THE EXPERIENCES of municipaltties generally point to the economy of motor vehicles for their diverse operations. There are instances we could name where motor lorries have not. proved the success which certain authorities anticipated, but in such cases one can usually find fault with the system behind the operation of the vehicles, or trace the reason for dissatisfaction to a peculiar set of conditions which do not usually prevail. In any case, the satisfactory experiences of the Spenborough Urban District Council are by no means isolated This council has in use four Ford ton motor wagons, three of which are used exclusively for ashpit scavenging whilst the fourth is engaged on highway work, and an ambulance of the same make.

In April, 1921, the Spenborough Council .prepared a report on the estitimated comparative costs for horse and motor transport, which showed that the costs per ton and per load respectively were 6s. 40. and 5s. 50. for the former, and 3s. Oid. and 2s. 60. for the latter. These figures, when considered with those secured in actual practice, provide instructive comparison. In the 'estimates, a total mileage of 4,200 was allowed for the year, but, as will be seen from the figures which we publish herewith, this particular item was very ?much under-estimated when compared with the mileages which the vehicles have actually covered. This discrepancy can be accounted for by the Ion journeys on which some of the vehidles are 'engaged (particularly the vehicles which have to tip ashpit refuse at certain times on land), and the distance from the central depot where the garage is situated.

Another estimated figure which has not been altogether confirmed in practice is that showing petrol consumption. In the estimates, 10 miles to the gallon were considered to he reasonable, whereas the actual m.p.g. figures, according to the tables, are less.

Motor .vehicles engaged on ashpit scavenging are used for collecting from

bins as well as from the ordinary dry and wet ashpit.

It will be seen from the table that the figures do not all deal with the same period, although they axe, to a very great extent, more or less proportion

srs—F,„.., l4

ate. The cost-per-ton figures cannot be taken as quite correct because it is impossible to weigh all loads, which would, If this were possible, inflate the figures.

The engineer and surveyor to the council says that No. 4 wagon is an extremely useful vehicle, and has been directly responsible for a decrease in the costs of transport on the work of the Highways Department. Far •a number of days ithree roller gangs have been kept at work, and this vehicle has removed 20 and 24 leads per day, whilst it regularly carries 15-16 loads daily, and is responsible for a saving of as mush as 45s. per day when transporting tarred slag from a local works.

The surveyor and engineer expresses the view that the use of the small motor wagon, such as the Ford tonner, has a fut use which has not been properly appreciated by the municipal engineer an the small town, and he adds that his experience has been such as to he able thoroughly to recommend a vehicle of this description for towns of the size of Spenborough or those with a population not. exceeding 10,000 inhabitants.

Light motor vehicles possess outstanding advanta.ges for use in small areas, although vehicles of this type have also been found to be of considerable value when used in conjunction with larger vehicles, by utilizing the former as feeders to the heavier machines. Moreover, the smaller vehicles enable certain classes of loads to be transported economically, whereas by using heavier machines they would have to be run partially loaded and, consequently, unprofitably.

The vehicles. which are run by the Spenborough Council are all housed at the central depot. They come under the direct control of the fire brigade superintendent, who maintains them in a proper state of repair, in which work the drivers assist nightly and at weekends without extra pay. A system by which a bonus is paid to the efficient drive's has been devised, and this is strictly confined to the amount of petrol 'consumed.

The bodies fitted on the council's Ford tonners have all been made locally, three of them having been built by Joseph Ramsden, Ltd., of Liversedge, and the fourth by Messrs. George Wright, of Cleckheaton. The illustration which we publish herewith is typical of the well-proportioned lines of the vehicles, and it might be noted that arrangements are made for hand tipping the body—Lan operation which Can easily be accomplished by. the driver alone.

It is not necessary for us to analyse the statistics which are published. Those who are sufficiently interested will be able to make comparisons for themselves.


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