MUNICIPAL MOTOR DEVELOPMENTS.
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The Value of Petrol, Steam and Electric Vehicles for the Divergent Needs of Local Authorities.
ALTHOUGH MUNICIPAL ATJTHORITIES, as a whole, are religiously conservative in their . methods, there is no gainsaying the fact that they have, generally speaking, embraced the use of commercial vehicles very extensively. The initial introduction of mechanical haulage was viewed by more ;than one locale atithority– with disapproval tantamount almost to distrust. This state of mind quite naturally bad, following in its wake a degree of uncertain hesitancy, a feature which' obviously militated against the replacement of the stud of employed horses by a fleet of motor vehicles, on the part of the would-be convert.
• Urban authorities were tempted to launch out and
• modernize their collecting and delivering methods, but at the same time they did not want to buy their experience at a high cost. The proposition was a. promising one, but there was no solid evidence availe. able to support the-claims of the manufacturers, which, be it remembered, were based only on faith in :the design and suitability of their machines, for the simple reason that there were few, if any precedents from which Could be gleaned such useful practical information as would reliably demonstrate the superior value of thecommercial vehicle. Local
authorities were inherently sceptical of the motor vehicles advertised advantages.
It is now hilly realized, however, by practically all -the progressive aiorough councils, urban and rural district councils and the like, that for the diversified duties of their locale the commercial vehicle is, as it were, distinctly a round peg in a determinedly round hole.
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Municipal Foresight.
In one respect, so far as mechanical haulage is concerned, municipalities' in general, have been farseeing. This is in regard to the employment of elec tric, vehicles. There is little doubt that local authorities have done much to foster and further the electric's distinctive claims for recognition in the wide field of transport utility, with the result that, to-day, the foundations of a rapidly-expanding industry have been firmly laid. They instinctively realized -that the electrie vehicle was particularly suited, even more so than its petrol consort, to the class of work undertaken, quite apart from the fact that it would draw its power supply from the municipal electric station. We are firmly. of the opinion that the stable qualities and capabilities of the mechanical vehicle are inC32
disputably suited to the rapid execution of such duties as street-cleansing and watering, domestic and street refuse collection, gully emptying, sewer flushing, road sweeping, road rolling and other allied services. The question of whether steam, petrol or electric vehicles should be adopted is a point which can only be settled after local considerations have been taken into account.
Suitability of Types.
The petrol vehicle has done—and for that matter continues to che—much excellent work ; steam vehicles have quite a large following and fulfil, expectations for the particular class of work they :are called upon to pet fern. As regards the electric vehicle, it is only natural, as we 'have said, that this type of vehicle should recommend itself to electricity departments: firstly, because they ire specially conversant with its working principles, and, secondly, because, intelligently applied, it can be utilized to equalize the load at the power atatiOn and becorhe a profitable. consunier. In ronnection with such work as there
moval of refuse, the electric vehicle possesses outstanding points fel instance, at the present time in Paris a large fleet of heavy electric lorries is em played for refuse removal, the power required for charging the batteries, being obtained from the de struction of the refuse itself. . There are many factors which poesess important relationship to the ultimate succesa or otherwise of mechanically-propelled vehicles, one of the greatest of these being suitability of local conditions ; the latter is a feature which should weigh very materially when considering the employment of electric vehicles. If the surrounding country is possessed of stiff gradients and bad road surfaces the electric will certainly not be in its element.
Great stride have been. made in the design and construction of particular types of 'bodies for divergent purposes, but there is still room for progress so far, as adapting a body to load is •concerned, and also as regards quick loading.To a great extent the employment of end or side tipping bodies, as well as interchangeable bodies, has assisted in this matter. There is no question that under suitable conditions the employment of mechanical vehicles for the wide , range of duties of municipal authorities is found to be more economical than horse-driven vehicles, especially during the present time, when existing circumstances involve a shortage of labour and other vital essentials. In the Empire Municipal Directory and Year Book for 19th, which has recently been published by the proprietors of " Municipal Engineering and Sanitary Record," a section is devoted to a. consideration of motor vehicles in municipal employ, progress made during, the past year, and the outlook upon likely de-velopments. We have made extracts from this section. Which will be found to bear invaluable evidence as to theunquestionable utility of the motor vehicle for varying classes of municipal service.
Retrospect and Anticipations.
The continuance of the war has Militated against the extended use of Motor vehicles on the part of municipal authorities, Who now realise the advantages of mechanically-driven over horse-drawn. vehicles.
Manufacturers have been engaged on Government work, and facilities for raising loans have been much eurtailed. There can be no doubt, however, that gd. soon as affairs resume a normal condition, the demand for motor vehicles for all kinds of municipal services, not only in this country but overseas, will be enormous.
Advantages of the Motor Vehicle.
A strong point _in favour of the mechanically-drawn vehicle is that it may be utilized for a wide range of services, from hauling a' fire-engine to carting road materials ; from gully cleansing to watering and sweeping roads. All that is necessary to fit. it for these varied and diverse dutic..s is. to • provide interchangeable bodies, a simple matter, and one which is • being utilized to the full by more than one local authority.
. Petrol-driven Vehicles.
Hitherto the majority of motor vehicles used for municipal services have been petrol driven. Petrol was cheap and easily handled, hence its popularity. The scarcity and high price of petrol has turned attention in other directions in search' of a cheaper and more easily obtainable fuel, and many substitutes have been introduced and tested with varying results.
Coal-gas Fuel.
Vast strides have been made in the utilization of ordinary coal-gas as a fuel for motor vehicles. It is obtainable practically anywhere, it. is easily handled and manipulated, it may be used with ordinary petrol-driven engines, and jt is cheap. Thus far, flexible vessels of gas-pi-oof fabric have been used as containers. Their application to the roofs of omnibus and industrial vehicles, of the van type, was comparatively simple. In the case of motor wagons, and the various and diversified types of vehicles employed in municipal services, the utilization of this form of container presents certain and obvious difficulties steel containers are no doubt the solution of the difficulty.
Steam-driven Vehicles.
The high price and shortage of petrol has also turned renewed attention to steam wagons, the oldest form of mechanically-propelled vehicles. The oldtime "traction engine" still survives, but, under the modern name of "steam tractor," it has been greatly improved and promises still further development in the future. The abundance of coke has given it certain advantages over the petrol-driven engine. Mr. W. Finch, the County Surveyor of Cumberland., gives some interesting data arising from the use of a steam tractor. During twelve months the tractor hauled 2972 tons a distance of 1740 miles (being half the total distance travelled) at-a-cost of 329 lls. 8d., which gives an average cost of 7.6d, per ton per mile. The average cost for hired horse-haulage is calculated
c34 at 10d, per ton per mile. An obvious saving is therefore shown. The Clarkson coke-fired generator, with self-stoking grate, has proved very efficient.
Electrically-driven Vehicles.
Many municipalities have adopted electricallydriven vehicles, mainly for dust and refuse collection and removal, and it is proved that for short distances and where severe gradients have not to be negotiated they are of undoubted value.Hitherto there has been a certain difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply of electrical energy, but local authorities; are realizing the fact that it is possible to derive a. considerable income from the supply of current for charging electrically-propelled vehicles' and facilities are being provided to a greater extent than hitherto to this end. The. Electric Vehicle Committee is displaying commendable energy, and enterprise in arranging with municipal electrical underta,kings to supply energy at a reasonable rate.--and at all hours, both day and night. With regard to the cost of operating electric vehicles, Mr. W. Greig, the Cleansing Superintendent to the Glasgow Corporation, reports that 'the cost of refuse removal was 2s. 10.65d. per ton, as against 38. 3.154. removal by horsed vehicles. The results at Newcastle-on-Tyne are given as 4s. 11d, per ton, against 6s. 6d. per ton by horsed vehicles. Mr. Jackson, Cleansing Superintendent, Birmingham, expresses the opinion that the electric dust'van in use is equal:to 2.5 horses.
Roadside Supply Stations. '
With the -extended use of mcchanically-propelled vehicles, it becomes more and more evident that the question of providing supplies of gas, water, electrical energy, and even petrol at convenient positions, adjoining public thoroughfares, is one of the utmost importance. As regards the supply of water for steamdriven vehicles, steps have already been taken in some districts, but the movement is bound to become general.
There can be no doubt. that there is a wide future before the mechanically-propelled street sweeping machine.. Many local authorities, including Islington, Hackney and St. Marylehone, have adopted them with most successful results. Motor-propelled sweepers, it has been practically demonstrated, are superior to horse-drawn vehicles, both as regards their range of operation, the area they are able to coVer, and their economical working.
DETAas Or Six MONTHS' W01217.1rNG Or a MOTOR. SWEEPER AT DEPTFORD.
Number of days worked 138 Mileage recorded 4029.12 miles Daily average • 29.2 miles Length of road swept 590.14 miles Daily average ... 4.28 miles (From this it may be seen that the machine has to travel 6.8:3 miles for every mile of road swept.) Petrol consumed 532 gallons (An average of 3.86 gallons per day and 7.57 miles per gallon.) Lubricating oil used ... ... 1361 gallons (One gallon to 29.52 miles.) .
Axle grease used ... 132 lb. (1 lb. to 31 miles.) , Number of broom refills worn out'... 20 From details submitted by the Borough Surveyor, it appears 'that the work done by the motor sweeper cost Os. 8.4d. per mile, as against the cost of Bs. lid. per mile, which would have been expended if the use of horse-drawn brooms had been continued, and this represents a saving of 2i. 3d per mile, which, multiplied by 590 (the six months' mileage) and doubled, gives a saving on the sweeping of those roads of the borough that are swept by the motor broom of £132 15s. per annum.
DETAILS OF TWELVE MONTHS' WORKING OF A MOTOR SWEEPER AT HACKNEY. .
There was a saving of £130, as compared with the -previous year's work, when horsed brooms were used exclusively, so says the Borough Engineer of Hackney.
Converted Motor Vehicles—Ambulances.
• The question of utilizing existing motor vehicles for services for which they were not primarily intended or constructed is attracting a good deal of attention, and is likely to bulk largely in the future. Many local authorities possess motor vehicles constructed to fulfil one purpose only, and when that particular service is not required they must neces
sarily stand idle. Their adaptability to other vices is regarded possible by the utilization of a simple conversion unit. Many municipalities realizing the advantages of this system have applied it to a variety of purposes, and there can be little doubt that it possesses wide possibilites. There can be little question that in the future no municipality of any importance will consider its equipment complete without the provision of an efficient motor ambulance service adequate to meeting its special requirements. Districts of a purely agricultural ,character do not stand in -so great a need of . such an equipment as-those of a manufacturing and commercial type. The invaluable first-hand evidence which we have extracted from this authoritative section offers convincing proof of the value of commercial vehicles in their many guises for varied Inunicipal needs.