Correspondence.
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Electric Trams or Motor Buses?
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir,—I must congratulate you on the view you take of the relations between electric tramways and motor omnibuses, as expressed in your leader of July 6th. The view that the motor omnibus is more the ally of the electric tramway than the opponent is, I think, the correct one. I am myself interested equally in the tramway and the motor omnibus, and, having unequalled chances of obtaining data of both systems, I am, together with those working at this new development of the British Electric Traction Company, in a position to consider the question without prejudice. I have all along considered the motor omnibus as an ally of the tramcar, and we have, by careful research, been able to place an approximate figure representing the cars per minute at which the tramway commences to pay better than the motor omnibus, and vice versa. That is to say, where, approximately, an electric tramway service is so "weak " as only to support one car in — minutes, the motor omnibus will undoubtedly pay the better, whilst if the traffic is so heavy as to enable one to run a more frequent service of tramcars, they are better able to cope with the traffic than the omnibus. Our figure is based on data which are now a few months old, and it is obvious that, as the motor omnibus improves, this figure of —. will change materially in favour of that vehicle, but it is very doubtful whether the motor omnibus will ever be able to cope with such "heavy " lines as the tramcar is able to do, and thus to exterminate electric traction.—Yours faithfully,
THE BRITISH AUTOMOBILE DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.,
Sidney E. Garcke, Director. Victoria Works, Belvedere Road, S.E.
Haulage Work Wanted.
The Editor, •6 THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir,—If you know of a district (agricultural or manufacturing) where a motor lorry or two would pay to run, I should be glad to hear from you on the subject. At present I have a steam cart at work, and am only receiving about sd. per ton mile, and, as the haulage has to be performed over sets in town, this figure is hardly good enough. If you cannot tell me directly where haulage as above is required, perhaps you might possibly know some likely men to whom I would do well to apply to?—Yours faithfully, ARTHUR IT. ALCOCK. 20, St. Ives Mount, Armley, Leeds.
Agricultural Motors.
The Editor, 46 THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir,—ln the year 1872 the late Mr. George Harrison (brether-in-law of the famous Mr. Thomas Brassey, of Grand Trunk Railway fame), and then manager of Canada Works, Birkenhead, promised to lend me a traction engine built by Thomson, of Edinburgh, to draw my double mouldboard ploughs. The said engine had a very broad, flat indiarubber tyre, which had an enormous grip. It I remember rightly, the cost of tyres only was £120 for the three wheels of engine. For some reason or other, which, after the lapse of years, I have forgotten, the trial never came off, and in the light of present experience it would not have been a commercial success. I want to collect all the information I can as to the relative cost of motor v. horse for farming purposes. I will write also to my old professor and friend Mr. John Wrightson, President of ihe College of Agriculture, Downton, to verify the figures and conclusions I arrive at. When I have all complete, I will have much pleasure in sending all to you, if you think they would come within the ken of " Tun COMMERCIAL Meroa," of which, by-the-bye, it is impossible to speak too highly. There is an enormous future for motors in directions not yet touched upon, and I am waiting a month or two of comparative leisure to put some of my ideas in a concrete form. It has no immediate bearing on the present letter, but in the year 1871 I made experiments as to the effect of electricity in hastening the germination of farm seeds, such as swedes, mangles, etc., and with complete success. I also tried the direct application of electricity to the soil in my kitchen garden, and also with marked success.—Yours faithfully, E. A. WILLIAMS, M.R.A.C.
Accident at Modbury.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL. MOTOR."
Sir,--At your request I give you the following account of accident to our car :
On Monday morning, June 12th, as the South Hams motor was leaving the shed to run the 8.20 aan. trip to Plymouth, it was noticed that the engine was not working quite satisfactorily. The driver, W. Browning, throttled her off and left his seat to inspect the engine. The writer was present and assisted by holding up the bonnet whilst Browning examined the engine. After a few slight adjustments ate engine was restarted (the bonnet being still held up clear by me) and was noticed to immediately race. The driver was trying to shut her off by disconnecting the interrupters, when the fan wheel in front burst with a sound as of an explosion. On recovering from the shock caused by the noise, it was found that the driver had his arm broken above the elbow and I had the third finger of left hand smashed and another injured less seriously, probably by fragments of the fan wheel, which flew all over the shed, one piece cutting clean through the corrugated iron roofing. The company's fitter, Graham E. Goode, on examining the car, found the accident due to the accelerator button jumping over the stop, which, of course, prevented shutting off the supply of petrol. The damage to the car was very slight, only the fan wheel being broken and the radiator slightly punctured. Goode replaced the damaged parts, and the car was ready for the road the same evening. The injured men are progressing very satisfactorily. I may add that the car is now running every day.—Yours faithfully,
JOHN S. Cor.EmaN. Secretary.
— South iTarns Motor Carriers, Ltd., 34, Church Street, Modbury, South Devon.