From Our Berlin Correspondent.
Page 9
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The Italian Light Lorries that I learn, from " Streffieurs Milltarische Zeitschrift," that the Italian automobiles submitted for trial in response to an appeal by the Italian War Office, in the summer of 1909, proved so unsatisfactory that no orders for the types in question will be placed. These were vehicles for useful loads of 1-14 tons and 2 tons. The military authorities put them through an extraordinarily-stiff ordeal last July. A fresh competition will be organized. Non-Italian firms might be given a chance if home shops are unequal to the business of producing suitable vehicles.
Germany's Productive Power in
1909.
Newly-published statistics furnish the following information respecting the production of freight automobiles in Germany during the years 1907, 1908, and 1909 :— Compared with 1907, 121 firms were engaged in the general motor industry in 1909, as against 69, and the average number of employed yearly had risen from 13,423 to 19,221.
New Dutch Customs Tariff.
The Dutch Customs Tariff Bill has at length reached the Second Chamber for consideration, and there seems to be a likelihood of the Bill being hustled through the special commission appointed to examine it before the end of the present session. Of moment to readers of this weekly is No. 443, which prescribes that an ad-valorem duty of 10 per cent. be imposed on self-propelled road vehicles other than cars and motorcycles (which pay an extra 2 per cent.). Chassis, seemingly without distinction as to purpose, pay 10 per cent. Rubber tires will have to pay a like tax if the Bill gets on the statute books. But the Dutch tire business is practically in the hands of the energetic German houses, although the Dunlop people are not asleep. The framers of the Bill have proceeded on the following guiding lines :—
" Raw materials which the com mercial and agricultural industries are obliged to draw from abroad remain duty-free. Semi-manufactured goods are taxed with an advalorem duty of 3-6 per cent., according to the degree of the manufacturing process. Semi-manufactured goods requiring further manufacture before use come under an ad-valorem duty of 10 per cent. as a general rule. Finished goods are, in general, subject to a duty of 12 per cent."
As seen, the fundamental idea is to keep out foreign-made goods and to let in raw materials free.
The German Emperor as User of Industrial Vehicle.
To my recent note on the German Emperor's new industrial vehicles, it may be of interest to add that his Majesty's first purchases of freight automobiles were made in March, 1903, when he visited Germany's second motor show, organized by the Imperial (then German) Motor Club, at Charlottenburg, in a building called the " Flora," built for the cultivation of palms and tropical plants of various kinds, but long since broken up. At that time, Berlin could boast of no building capacious enough to bold even the comparatively-sparse exhibits of a young industry ; hence the move to Charlottenburg, a western suburb. The German Emperor, who, as an owner of Daimler cars, had already made the practical acquaintance of the automobile as a passenger vehicle, put in an appearance at the " Flora," and carefully inspected the exhibits, which were, for the most part, more curious than convincing, if my memory serves me well. Anyway, they were an advance on those displayed in 1902 in the gloomy auditorium of a theatre close to the Friedrichstrasse Railway Station. Of course, as far back as 1903, Germany possessed a number of firms producing high-class automobiles, notably the Daimler MotorenGesellschaft, Benz, Diirkopp, and others. His Majesty, after inspecting the first-named company's stand, ordered two vans for the conveyance of furniture, etc., between the palaces in Berlin and Potsdam, and these were his first orders of the kind. To the Daimler Gesellschaft thus fell the honour of supplying the Kaiser with his first car and his first motorvan. Naturally, as Commander-in-Chief of the vast Germany army, the Kaiser is also quasi-owner of the magnificent fleet of military lorries called into being by the German subvention scheme. And apropos this scheme, until recently I was under the impression that the
Kaiser suggested it. The managing director of the Daimler-Marienfelde Gesellschaft, however, corrects rne in this matter : Lieut.Gen. and Inspector Baron A. von Lyncker it was who suggested the scheme, and expounded it to the Kaiser. His Majesty pronounced it good, and hence its materialization. " Unto Csesar the things that are Cwsar's !"
Overworked Berlin Taxi-drivers.
Berlin taxi-drivers recently held a meeting to air their grievances, which, Judging by the speeches delivered, certainly call for redress. In the main, they strongly complained of being overworked. Several chauffeurs stated that they were expected to work 24 hours at a stretch. This would probably be too much even for ex-President Roosevelt, the international advocate of the " life strenuous."
Definite Distribution of German Subvention Plaques for 1911.
The following makers have been awarded subvention plaques :— Bussing (Brunswick), 19; DaimlerMarienfelde, 19; Benz (G'aggenau), 18; N.A.G., 18; North German Automobile and Motor Co. (Bremen), 6; Diirkopp (Bielefeld), 6; Eisenach Motor Co., 6; Aachen Motor and Lorry Co., 6; Nacke (Coswig), 6; Podeus (Wismar), 5; Ehrhardt (Zella-St. Blasii), 4; German Freight Automobile Co. (Ratingen), 2. That is, a dozen firms receive 115 plaques amongst them. An additional 20 plaques will probably be distributed in the autumn. It appears that no further subsidies are to be granted on new vehicles after this year.
Automobile Street Washers in Schone bergBerlin.
Since the Corporation of Sehtineberg-Berlin took over the duty of keeping the streets clean, steady progress has been made in the direction of mechanical propulsion. Within the next few weeks the borough will possess a dozen electrically-driven street washers, and the year 1912 is to see all horse-drawn dust-carts, street, sweepers and water-carts replaced by the mechanical type. A special depot is being constructed for the housing of these automobiles. Scheneberg, indeed, seems & rather go-a-head place. Not long ago one of the councillors proposed that incomes under 30s. a week should be exempt from the communal rate, this sum being regarded as a living wage. Sufficient support was obtained for the proposal to justify the mover in congratulating himself upon a moral victory.