The Opportunity of Coal.gas.
Page 19
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Sir John H. A. thacdonald's•Views.
IALIVE BEEN watching with much sympathy and AVE interest the ventilation in the columns ot THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR of the subject of coal-gas as an agent for motor-vehicle propulsion.
Nobody can doubt that its efficiency is now established, and that vehicles for commercial or passenger purposes will be rapidly adapted to the use of gas. The demand is sure to be in advance of the possi bility of supply, until manufacturers of gas-proof material awake to the knowledge that there is a certain -market for vehicle gas-holders. There are signs that the awakening is taking place. Gas-holders are already being made in quantities, and there is demand for more than are as yet turned out.
My purpose in writing is to call attention to -what seems to be an assumption without sufficient foundation. It is very generally taken for granted that the use of gas contained in a flexible case is only suitable for omnibuses and chars-k-bancs or heavy commercial wagons. I would, if' it be possible, disabuse the motoring public of this idea, and convince them that gas propulsion can and should be applied to all four-. wheeled vehicles with exPlosibn engine. It is the motorcar, used,by the eitizen;efor hiseown • private purposes, which is at. present naostfaeverely cribbed and confused in use of petrol or other Volatile liquid, as a consequence of the restrictions on supply neces.:
sitated by the exigencies of war. Thousands of vehicles must stand idle, and thousands are severely restricted in use.
Is there any good reason statablc why such vehicles should not obtain a supply of power by the use of. gas ? It must be remembered that a very large Dumber •of such vehicles, though classed as " pleasure " vehicles, are not so in, reality, being used for conveyance of business men between country and town, and for inspection tours of public works, roads, etc.There are a goodly number‘of medical men to whom motor conveyance is essential, and by whose possibility of rapid transit' much suffering and risk of life of patients may be saved, particularly now when so many surgeons are absorbed by the Army, and the range over which those who take up their.
..practice for them is so greatly extended: It seems to be .one incontrovertible proposition that an extension .of facilities for locomotion Would be of ti.e greatest benefit to the community. The question, therefore, is : Is there any difficulty or objection to the application of the gas-bolder to the ,smaller vehicles used for commercial purposes and the private ear7 It seems to be assumed too readily that gas can only be used when there is a large flat top on which a holder can be placed. Why sliculd it be so? A gasbag can be made of any shape, and can be fitted anywhere on the vehicle without affecting the adjustmentof weight of load in any appreciable degree. • Would it not be possible to carry a holder set up on light brackets at the hack of the vehicle'?
As regards the pleasure'ivehicle class, it is quite plain that the mileage which could be done on a gascontainer Of a certain measurement could be known beforehand acdurately. On most runs it would be known quite well at what town the bag could be replenished, and the route for the run, if it was to be beyond the capacityof the holder to go out and -return, could be adjusted accordingly. And with one tin of petrol in. case of emergency the vehicle could be taken home. or driven to where gas was purchase, able.
There is. only one plausible argument contra, and it is, plausible only. It is sure to be said that such an arrangement would be disfiguring and ugly. A little coachbuilcling ingenuity would get rid of or substantially mitigate this objection. But let it also be kept in view that ugliness is a very relative matter. What is in great measure useful is tolerated and becomes acceptable by use.
Hundreds of thousands of people who vowed they would never put their foot in an automobile because the ecarriages were so ugly foreswore themselves before the earth had gone three times round the sun. Such people may shun the gasbag to-day, but if the war does not come to a speedy conclusion they may he found seated in front of gasbags, forgetful Of its appearance and rejoicing in its efficiency.
Jr. H. A. NIA CDONALD.