The Mote" Omnibus World.
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A complete list of deposited Bills for motorbus powers was published by us last week.
Alliance Company's Position.
No creditors attended the adjourned meeting tp inquire into the affairs of the Alliance Motor Bus Company, Limited, at the Board of Trade Offices in Carey Street, W.C., on Thursday. The matter, accordingly, remains in the hands of the Official Receiver.
More Granite.
Further to our report, in last week's issue, of the meeting of the Eastern Highways Committee of the Norfolk County Council, at Norwich, on the 14th instant, the Estimates Committee also reported that it had considered the application of the county surveyor for additional material for making good the weak places in certain roads. The additional sum asked for was £1,506, and the estimate was adopted, 2.3 voting for and 14 against it. This expenditure on extra granite is a tacit recognition of the fact that the roads should be built to accommodate the traffic and that the traffic should not restricted to meet the defective condition of the roads.
Road Resurfacing.
At a meeting of the St. German's Rural District Council, Mr. Harold A. Hosking submitted a report with regard to some recent road resurfacing experiments which he had carried out on the highway between Saltash and Callington (Cornwall). This highway, it will be remembered, is used by one of the Great Western Railway Company's road motorcar services. We quote the following from his statement :— "The old and now obsolete method of resurfacing roads by consolidating the road metalling under the traffic has gone for ever. The consolidation of road surfaces by the steam roller, under the water-binder system, now proves inadequate and unadapted to the greater wear of heavy and fast motor traffic, and, on the other hand, is productive of a serious menace to public health in the problem presented to us by the dust nuisance. It must be, therefore, that the road resurfacing of the future resolves itself into a matter of materials and method."
Scott -Stirlings Abroad.
Scott-Stirling vehicles, notwithstanding their temporary disappearance from the London streets, appear to be giving a good account of themselves in the Argentine Republic, British Guiana, India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, Holland, Spain, Italy, and Egypt.
Unpopular Trams.
We observe that a petition has recently been presented to the Corporation of Hastings in which a large number of residents urge that tramcar traffic is detrimental to the health of the people and to property. The matter has been referred to the Tramways Committee of the Hastings Corporation.
Scotland Yard.
A contributor, who prefers to remain. anonymous, gives vent to certain views about the control at Scotland Yard (page 370). We are inclined to agree that too much responsibility is imposed upon a single individual in connection with the administration of the motor side of the public carriage department, and we believe that it would be a very acceptable course, both for the official in question and those whom he has to control, if he were given the advantage of possible reference to a select committee of, say, three experts. In the absence of such assistance, we fail to see how inconsistencies and unnecessarily-arbitrary decisions are to be avoided. With the best intention in the world, and with every desire to study the public safety, bureaucratic direction by a single individual may become harmful both to himself and those whose financial interests are affected by his decisions. We have the greatest admiration for the manner in which Superintendent Bassom has handled, and still continues to handle, difficult problems of a strictly technical nature, but we think that he might very well ask for the aid of a -consultative body of practical experts in particular cases. Our only other comment upon the article in question is, that it does not make sufficient allowance for the high price for bodies which was asked by English builders some fifteen months ago, When the order was unplaced, and it appears to overlook the fact that •the cloth which is used in many cabs is of really good quality. This cloth, in fact, is the same as is employed for the clothing of French soldiers. We cannot, however, pretend that it is as satisfactory from hygienic and sanitary standpoints as are leather trimmings, notwithstanding the much greater first cost and maintenance of the latter material. Omnibus engineers will be inclined to sympathise with their brothers in the cab world, for they know the delights (sic) of uncertainty.
The Municipal Council of Budapest has decided to substitute motorbuses for its horse buses, and trials will be held, with a view to selection, on. the occasion of the Motor Show at Budapest, in May next, by the Hungarian Motor Club.
Vanguard Report.
The first financial year of the Vanguard Motorbus Company, Limited, will end on the 31st March next; the rumour that the accounts and balance -sheet are overdue is, consequently, -without foundation. We do not expect it see any accounts before the end of dune at the earliest.
Another Dividend.
The Scottish Motor Traction Company, Limited, of Edinburgh, has declared a dividend of 5 per cent. free of income tax, for the year ending the 3oth September last. Messrs, James A. Hood and Robert Craig Cowan have been re-elected directors. The company owns a number of Maudslay omnibuses.
Variety at Brighton.
Another motion was before the Brighton Town Council, at its last meeting, in regard to possible tramway extensions, and this time in such terms as would have unduly tied the hands of either the Tramway Committee or the Council in respect of pending negotiations; it was rejected by a large majority. The position at Brighton appears to be wry much that of " Pull devil, pull baker."
Exhaust-gas Analyses.
Apropos the increasing amount of attention which is being given to the matter of exhaust-gas analyses, we are gratified that the comments in the issue of this journal for the t9th July, tgo6 {page 410) served to draw attention to the valuable data which might be so acquired. It will be recollected that the Royal Automobile Club held its first series of tests, the vapour emission trials, in the following March. Brazilian Orders.
The firm of LOrraine-Di.4.trich has received an order from the police an of Brazil for four small motorbuses capable of carrying 12 persons. The vehicles, which will be reserved for official use, will be fitted with medical cabinets and will carry stretchers. The municipality of the Brazilian capital has also ordered 12 Lorraine-Dietrich cans, some for the service of the administration, and others for ambulance purposes.
A Good Bargain.
Amongst our sundry advertisements will be found one regarding the sale of six Milnes-Daimler chassis which have been in the service of the Isle of Wight Express Motor Syndicate, Limited. These have done admirable work on the exceptionally trying roads of the Island, where the gradients are very severe. This should be an excellent opportunity for anyone who is contemplating a public service to purchase these machines at a low price. Darracq-Serpollet.
The first report of the Darracq-Serpollet Omnibus Company, Limited, which covers the period from the 17th May, rgo6, to the 30th September last, or a little more than 16 months, shows a gross profit on trading of
When advertisement and show expenditure, management, and other expenses are charged, there is a debit balance of 4.7,300. It must be remembered, however, that this period covers only the initial stages of the company's activities.
For India.
We illustrate on this page a vehicle supplied to the India Office, for faminerelief work in India, by the Wolscley Tool and Motor Car Company, Limited. Seating accommodation is provided for 14 passengers, and the canopy is constructed to carry to cwt. of luggage. The wagonette body is carried on a chassis propelled by an i8h.p. Siddeley, four-cylinder engine. Three motor ambulances, constructed on similar chassis, are being supplied by the Wolseley Company to the War Office.
The Dispersal of Mud.
The accompanying illustration shows the latest Parisian effort to stop the projection of mud from the wheels of motorbuses .• In contradistinction to the manner in which this trouble occurs with horse-drawn vehicles, where the mud follows a number of many-angled courses, both from the wheels and the hoofs of the animals, the lines of discharge from the wheels of a motorbus are almost definite. Earlier attempts to suspend mudguards close down to the surface of the roadway have been inflective, owing to the damage caused by contact with the kerbstones of side walks and refuges, and the latest design is arranged so that the suspending frame is above the level of such obstructions. The mud-restraining flaps are usually of leather.