Birmingham's Road Scheme.
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In his annual report, Mr. Henry E. Stilgoe, 'city engineer and surveyor of Birmingham, states that of the work carried out by the department during the past year, the most important, as affecting the city as a whole, has been the preparation of 'a scheme for widening all the main arterial roads to a minimum of 110 ft. or 120 ft. This scheme, which provides for a tramway on sleeper track, with a carriageway and footway on either aide, was approved by the City Council last January. 11 provides for the widening of 43 miles of radial main roads and the construction of seven miles of new roads. It is the greatest and most. complete scheme of arterial road impeovement which has ever 'been placed before and adopted by any corporation
in this country. It will have a farreaching effect, not only iii dealing with the ordinary traffic of a great manufacturing district, but, by providing facili
ties for quick-moving traffic and the construction of tramways on independent sleeper tracks, it Will be of great assist. ance in solving the housing problem by facilitating the development for building purposes of land near the outskirts of the city.
• Steam Wagon Garages.
Juet, as a, properly arranged house is essential to a human being who wishes to live a healthy life, so is a properly devised garage essential to a steam motor wagon if it is to be kept in first-class condition. It is a fallacy to think that any old shed will do, so long as it covers the machine. The proper execution of repairs and adjustments, and the smart appearance of the machine, are dependent upon the provision of suitable accommcidation.
The construction Of the building should be of brickwork with a substantial, welldrained floor, and. plenty of light. The floor of the main portion should be of concrete—wood gets very dirty and oily, and cannot be properly cleaned—with the necessary provision of drainage. There should be an inspection pit 'in a convenient position, so that a wagon can • easily be run over itwhen other wagons are in the shop. This pit may be made by digging a hole and letting in a galvanized tank, filling up round it and cementing the edges; or it can be built up of brickwork and lined with cement. The top should be substantially covered with B28 hardwood planks, fitting flush with the floor.
The size of the building will depend upon the number of wagons and the equipMent will also depend upon the locality. If there .are suitable repair shops near, it would not he worth 'while to do one's own repairs to a small fleet, for they could probably be done cheaper outside; especially if contracted for at a fixed price for a certain period.
If a user is desirous of increasing the length of life of his steamers. he should see that points such as the above are carefully considered. To ensure that the drivers he employs put forth their best endeavours in this direction he can but increase their knowledge in so far as the factors which make for additional effici
ciency are concerned. In this respect the "Steam Wagon Manual" published at 2s. 21d. post free by Temple Press Ltd.. 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, E.C., should prove of exoeptional value. It deals with the maintenance and ever
haul of steamers, together with information relating to garage and running re. pairs. It is really an essential handbook for all steam-wagon drivers.
Packard Patriotism.
Though the Packard Motor Car Co.'s lorry efficiency tests ended on the last day of August, the big Detroit factory is sending out a widespread appeal to all Packard lorry owners to continue indefinitely with the efforts they have initiated to "save a freight car for Uncle Sam." The test was originated with the idea of aiding the Highways Transport Committee to bring about more effielent trucking so that much-needed freight cars might be released for Government purposes. To encourage Packard owners and drivers $5000 in awards was offered.
One of the greatest results accomplished this far by the lorry efficiency ' test is an immense Raving inpetrol. Observers who have been watching the vehicles in the test have. yet to find a single lorry with the motor running idle. Many vehicle owners have taken an added interest in the return loads movement fostered by the Highways Transport Committee; others have inaugurated store door deliveries where 'maturners were agreeable; still others have in seetigated the rural express problem with promising results. Altogether America has become well embued with the need for efficiency.
Road Transport in Scotland.
With regard to the " control " of road transport in Scotland, no definite action has yet been taken. Under the guidance of Colonel Connel, however, the West of Scotland Board, whose headquarters are at 69, Ingram Street, Glasgow, are engaged on the adjustment of prelimin aries. In most cases the area committees have been appointed, and comprise four members of the local food control committee, four representatives of other local interests, two members appointed by the Board of Trade, and one member representing the Ministry of Munitions. The total membership does not exceed eleven, except in the case of Glasgow, where it is thirteen. In tbe larger and more important towns subcommittees may be appointed. Provided that full loads are securel and unnecessary mileage is avoided, "limited combinations of certain traders for the purpose of collection and distribution are to be encouraged." Harsh measures in enforcing the new regulations are to be avoided as much as possible. It is felt that the mere existence of power will enable the Board's local officers to secure the desired end, and that it should be applied only in the case of unreasonable opposition. Ninety per cent. of the traders in a given district are expected to comply with any recommendatione that may be made. The residue may be negligible and, therefore, ignored. _If, however, opposition on the part of a small minority threatens to wreck an obviously reasonable scheme, compulsory powers must be resorted to in order that the situation may be saved. All this we wore told at the Glasgow head office and it is confidently anticipated that, in the course of a short time, it will be quite possible to increase the efficiency of the existing transport facilities without inceeasing the number of vehicles on the roads.
Besides the one in Glasgow, there are tv?c, other divisional boar& in Scotland directing the vexations of the, central authority. These are situated in Edinburgh and Invemeas, and are represented each by a divisional road transport officer—Mr. A. H. Kingsley, 22, Grosvenor Street, Edinburgh, and Mr. R. L. Macintosh, Imperial Hotel, Inver.
mass. All the three bodies are encouraging and arranging the combination within due limits, of certain traders for collection and distribution.