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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

27th June 1918, Page 4
27th June 1918
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Page 4, 27th June 1918 — WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage as by the roughness of the roads over which runs. '—John Beattie Crozier.

Tractor Accidents.

In the House a Commons„ Mr. Prothero in reply to a question asked by General Croft, said: The Government have ordered coo Fordson tractors. Of these, some 3000 have already arrived assembled in this country. Complete parts for a further 1200 have also arrived, and t.J.i.e bulk of the parts of the remainder. General Croft also asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Food whether any Ford tractors now working in this country have killed any of their drivers, and, if so how many ? Mr. Prothero : I regret:to say that one fatal accident has occurred in connection with a Fordson tractoil This was caused by the driver attaching the implement to a wrong part of the machine.

Parliamentary Elections and Petrol Regulations.

In view of Parlianientany ekctions, the turmoil of which may have to be Laced before long, the Government authorities have drawn up a scheme of petrol allowances for bona-fide candidates and their agents—a matter, obviously, of considerable importance, especially in rural constituencies where long country journeys have to be undertaken, often extending over 50 miles between the extreme ends of divisions. Licences to be issued are only to be valid, however, during the official period of the election, extending from the issue of the writ to one day after the declaration of the poll, both inclusive, thus, therefore, taking no account of the time during which rnuelLimportant preparatory work has to be undertaken. The scale of allowance, is to be :—For every constituency or division of a constituency : (a) Not exceeding an area of 5 square miles, 10 gallons; (b) over 5 square miles and not exceeding 10 square miles, 10 gallons ; (e) over 10 square miles and not exceeding 50 square miles, 33 gallons ; (d) for every additional 50 square miles, with a maximum of 80 gallons, 2 gallons.

Gas Traction Experiments.

Two additional members of the Expert Sub-Committee of the Gas Traction Committee have been appointed in the persons of Mr. G. G. Shave, representing the London Gement]. Omnibus Co., Ltd.. and Mr. J. G. Clark, representing the Gas Light and Coke Co., Ltd.

Spares Available.

The War. Office offers to help local authorities in the maintenance of municipal motors. The limitation of W.O. types has rendered available "spares," tyres, etc., of older vehicles, and it is assumed that these will be serviceable to local authorities, which, if in difficulties, should communicate with the W.O.

Leicester Road Board.

Under the scheme of the Road Transport Board, a committee 'has been formed for Leicestershire' which comes within' the North Midland area, with its headquarters at Nottingham, the committee comprising Aid. J. Parsons, chairman, Mr. F. Nichols (Oakham)' Mr. 0. B. &anion and Mr. J. W. Wray (Loughborough)—these, with Ald. Parsons, representing. the Food Committee of Leicestershire and Rutland; Mr. A. E. Hawley. (Hinckley), Mr. W. Lindley {Coalville), Col. R. E. Martin, C.M.G. {Loughborough), and Mr. W. E. Stargess (Leicester). Lieut. G. Steer Smith is .hon. secretary, the local offices being at 83, Granby Street, Leicester. In regard to the registration of goods-carrying vehicles, for which permits are to be issued by 1st September, notices have been published lecally emphasizing the point that those having a less carrying capacity than 15 cwt.' are not affected by the Cider, 'in relation to the carrying out of which the Leicestershire authorities are wisely inviting the co-operation of owners to ensure the perfecting of the best working arrangements.

The head office of the Crawley Agri

motor td., is now at 3,. Lloyd's Avenue, Co.,eondon, E.C. 3. Mr. George Pollock has been elected managing director of the company, and will conduct business from the head office.

Hampshire Roads. •

In the report of the Main Roads and Bridges committee of the Hampshire C.C. an estimated expenditure on main reeds maintained by the council showed an increase of about £13,000: The net sum -required to be provided for main roads during the year is L91,93V. The ratepa.yers will not be asked to find any additional money for the upkeep of the main roads. Attention is called to the excessive speed at which Government motor lorries are being driven Ju the county. It is stated that lorries heavily laden with pit props travel on the reads at such a speed as to be destructive to the surface. The authorities have been xequested to restrict the speed at which the drivers of these machines travel.

Bosch Barred.

The High Commissioner for Australia has received a cablegram from the Prime Minister's Department, Melbourne, intimating that Mr. Jensen, the Commonwealth Minister for Trade and Customs, has decided to prohibit the importation from any country of magnetos bearing the word "Bosch." It is explained that this action has been taken in order that the Commonwealth may not be a party to maintaining a German trade-name for the ultimate benefit of German manufacturers after the war.

Prospects in Honduras.

There seems to be good prospects of Honduras offering a much improved market for motor vehicles. Railway communications are in Many parts inadequate and the Government is giving serious attention to the making and

maintenance of roads. It is considered that road construction is more in keeping with the present. resources of the country than railway expansion, since it avoids the necessity of bringing in capital from abroad. The Board of Trade Journal states that the careful preservation of the principal existing road hasled to an increase in the number of cars plying for hire in the capital and between the capital and the coast. There are 68 -registered cars, which it is anticipated will popularize exceraions to the sea, which is 81 milesdistant. The, formatiop of companies foe running motors has been encouraged by the existence of a Government school for training drivers.

State Subsidy for London Buses.

Answering a question put by Mr. J.D. Gilbert in the House of .Commens Sir L. Worthington-Evans, on behalf of the Ministry of Munitions, said : Financial grants are made in respect of about 20G omnibuses in the south-eastern district of London. These omnibuses serve 17 metes, on .sevethl of wiekh trams are also running. The amoent of the present grant is based on the difference between the average earnings per mile of an omnibus in the south-eastern area as compared with the earnings of an omnibus in the remainder of the metropolis, eubject to certain conditions. ...Negotiations are proceeding with the omnibus company concerning future grants.

Owing to the cornmandeerine by the Government of the premises of'Fastnit, Ltd. at. 161, Great Portland Street, W..1, the company has removed to offices at 49, 'Queen Victoria -Street, E.C. 4.

Record Tractor Building.

A feat of machine construction which the Sanderson Tractor and Implement Co., Ltd. of Eletow, Beds., suggeet-is e, British; 'if not a world's record for the class of work, has just been accomplishel at their works.

At 11 o'clock one morning six erectors began the construction of a standard 25 h.p. agricultural tractor. Sixty-one minutes later the machine, completed, was driven out of the shop to the testing stand. The total weight handled vvas 2i tons. All the parts were taken from the store -in the usual way. The tractor remained on the testing stand while the men had their mid-day meal. "A woman driver took the wheel at 1 o'clock, and 10 minntes later the machine was ploughing up pasture.

Tractors Released

In the House of Commons, Mr. George Lambert asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if, for the cultivation scheme foe 1918-19, preference will he given to a system whereby farmers shall be able to 'purchase tractors and Work them under their own supervision rather than that tractor-ploughing shall be controlled from Whitehall? The Presidentof the Board of Agriculture .(Mr. Prothero) : Over 1000 Government tractor have recently been released its order to satWy unfulfilled orders placed by farmers. The Government tractors are placed under the local control of the Agricultural Executive Committees, in order to assist farmers to carry out work whith they are unable to undertake with their own resources.

Lancaster's Motorbuses.

The Committee of the House of Commons dealing with unopposed measures (Mr. Whitley, chairman) had before them last week a Bill to confirm a Provisional Order granted by the Local Government Board to the Corporation of Lancaster in respect to their motorbus undertaking. It was stated that the Corporation was originally allowed a loan of £10,000 for the provision of motorbuses. They had four working, and they wanted at least ten.

Mr. Whitley : Has £10,000 gone in the four motorbuses ?—hiti. There is some of that amount unexpended, but there was the provision of materials and other charges. The buses cost about £1100 each. The Corporation had Deceived a coMmunication from the Ministry. of Munitions urging them to provide a far greater number of conveyances within the borough. The Miuistry of Munitions ask for at least twelve.

The representative of the Local Government Board added that they wanted to remove the loan limit altogether as a matter of convenience, and to avoid coming to Parliament for confirming Bills. All the applications for borrowing powers for these purposes would he inquired into locally, and the period allowed for repayment would be very brief ones: The period allowed for the £10,000 was six years. The public were, therefore, adequately safeguarded.

The chairman observed that it would be almost as well for the Corporation to pay for these matters out of revenue as to borrow for such a period as six years. However, if the Corporation and the Local Government Board were satisfied the Committee had no objection. The Bill was therefore passed and ordered to be reported for third reading.

Institute of Metals.

The annual autumn meeting of the Institute of Metals will be held in London on 11th September, when several important papers will be Presented for discussion. A ballot for the election of Members will he held on 17th July, as a result of which the membership is expected to be brought well 'beyond the 1000 mark—and that within the first decade of the Institute's existence. In connection with the ballot there has just 028 .1seen prepared for circulation to possible members an attractive new membership booklet. It contains a detailed statement of the Institute's varied activities, and can be obtained from Mr. G. Shave Scott, M.Sc., 36, Victoria Street, S.W. 1.

Still Running !

Twelve years continuous service stands to the credit of the four-ton Commer Car lorry shown in the accompanying illustration. The vehicle was delivered by Messrs. Grace and Sutcliffe, of Keighley, to its first owners in May, 1906. In the service of its present owner it regularly makes several journeys a week between Huddersfield and Cale, each time, of course, surmounting the famous Pennine Range—a strikingly creditable performance considering the age of the vehicle. e

The first member of the' newly-instituted British magneto industry on whom public honours have been bestowed is Mr. Charles Ashton Lister, IP., the chairman of the M-L Magneto Syndicate, Ltd:, of Coventry, svho has been .gazetted a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. 27th June, i9164. French Artillery Tractor.

The accompanying illustration shows a new self-track-laying tractor as used by the French Army for hauling artillery. A peculiarity of the design ie•the special upswept frame to provide apace for the endless bands. The engine ismot under a bonnet in the ordinary fashion, but is partly submerged by the driver's side. This tractor has been built by the Schneider Co., who, before the war, were responsible for many of the Paris motorbuses, and who, since hostilities, have devoted a great deal of attention to various applications of the internalcombustion motor.

Bus and Tram Competition.

In the House of Commons, Mr.. Gilbert asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he can now make any statement as to.ithe action he has taken as regards the sunning of extra tenni, buses in the Ilford district while the municipal tramway services have been curtailed at the request of the Board of Trade Tramway Committee whether he proposes to stop this extra consumption of petrol by the Omnibus company; ;2) whether he is aware that the Croydon Corporation have reduced the .tramway services in their district at the instance of the Tramway Committee set up by his Department in order to save coal, etc., and that the motor omnibus company have at once put on extra services of 15 omnibuses on weekdays and 14 on Sundays in the Croydon district; and whether he can take any steps to stop this competition with municipal services and the extra consumption of petrol in valvedin these extra omnibus services Sir A. Stanley : The extra omnibuses referred to are part of the regular services of the omnibus company which are run during the summer months only,

but, in view of the need to economize in the consumption of petrol, the omnibus company has been requested to withdraw these omnibuses.

Bradford Corporation Tramways Committee has accepted the offer of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., to renew for an indefinite period, subject to determination by six months notice, their expiring contract for the supply of solid rubber tyres on the same terms as the last contract.

Helping the Discharged.

The National Society of Chauffeurs are desirous of helping men who are broken in the .war and who were motor drivers before the war. To this end they have placed at the disposal of the men.' the N.S.O. Employment. Bureau. The following conditions have been laid down to ensure that the scheme may be carried out satisfactorily to all parties, i.e., the employer, ille• discharged men and the society :—

" That the work on behalfof the discharged men who are not members shall

cease immediately after the war.

" That references must be submitted sod verified, proving that the discharged man was engaged as a paid Motor driver before the war.

" Tlrat no fees be accepted either from the discharged manor the employer.

" That the onus Of the man's character shall rest on the employer, who must Satisfy himself as to the character, ability, etc., of the man he employs. That no applicant for the services of. the Bureau shall be entitled to join the society until he has been employed for

six months in any situation -which may be found for him.

" That, care be taken to counteract,. any attempt • to take -advantage of any pension, either 14T employer or employee. .

"That haying once fouad employment for any applicant, unless satisfactory reasons for leaving the situation be'forth coming, the applicant will net he considered eligible for further aid by the Bureau.

That this work on behalf of dis-7 charged men shall be carried on in conjunction with existing organizations.at the discretion of the general Secretary,. who shall be responsible to the committee in respect to safeguarding the interests of N.S.C. members." •

Mexico's Annual Petrol Yield.

The, Secretary of Industry and Commerce.in Mexico has published statistics showing the production of petroleum for the year 1917. The total output was 8,264.266 metric tons of 2200 pounds er in the neighbourhood of 60,000:000 berrels, the proportion being from seven to eight barrels to the ton, according to the density of the product.

A total of 127 new Wells were bored in the same period, -of • which 43 are producing, with a potential daily yield of -more than 235,000 barrels. .Tbe actual yield. is, of oourse limited. by the Jack of shipping facilities, many of the vessels hitherto in the trade having-been taken over lay the Allies and devoted to other purposes incidental to the war. Within the past three months perthission has been granted for sinking 23 new wells in the Tampico district and 10 in the Ttixpam region.

The exportation of petroleum to Central American ports has largely increased, and active measures are being taken to provide west coast points with the fluid, it being greatly needed there for lack of a local supply. These facts are regarded as ample proof of the unfounded character Of the pessimistic statements regarding the nationalization of the petroleum -measures under the new Constitution. All the foreign Companies engaged in the hushiess are extending their operations and appoar thoroughly satisfied with the condition of affairs in this as well as other re spects. • From Tampico comes information -that it is reported the Aguila Oil' Co. (the' Lord: Cowdray properties) 'is." planning nmUerially to increase 'thesize and Capacity Of its' refining plant, 'and will instal.

additional coke stills and other facilities. Under the laws now in operation it is muchMore advantageous' to 'refine the oil before shipment.

Welding Wonders.

• The illustrations on this page show the base' chamber of an engine which was badly damaged. It will be observed from the left-hand illustration that a considerable portion of the metal is missing and that the smash his involved two of the four lubricating channels, and, MeV-itablY, the main bearings as well. In; this eendition the damaged part came into the hands of the New Welding Co., who effectively carried, out, as shown in the second picture, a. sound repair. The new portions to fill the rent made were accurately cast and -welded, and the whole' component was cleanly and faultlessly finished—a highly praiseworthy repair.

No Commer Car Agrimotor.

In one last issue we peblished an

article. froth. trustworthy contributor on the Cemmer Caragrimotor, the patents for which have but recently lasen completed. We are asked to state that one model was made in 1916 and that nothing -further had been, • or will he done with the design. . A letter from Commer Cars, Ltd., on the subject will be published in our next issue.

Local Proceedings.

Poplar B.C. is to spend £1254 on extending the garage at the electricity works.

Thornaby T.C. is applying to the Cen;ernment Departments concerned for permission to buy a motor fire engine.

CardiffC.C. is to consider the provision of motor street weeping machines• and of electric vehicles for the cellectiou of house refuse.

A proposal is being brought -before the St: Albans TX. the R.D.C., and the HarpendenU.V.C.,• to provide a motor ambulance at a cost of about £250.

The borough engineer and surveyor of Swansea submitted to the Health Committee of the _Town Council :n report of paid by the chairman of the committee, the vice-chairman -: and himself to Blackpool, -Birmingham, Cheltenham, Nottingham • and Sheffield for the purpoee'Of •olataining infer/nation as to the working•ef electric vehicles for the collection-and disposal of house -refuse. lb Was recominended and agreed that two electric vehicles of the Edison type be ptirehased at a total estimated cost of,. 22457 17s.

Motor -Developments in Notts.

Assiduous endeavours are being made in Nottingham, through -the medium of its IndustrialCommittee, to coinmend te .advantages of the city

as a manufacturing centre. The _hope has not been abandoned that large motor works may be attracted to the centre of the lace indwitry, there being still a lingering feeling that, with the exercise of .a little more astuteness and energy, the Rolls-Royce undertaking might have been induced to maket,Nottingham, instead of Derby, its headquarters. • But the city, whilst possassing an admirable gas supply .under munieipal control, has been long Woefully behind the timesin regard to its Corporation electricity generating plant. The equipment of the present prncipal station is notably archaic, but with a return to normal times all this is to be altered, an expenditure of from a quarter to ,half a milliwi pounds being projected on new buildings and appliances, which by affording also a cheaper rate of current may, it is hoped, serve to add to the advantages of Note tingham as a commercial centre in which motor manufacturers, among others, tnay find a convenient habitat.


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