Motor-Horse Co-ordination Cuts Cleansing Costs
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C of horsed and
`......-mechanical transport is not a new `......-mechanical transport is not a new
idea in mechanical cleansing. It has been developed in a new form, however, in the collection of the refuse in the borough of Wood Green, a northern suburb of London.
Scammell mechanical horse, working in conjunction with three trailers and two animals, is at present collecting the refuse from approximately half the borough, and taking it to the destructor. The results, considered horn both the aspects of economy and of cleanliness, but particularly the latter, are such that in the near future another set of equipment,. duplicating the first, is likely to be purchased, so that the refuse from the other half of the borough can be collected in the same way.
Marked Drop in Costs.
The streets are kept particularly clean, the refuse is efficiently collected, and the shopkeepers have their special needs catered for, a collection of their refuse being made twice per week. Marked economy of collection has also been achieved by this method of operation.
Comparing costs in Wood Green with those of neighbouring boroughs, the following figures are significant :— During the 1935 period the cost of refuse collection in Wood Green was 7s. 9d. per ton. In a second district it was 11s. 9d. ; in a third us. 7d., and in a fourth 10s. 8d.
Some of this advantage in cost may be due to favourable conditions, but much of it is also due to the efforts of Mr. R. H. Matthews, Assoc.M . In st,C .E . Inst .M. and n40 Two trailers, drawn by horses, are continuously engaged on the actual work of refuse collection, while the Scammell is hauling the third fully laden trailer
to the destructor.
Cy.E., borough engineer and surveyor. The effects of his management may best be appreciated by comparing this year's figures with those of 1932, when we last paid a visit to this London suburb. At that time the cost of collection was 8s. 9d. per ton. Last year, as has been stated, it fell to 75. 9d. per ton. In 1936, according to figures not yet made public, the cost is only 6s. lid, per ton—a fine achievement.
The population of Wood Green is about 54,000, and the number of dwelling houses 13,000. The area covered is 2.8 sq. miles, and the borough is con
for improvement, having in mind the ability of the mechanical horse to deal with several trailers.
Ultimately, an outfit comprising three trailers and a mechanical _horse was purchased. The horsed unitscollect the refuse, two horses. and two trailers being continuously engaged in this work. The mechanical horse is just as continuously engaged on the haulage of the third trailer from the collecting area to the destructor and back again.
The complete outfit takes the place of eight horse-drawn carts, in regular use, plus an extra one, employed only on Fridays. Ultimately, therefore, two mechanical horses, four animals and six trailers will replace a motor unit, lfi horsed wagons in regular use, and two horsed carts employed only on Fridays.