The Motor Omnibus World.
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The City Surveyor and the Chief Constable of Manchester are to report to the Watch Committee upon the proposed services in the southern suburb, of which we made mention in our issue -of the '4th instant.
In the Island of Lewis.
The Albion Motor Car Company, Limited, of Glasgow, has received a further order for one of its i6h.p. cars, from Mr. J. F. Mackenzie, of Garynahuie, Stornoway. It will be used for hiring purposes in the Island of Lewis,
where the sound construction of these vehicles, and their capacity to run upon either solid or pneumatic tires as required, has rendered them very popular with parties of all classes, in preference to the older horse conveyances.
At Todmorden.
Further to the particulars which were published last week (page 300), we are able to reproduce two photographs of the Todmorden Corporation's fleet. One of these, with the vehicles in line, shows the fleet held, by their own brakes, on the steep incline leading from the garage to the main road. Each time an omnibus goes out on service, it has first of all to mottnt this hill, and thereby to show its" pulling" -condition. The other photograph gives a view of the vehicles and the gatage staff, inclusive of drivers and conductors. From left to right, there are :
5oh.p. Leyland; a 4oh.p. Ryknield ; a Critchley-Norris single-decker, with soh.p. Belsize engine; a 3oh.p. Leyland; and a second Critchley-Norris, with Belsize engine. We understand that the engines of all these vehicles are now 'doing well, whilst the buses are carrying about 12,000 passengers per week, and running close upon 1,400 miles per week. The garage staff consists of two fitters (one of whom acts as a spare -driver), a spare driver, and a handy man. Another handy man attends to accumulators, all the vehicles being lighted by electricity, and there are two washers. The engineer, Mr. W. B. Cowham, has charge of the garage under the General Manager, Mr. J. W. Hudson. Motorbuses and Road Maintenance.
Arising out of the resolution of the Metropolitan Association of Electric Tramwm Managers, which we reported in our issue of last week, the Electric Light and Tramways Committee of the West Ham Town Council has considered the proposal in question. By a majority of 24 to 12, the Council rejected so much of the resolution as suggested that tramway undertakings should not be made responsible for highway repairs, which appears to be the prime object of the promulgators.
Sweet Reasonableness.
The Chesterton Urban District Council has received a complaint from a resident in regard to the noise caused by motorbus traffic along a particular road. We are glad to know that the Council, instead of taking action against the proprietor of the vehicles, the Ortona Motor Company, Limited, of Cambridge, resolved that the Surveyor should ask the Managing Director, Mr. John B. Walford, to give instructions that the buses should be driven more slowly for the present, and instructed the Surveyor to put in hand repairs to the road in question at the earliest opportunity. A petition has been addressed to the Lord Mayor, asking that a Mansion House meeting shall be called to consider the question of motor omnibus and traction-engine traffic in the City.
A Hammersmith Deputation.
Sir W. J. Bull, M.P., at one time a director of John I. T'hornycroft and Company, Limited, and a well-known s.iicitor, has headed a deputation to the Hammersmith Borough Council in opposition to the advent of motorbuses along the Uxbridge Road. The following are the grounds upon which the objections were based : " (I) That in our opinion the service is unnecessary, as the tram service along the same route is more than adequate to cope with the existing traffic or any addition likely to arise on account of the opening of the Franco-British Exhibition. (2) The excessive vibration and noxious fumes emitted from the said omnibuses are such as to constitute a great nuisance to the residents along their line of route, the vibration also tending to cause material damage to house property. (3) The dust caused by such traffic is so great that traders who have been in the habit of keeping their shop doors open, have been compelled to close them in order to preserve their goods. (4) The danger to life and limb is very great, especially to old people and children. (5) The traffic has been greatly congested at various points along the line of route, and is a great hindrance to pedestrians. (6) From a ratepayers' point of view, the damage to the roads must cause a considerable additional expense, the burden of which will have to be borne and paid by the borough. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Council will be pleased to approach the L.C.C: or other authorities in whom power is vested, to take action in order to abate or do away with the nuisance complained of. And your petitioners will ever pray, etc." A Hammersmith correspondent (page 329) demolishes the arguments of Nos. T, 2, 3, and 6:and, in regard to Nos. 4 and 5, we can only say that the tramcar is by far the greater offender in both respects. The London and North 'Western Railway Company has intimated its inability to accede to the request of the General Purposes Committee of the Carnarvon Town Council; in respect of a service of motorbuses from Llanwnda to Clynnog, and from Gaerwen. The company also states that it cannot, at present, entertain any proFosal for further services in Wales.
Railway Motorbuses.
One of the latest railway purchases has been made by the Midland Company. An 18h.p. Siddeley omnibus is now in use between Desborough Station and the outlying,township of Rothwell, in Northamptonshire, except on Sundays. The route is very hilly, but this vehicle surmounts them with ease. It carries 12 passengers inside and two outside, whilst there is good accommodation for luggage on the roof.
Merthyr's Lost Motorbuses.
The Police and Sanitary Committee of the House of Commons, on the rntb instant, considered the Merthyr Tydvil Corporation's Bill. This, in the first instance, sought powers to employ the municipality to provide and run motorbuses, but this suggested provision was, after keen opposition by the interested railway companies, refused by a committee of the House of Lords. Counsel for the promoters explained that the motorbus clauses had now, in consequence, been struck out of the measure.
East Ham and Damages.
East Ham Town Council has agreed to a suggestion from the Empire Insurance Company that a " knock and knock " arrangement be come to in cases of damage done to tramcars by motorbuses, or by tramcars to motorbuses, where the damage does not exceed Ls, no claim is to be made ; where the damage exceeds and does not exceed -Lro, there will be a halving arrangement, and claims exceeding 4.10 are to be settled on their merits. The matter has yet to be decided upon by the different motorbus companies. Hotel Omnibuses.
The Gloucester Hotel Company, of Wcytnouth, has recently taken 'delivery of a six-seated station omnibus from Sturmey Motors, Limited, of Coventry. This " Lotis " vehicle was shown in an unfinished condition at the recent Olympia Show, and it will he noted, from the accompanying view, that there are steps up the front of the body to enable the driver to mount to the top. Baggage is then rested on the luggage board at the back, and, by means of a strap, pulled up over the roller shown, the vertical guard rails preventing damage to the body. The chassis is a standard 12.48h.p.
Reduced Fares.
After an extended trial of increased fares by the London omnibus companies in many cases the old rates have been resumed, commencing on Monday the 25.,th instant. Penny fares are now, [her: far.?, in operation between the following termini :— Charing Cross and Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly Circus and Chancery Lane, Bridge Street, West:Minster, and Eburv Bridge, Chapel Street and Queen's Arms,
Baker Street and Tottenham Court Road, Sloane Street and Earl's Court Road, LandOn Bridge and South Place, Elephant and Castle and Feachurch Street.
Longer twopenny Stages have come into Operation On the 'journeys between King's Cross and Hyde Park Corner, Baker Street and Brondesbury, Hyde Park Corner and Ludgate Circus.
Reductions have also been made on the Vanguard Service 9, and the T and L routes of the Road Car Company.
New London Services.
GENERAL :—Sundays only, and commencing on Sunday, the 24th inst.. Seven Kings and Shepherd's Bush service runs between Seven Kings and the Bank only.
East Ham and Oxford Circus service runs between Barking Town and the Bank only.
Acton and Bow Bridge service has been extended to Ealing at the western end, thus bringing it into competition with the United trams.
VANGUARD :—The service between Crieklewood and `Pulse Hill via Kilburn, Marble Arch, Regent Street, Charing Cross, Stockwell, Brixton and Herne Hill, commencing on Monday, May 251h, leaves the old route at Marble Arch and runs to Shepherd's Bush via Notting Hill. This service is now worked by 1907 type Milnes-DaimlerS, which have been transferred from Service 12 and are stationed at the Shepherd's Bush depot. Service 12 is now worked by the early pattern Milnes-Daimlers which previously ran in Service 8. 1907 Milnes-Daimlers are also now assisting the De D10116 which have hitherto been exclusively employed on the Services Nos. 7, 9, and II.
GREAT EASTERN :—The service between Leyton and Oxford Circus now runs, on Sundays only, between Epping Forest and Marble Arch viA Leyton, Hackney, Bank, Holborn, and Oxford Street.
PULLMAN :—On Wednesday, May 20th, a second new service was tenta tively commenced between Victoria , and Piccadilly, but has not yet been • definitely allocated to that route.