Correspondence.
Page 13
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The Improvement of London Traffic. The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir,—In your issue of the isth inst., I notice that you
commence a reprint of the paper by Mr. C. S. Meik and myself on "The Improvement of London Traffic," and also comment thereon in a short leader. It is with reference to the latter that I begyou will allow me space in your columns for a few remarks.
While it is true that the report of the Royal Commission On London Traffic may be expected shortly, I would suggest that this renders our proposals the more opportune because, in the first place, they were laid by us before the Commission in evidence and may prove to have had some influence upon its recommendations and, in the second place, because their Presentation to the general public at the present moment may mable the report of the Commission to be better understood when it appears. I should further like to point out that it is a leading feature pf our scheme to facilitate motor traffic and our proposals would not only provide important additional facilities for all /aides in common, but also a special road for fast motors, Ipon which could be run express omnibus services withont my interference with, or delay from, cross traffic.
Another feature of our suggestions is that the new main tvenues should not follow existing thoroughfares and thereore it would not be necessary to incur "an enormous ex)enditure on the purchase of frontages " nor "a huge outay on street widening." For a similar reason they would tot involve " the dislocatior(of traffic for months together." In conclusion, I venture to lay stress upon the financial letails of our scheme which have been most carefully prepared, with the assistance of Mr. W. Ralph Low, a very ex*rienced land valuer, and show that, quite apart from inlirect advantages, the burdens on the metropolitan ratepayer you'd eventually be lessened and not increased.—Yours aithfully, WALTER BEER. 47, Victoria Street, S.W. .
We thought the paper tended to anticipate the possible find ings of the Royal Commission, whilst the cost (21,000,000) and the period of construction (16 years) are serious factors. Motor vehicles can well use existing roads with an increasing facility corresponding to their growing numbers. Immediate relief would be given to congested thoroughfares if power were conferred upon the Chief Commissioner of Police to compel slow-moving traffic to keep to the kerb, leaving the centre clear for faster vehicles.—ED.1 Repairs to Steam Wagons.
The Editor," THE COM MERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir,—In conversation with a friend of mine a few days ago, I discussed the advisability of his substituting a steam wagon for his horses. His reply was that he had thought about making the change, but was afraid of the repair bills and of being overcharged. A few shops are badly wanted in various parts of London to undertake repairs to steam wagons, reasonably and expeditiously ; keep tackle handy to send out in case of a breakdown; and in the case of overhauls advise customers of the exact amount of work that ought to be done at the time to prevent the wagon having to come back at an early date. In addition to the above, the owners could act as representatives to a firm of steam wagon builders and follow up any enquiries respecting same; hold a stock of spare parts for that particular wagon; and by employing fitters who understood driving, be enabled, if necessary, to instruct other men in driving. Such shops need not be big places with heavy establishment charges, and if run by men who are practical engineers of experience, with suitable plant and premises, would prove a profitable investment. Then again, in the case of second-hand wagons (which I see you have undertaken to inspect), in the event of your engineer recommending any repairs before purchase, he could send them to one of these shops, and by having free access to the shop could see that the work was being done to his satisfaction. If such shops were licensed by the Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association, members would then know they were being dealt with fairly, and the owner, becoming a member himself, could give practical advice on any matters connected with steam wagons. I shall be pleased to hear from users and makers of steam wagons with reference to above, and provided I saw-a reasonable prospect I am prepared to start a shop on these lines, and from past experience of repair shops as apprentice, workman, foreman, and owner, especially amongst traction engines and steam wagons, it would be a boon to users to know where they could send their wagons to and rely on getting satisfaction. —Yours faithfully, STAND BY. London.