The Motor Omnibus World.
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Associates of the Soc. M.O. Eng. are requested to make a note of 7.30 p.m., November 13th, at the Hotel Cecil.
Motor omnibuses now travel along the Tottenham Court Road, London, at the rate of 50 in one hour, counting those passing in both directions. The comparative infrequency makes it apparent that six times the number could use the same road without giving rise to congestion. The Marylebone Borough Council has resolved to support the scheme for the early introduction of the L.C.C. tramways along the Edgware Road, notwithstanding a protest on behalf of the various motor omnibus companies whose vehicles adequately serve that line.
The Italian Government has resolved to subsidise any motor omnibus service in that country to the extent of £32 ins. per annum per mile of route served. It is expected that this official enoouragement will result in a great development of public passenger services. We had the pleasure of a call from the principals of the Brussels tramways some months ago, and a reflection of that visit is found in the announcement from a Paris source that a number of these self-contained, independent passenger vehicles will shortly appear on the streets of the Belgium capital. •
A meeting was recently held in the mayor's parlour of the Portsmouth Town Hall, when Mr. W. J. Groves was elected to the chair, in order to discuss the question of a supplementary motor omnibus service for the town. It was decided, as the result of a long discussion, to refer the matter to the tramways committee.
The N.A.G. omnibus, which was illustrated in our issue of October loth (page 97), is giving excellent results in service between Biickingen and Heilbronn. The second of these towns is in Wurtemberg, on the Neckar, a tributary of the Rhine, and it is reported that the success has resulted in the placing, of further orders with the Berlin makers.
During the course of a recent strike at Saginaw, Mich., motor omnibuses were operated by the Street Railway Employees Union. The fact that the men had such an afterna_ itive within their grasp rapidly brought about a settlement of terms with the employers, and it is interesting to note that The National Convention of Street Railway Employees, in :session at Chicago on October 5th, appropriated $20,000 for the purchase of ten motor vehicles. These will be held at the disposal of the union to carry passengers wherever there is a street railway strike, the object being to provide the men with the means of continuing to earn their wages and to avoid any kiss of public sympathy through total suspension of passenger conveyance. The time allowed for horse-drawn omnibuses between l'utney and Liverpool Street, prior to the 22nd ultimo, was So minutes for the single journey. Motor omnibus competition along part of the route has resulted in the issue of a new instruction to the effect that there is no time limit, and that each vehicle may go along as fast as possible.
The Brighton service, which is maintained by a Vanguard omnibus, of Mill-les-Daimler build, continues to be patronised, although the support is not so numerous as it was during the warmer weather. It is understood that the service is more than self-supporting at the present time, although the question of running it throughout the winter without intermission has yet to be decided.
The proposition put forward by certain members of the Birkenhead Town Council, in favour of official action in respect of motor omnibus services, was considered at the last meeting of that body, when it was decided to defer action_ It is the evident intention of the Birkenhead authorities to observe the results of the Mersey Railway Company's service before committing themselves.
Councillor Duke, in presenting the report of the motor bus committee to the last meeting of the Eastbourne Town Council, explained that the gross takings showed a profit of 20 per cent., which he considered was extremely satisfactory. Last year it was his duty to detail a more dismal state of affairs, but since then the committee had adopted a very rigid system of economy, and the whole concern had been thoroughly overhauled. He believed the new winter service would meet the public need, and would appreciably reduce the cost of working. In the course of one debate it had been mentioned that the buses were only fit for dust carts and that they only carried the surplus population ; but to show how popular the service was, he mentioned that during six months the buses carried no fewer than 844,605 passengers. There had also been a fear that the system would entail a charge on the rates, and he was glad to reassure ratepayers on that point. The capital borrowed was ,69,468, and they had already paid back .4-0,955 of that amount. Four extra double-deck buses were on order, and when they were placed on the streets he believed the service would give satisfaction and bring in an increased income. He was sanguine enough to forecast that in time a substantial sum would be allocated from the profits to the relief of the rates. Numerous members of the council warmly congratulated the chairman of the motor bus committee on the success which had met his efforts in the face of adverse criticism and many initial difficulties_ The increasing evidences of success were in spite of many old-type vehicles.
Kingsway is not to be Ieft to one motor omnibus company only, lor it is reported that the Star and the Atlas and Waterloo vehicles will also use this spacious new highway. At the last meeting of the Edinburgh Town Council, Councillor Macfarlane spoke as follows In London he saw the traction of the futurethe motor omnibus, which was in every way suited for the traction of Edinburgh, and not expensive. At the end of the tramway lease he would take up every rail in the city and put it somewhere else."
The backwardness of Berlin in relation to motor omnibus traction may be gathered from the recent decision of the Berlin General Omnibus Company to increase its capital by no less a sum than ,315,00o, in order to purchase 700 horses, vehicles, buildings, and ten motor omnibuses. The disproportion between the mechanical arid horsed plant is most suggestive.
A local cyclist, named Edward Rogers, sued the Great Western Railway Company, at the Wrexham County Court on the 25th ultimo, for 415 alleged damages for personal injuries and damage to a bicycle. It appears that the cyclist Rung himself off his machine on rounding a corner suddenly, and meeting the company's vehicle, and that the bicycle was smashed to pieces. The defence that the motor driver blew his horn, and that he was travelling at a slow rate of speed, whilst the plaintiff came too quickly round the corner, was successfully pleaded. The " Daily Mail " comments on the tact that the chairman of the London County Council has been making the annual speech in support of the Council's undertakings at a time when the rates are leaping up and fresh money is being voted to build lunatic asylums. Our contemporary regards the two circumstances as cause and effect. It also comments very severely on the hazardous tramway expenditure when motor omnibuses are daily proving their claims for recognition as a more satisfactory means of passenger transport in narrow and congested streets.
A unique instance of the utility of the motor omnibus is to be seen at Ealing. A firm of estate agents has built largely on land, known as the West Eler's Estate, lying between Ealing Dean and Gunnersbury. Owing to the difficulty in letting the houses, a service of two single-deck 2oh.p. Milnes-Daimler omnibuses has been started between the estate and Ealing Broadway Station. The fare by motor omnibus is rd. either way, but tenants of the estate can purchase books of tickets entitling them to make the double journey for id. The length of main road over which these omnibuses run, from Northfield Lane to Ealing Broadway, is an exact id. stage on an electric tram, so that residents can travel double the distance by motor omnibus for the same fare. The omnibuses are well patronised, and are probably paying the estate a good profit, directly and indirectly.
Amusing criticisms of the Great Eastern Railway omnibuses continue to appear in the Norfolk Press. A correspondent, signing himself "Tired. Tim," intimates his intention to debit the railway company as follows. The bill is appended to an amusing letter, which quotes how the vehicle crawled into London at about four miles an hour :— I. To wear and tear of shoe leather—stamping about at Victoria Station, two hours ... jjo i 6 2. To encouraging the conductor, winding up
the hurdy-gurdy---50 times at id. ... 0 4 2
3. To "shoo ' -ing the motor at every rise in the road—lump sum... o 5 4. To pushing behind up Thurton Hill o 1 o
5. To I gag, to keep in bad words (including
wear and tear to self-restraint) ... o izoi 6. To various valuable bits of advice shouted to driver (professional charge) ... o r 6 7. To hire of pony from Mr. Shanks, to cover
last two miles—is. per mile o 2 0 S. To curing cold contracted through sitting two hours in the rain :—
Hot mustard and water ... o o Hot onion gruel o o Quarter-pint rum ... o o Eleven quinine pills at id. o o .9. To doctor's fee attending " The Missus (in hysterics at home) ... o to 6 9 4 6 -1 au
Li to o This partcular service has been temporarily suspended for a complete mechanical overhaul of the vehicles.
There are encouraging signs that our special motor omnibus issue of July 6th has wakened up a number of local authorities to the possibilities of these vehicles. In fact, we might safely name six towns where the premature installation of electric traction is now viewed ruefully.
Every progressive mind will welcome the proposed granting of higher speeds in respect of the L.C.C. electric tramcars. It is ridiculous that these vehicles should be held down to low velocities, except round curves of short radius. The speeding-up of tramcars will help London traffic very much, and many provincial cities already have speeds in esse of a full 20 miles an hour, whilst in America it is well known that speeds in excess of 30 miles are not unusual.
It is intended in France this year to give special prominence to the public service vehicle in connection with the forthcoming Paris Salon. A series of trials are to be held in Paris, prior to the exhibition which opens on December 8th. The success of the proposal seems to be already assured. Testimony to this fact exists not only in the number of entries received by the Automobile Club de France, but in the numerous requests for information sent by the public. The route to be taken by the competing vehicles has been submitted to the Prefect of Police, M. Lepine, who, in addition to signifying his approval of it, has expressed the sympathetic interest he takes in these vehicles. The number of motor omnibuses working on the London streets has increased from 149, a fortnight ago, to 163. This does not include the Isle of Wight omnibuses, which have been purchased by the London and District Motor Bus Company. These have arrived in London, but they are at present in the hands of the painters, and cannot be on the road for a few days. The London General Omnibus Company has commenced to receive delivery of the De Dion omnibuses on order ; the first of the io8 is now at work regularly. The new Kingsway service has proved so successful, that, to meet the competition, the Camden Town Omnibus Association has diverted its East Finchley and Charing Cross buses so that they now come down Seymour Street, Southampton Row, and Kingsway, to the corner of Great Queen Street, and thence through Long Acre to Charing Cross.
Proceedings of the Soc.M.O. Engincera.
The fifth meeting of council for the first session was held at the registered offices, Hotel Cecil Chambers, 86, Strand, W.C., last week. Mr. F. C. A. Coventry (Great Western Railway), chairman of the council, presided, and there were also present Messrs. R. Bell (London Motor Omnibus Company), H. P. G. Brakenridge (London Road Car Company), K. 11. Buchanan (London Power Omnibus Company), W. F. French (Sussex Motor Road Car Company), and W. M. Hodges (London and District Motor Bus Company). Also, in attendance, Mr. Charles E. Esse (secretary). The business transacted included the following i Membership.—Mr. F. J. Crinage (Isle of Wight Motor Express Syndicate, Limited) was duly admitted a member of the Society. Associates.—It was reported that Mr. A. J. D. Smellie had been nominated to represent Messrs. Meade-King, Robinson and Company, of Liverpool.
Olympia Slow.—The arrangements for the visit of the council and members to the exhibition of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders were discussed, and it was left to the secretary to make any suitable arrangements with Mr. T. F. Woodfine.
Annual Dinner.—The question of holding a public dinner in connection with the Society was deferred; the general opinion was that this should not take place, in any event, earlier than November, 1906. Second General Meeting.—It was decided that the subject for discussion at the second general meeting of members and associates, to be held at the Hotel Cecil on Monday, November t3th, should be "ignition." Mr. H. P. G. T3rakenridge, at the invitation of the Chairman, consented to open the discussion on this occasion. Cheques were signed, and other business of a toutine character attended to, and an in camera meeting of members was held subsequently. The adjourned discussion of Mr. R. Bell's paper on "A synopsis of present-day motor omnibus construction from the operating engineer's standpoint " was concluded. The discussion was contributed to by Messrs. W. Spiller (London General Omnibus Company), P. FrostSmith (Thomas Tilling, Limited), A. H. Tyler (Leamington), and T. F. Carter (Associated Omnibus Company), in addition to the members of council named above
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