A NEW FIVE-ACRE TAXI GARAGE.
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The Growth of One of , the Newest Fleets of Paris Taxicabs has Been so Great as to Necessitate the Erection of Special Housing Accommodation.
MHE cab fleet of the Compagnie des Taxis Citroen, whose neat vehicles have wrought such a change in the appearance of Paris traffic, has increased so rapidly during the present year that their premises on the Quai de Javel will no longer accommodate all the cabs. A wonderful new garage has, therefore, been built at Levallois Perret, on the western outskirts of the city, to accommodate 1,000 cabs on one floor.
The garage in question has a floor space of 20,000 square metres, or practically five acres, and, as might be expected of anything with which the name of Citroen is connected, the concern is a model organization. The building itself is roughly rectangular in form, and the main frontage is . 650 ft. in length. The interior gives a wonderful impression of -space, for three great, driving ways, each nearly 20 ft. wide, run the whole length of the garage, and these are kept clear, even when all the cabs are in for the night. An open space at each end makes connection between the driving tracks, and this also is kept clear at all times. ,
The centre of the building is traversed by an immense ball, where the cabs fill up with oil and petrol before leaving for work. At present a number of 'ordinary .garage petrol pumps are installed here, but this arrangement is only temporary, as two great under ground reservoirs are being constructed, each of which will have a capacity of 10,000 litres. • The daily fuel consumption already averages 6,000 litres, and the full complement of cabs has not yet been reached. Between 500 and 600 are at present at work, and the remainder of the 1,000 are expected in within the next few weeks.
All along the back of the garage runs a very completely equipped repair shop, with a staff of 100 mechanics. Although discipline is strict in the Citroen cab company and the whole concern is run on almost military lines, each driver having a conduct sheet like a soldier, a considerable amount of liberty is allowed to drivers in the matter of their hours of work. The only rules in this respect are that all cabs must be out of the garage by 11.30 in the morning, and, ex• ceptional circumstances apart, they must be in at night by 2.30 a.m. The drivers are naturally all pieked men with excel lent records.
Before leaving the garage for work in the morning each driver buys a number of aluminium counters from the offices, each giving him the right to five litres of petrol. These are handed to the pump men who fill his tank far him. Both cab and driver undergo an inspection for smartness of appearance before the cab is allowed to leave. When this inspection has been passed, the driver is handed his work sheet for the day, on which is printed a declaration that the cab is in perfect mechanical order and possesses its full equipment ; also that the engine contains the correct quantity of oil. This he most sign, and he is then allowed to leave.
The cabs are all of the splendid new type with roomy and most comfortable bodies, the interior being upholstered in leather and fitted with two extra folding seats. They are mounted on the 11.8 h.p. Citroen chassis, provided with front-wheel brakes. The whole of the fleet is mounted on balloon tyres.
The washing arrangements in the new garage are excellent. High-pressure hydrants are installed all along the lines where the cabs stand at night in double ranks, back to Jaack ; and, owing to the enormous floor space, the washing -can be carried out with a minimum of trouble. One washer is responsible for the washing, cleaning and greasing of every ten cabs.
The present island Offices in the garage are only temporary, as a complete range of offices is in course of construe.,
tion along the sides of the building, and the permanent staff accommodation will be as up to date as everything else connected with the concern. The eventual staff will be nearly 1,300.