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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"The wheels of wealth, will be slowed by all difficukiei of transport at whatever point arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozim

The Safety of Public Vehicles.

The L.C.C.General Purposes Committee reports that the London " Safety First' Council has asked for the views of the council on a suggestion that it should be a condition of the issue of licences for public service vehicles especially motor coaches) that such vehicles should undergo a periodical examination of brakes and the like by a qualified engineer.

The committee is informed that, so far as London is concerned, the periodical examination of stage and hackney carriages is drastic and effective. With respect to motor coaches, it understands that some of these vehicles are regarded and treated as stage carriages, but othees are not, and the distinction between them is very fine. It appears that, if passengers hook their seats in advance at an office remote from the vehicle, it is regarded as a private car, and not, therefore, subject to police regulations. If, however, the office or person issuing tickets is adjacent to a standing place for motor coaches, the vehicle is regarded as plying for hire. It consequently becomes a stage carriage, and is treated accordingly as regards inspection and other matters. The committee is of opinion that, on the ground of equity, as well as in the interests of public salety, all passenger-carrying vehicles should be subject to the same conditions with regard to licensing, supervision and inspection.

Compulsory Pneumatics.

With regard to the proposal of the Bridlington Watch Committee to insist on moths-buses being fitted with pneumatic tyres, a representative of the Daimler Co., Ltd., has interviewed thecommittee and explained the various kinds of tyres used on motorbuses, and expressedIsis views as to the respective. advantages and disadvantages of using such tyres, particularly with regard to the wear and tear of the roads and the damage from vibration caused to premises in roads over which buses are run.

The committee has also received a deputation representing the Commercial Motor Leers Association, and camprising Messrs. J. F. Box, H. Grooeock, S. J. Sims, and E. Harrison, who also explained and demonstrated the pros and cons of pneumatic and cushion tyres.

The committee has now decided that licences will only be granted in respect of vehicles fitted -with super-cushion or pneumatic tyres.

Transport Men's Wages.

The Lancashire and Cheshire transport employers have notified the Transport and General Workers 'Union of Manchester of their intentions to terminate the present agreement affecting carters and.motormen.

The present scale and the proposed new rates are :— Present rreposed rate, new rate

Drivers of motor vehicles up to 1 ton,

youth 42s. Drivers of mot or vehicles up to I ton, adult 52s.

loaders 56s. ... Steam-wagon drivers 69s. ... Steam-wagon steerers 58s. ...

It is proposed that the present garage duties, for which extra pay is allowed, should be performed without payment. A further proposal is that the slidingscale agreement regulating wages by the cost-of-living index figure should be continued, the minimum figures to which wages shall fall to be 36s. and 46s. in the lowest and highest grades--in each case 4s. below the minimum agreed last March. 52s. 62s, 54s.

At. the conclusion of a recent board meeting of the Research Association of British !lubber and Tyre Manufacturers, the chairman of the Association, Mr. Alexander Johnston, said that he wished, on behalf of himself and co-directors, to express to Mr. J. Traxler their great appreciation of the work he had done in connection with the purchase and reconstruction of the Association's laboratories, and he asked Mr. Traxler's acceptance of a gold cigarette ease as a mark of their esteem and appreciation.

Chain-track Type Lorries.

Remarkable advances has;ebeen Made since the war in the development of chain-track type vehicles, and a projest is on foot to commercialize the system. Lorry-type vehicles will be constructed for use -overseas . and in districts where roadways are -undeveloped. Overseas readers of The Commercial Motor will find the description of the several ingenious systems and devices incorporated in these latest chain-track commercial

vehicles of outstanding interest. We propose to deal fully with this developmese in the near future, for we regard this line of progress as being one that bears strongly on the question of six and eight wheeled vehicles—a development that was first introduced and encouraged in this journal. The announcement that a 'self-tracking" .heavy vehicle capable of doing 35 m.p.h. over rough ground on a petrol consumption of 3 miles to the gallon, and weighing only 7 tons complete with armour plating, may serve to give some indication id the interesting progress that has been made in this direction.

Avoiding the Bottleneck.

The Ormskirk police are diverting heavy motor traffic to and from Livespool and Preston, when approaching that part of Burscough Street from Derby Street to the Cross, either along Derby Street, West or Church Street, accord ing to the direction in which the traffic is moving. By this means the dangers of the Burscough Street bottleneck are avoided.

For Goods and Passengers.

Primarily built for use as a laundry van, the Thornycroft vehicle, Which we illustrate on this page, in the service of the Wellbrook SanitaryLaundry Co., Ltd., Girton, Cambridge, has been equipped by its owners with detachable se-at s for passenger service—possibly for the transport of their own staff. The body sides are fitted with windows so that the steal can be carried with a reasonable amount of comfort. The body was built in the Basingstoke works of J. I. Thornycreft and Co.. Ltd., and is mounted on a B.T. type chassis.

Buses and the Roads.

In a letter to the Newcastle Corporation, which operates one of its motorbus services through. Ryton, the Ryton Council • drew attention to the great amount of damage being dode to the main highway by heavy motor omnibuses, and put forward the suggestion that the use of smaller and lighter vehicles, fitted with pneumatic tyres, would materially reduce the cost of road maintenance, as well as minimize the dangers to road users and pedestrians, and as a means of avoiding the annoyaneo and damage done by vibration to hones adjoining the main roads.

Having given the matter its considersVon, the Newcastle Corporation has replied regretting that it could not see a way islear to 5.ircur further capital expenditure in the direction suggested, unless the copncil would guarantee it the monopoly of transit facilities in the area. The corporation mentioned that it had already tried pneumatic tyres, without success, and did not see any solution in the manner suggested by the council. If the road, it concluded, was kept in better condition, then much of the cause for complaint would be removed.

Concrete Bridges.

A special committee of the Glasgow Corporation recommends the eonstructine of a ferro-concrete bridge across the Clyde, at Oswald Street. The committee inspected ferro-concrete bridges in England, and reports on a number of them.

The Carlisle Bridge carries the main road from Carlisle to Glasgow over the River Esk at Floriston, near Carlisle. It was designed by the Moilehel-Hennehique Co. to carry two lorries weighing 32 tons each, moving either abreast or one behind the other. It • was constructed for the Cumberland County Council, and was contracted for in 1014, at a criet of 12,583, exclusive of the roadway.

Swansea Bridge is designed to carry 40 tons on four wheels on each half of the -bridge.

Bridgend Bridge, which carries the main road from Cardiff to Swansea over the River Ogreore, was designed to carry, in addition to the weight of the structure itself, a superload, equally spread over the whole area, of 200 tons, and a traction engine and trailers of 50 tons.

Pontypridd Bridge is built over the River Taff at Pontypridd, and is on a considerable slope, there being a difference of 12 ft. in the level between the two ends, in consequence, it was designed for comparatively small moving loads—namely, 10-top steam rollers— although in point of fact much heavier steam rollers are carried across it.

Eastham Bridge carries a railway over Eastham Manor Way. It was designed to carry locomotives and railway wagons filled with ashes and owing to the difference in the level of the ground on each side of the road the abutments had to be designed strong enough to take the thrust of the arch. with the full load before any filling could be deposited behind one of the abutments. The bridge It'a..5 tested on completion by being loaded with ten locomotives, weighing in all 200 tons.

Newark Bridge carries the main north 'road from Newark over the River Trent, and is calculated to carry movini 'loads consisting of a 20-ton steam tractito engine pulling a 40-ton loyry. Guildford Bridge was built over the River Wes-, and was designed to carry a test load consisting of three 20-ton traction engines in a train travelling over the bridge, in addition to the dead load of the structure.

Motorbus Notices.

Worthing Town Council proposes to alMw the Soutliclown Motor Services, Ltd., to fix notice boards on bus routes on payment of an toinual acknowledgment of a shilling per notice board. The company had pointed out that the absence of direction boards resulted in chaos.

A Leaf-spring Lubricator.

Mr. Frank Nicholson the district surveyor of Chard, SCsnerse's, is the patentee of a remarkably simple leafspring lubricator. The top leaf of the spring is provided at each end with a grease cup, and all the leaves except those at the top and bottom are slotted down the centre, thereby enabling the grease to be forced into every leaf and rendering unnecessary the use of gaiters,

The Wiser Way.

With the object of getting some roads closed to heavy traffic, the Totteribiun Urban District Council, some months ago, asked the surveyor to. schedule thoroughfares deemed unsuitable. for the traffic. Meanwhile,', it appears some of the roads concerning which residents had lodged complaints as to vibration caused by traffic have been repaired and put in. good condition, and no further complaints are being received. In these circumstances the district council has abandoned the idea of scheduling roads against heavy traffic.

Petrol Interceptors.

The Marylebone medical officer of health has reported on the difficulties sometimes experienced in securing the provision of approved petrol interceptors as required by the London County Council, and, in view of the likelihood of the construction of garages in the borough increasing in future, the borough council has asked the L.C.C. to consider the matter, with a view to strengthening appropriately the powers of local authorities in this respect.

Railways and the Motor Show.

The Automobile Association has been in communication with the various railway companies concernipg the provision of special train facilities from distant points to the forthcoming Motor Exhibition at Olympia, London. Most of the companies have agreed to the Association's Suggestions, and particulars concerning reduced fares, time-tables, etc., can be obtained from the touring department of the Association at Far-turn House, sWhitcomb Street, London, W.Ces2, or from the general managers of the railway companies.

Sidecar Taxis for Bournemouth

Having inspected a motorcycle taxi sidecar submitted by the County Cycle and Motor Co., the Bournemouth License ing Comiliktee now recommends that cars of this type, but slightly wider, be licensed at the discretion of the committee, subject to the adoption by the council of suitable rules and regulations for these vehicles.

Motor Sweeper Statistics.

Lambeth Borough Council has prepared statistics for a year's working of its motor-sweeping machines and golly emptiers. One 4-wheel sweeper had a mileage of 6,651, and worked 1,016 hours, and the total cost for the year, including capital sharges and establishment charges, was 2526 16s., giving a cost per mile of is, 7d.

Another 4-wheel sweeper did 5,535 miles, and worked 812 hours, the total cost being 2605 14s. 3d., averaging 2s. 2.26d. per mile.

A 3-wheel sweeper had a mileage of 9,364, and worked 1,468 hours. The total cast was 2637 3.s. 2d., being is. 4.33d. per mile.

One vacuum gully-cleansing machine, purchased for 21,100 in April, 1919, cost for the year 21,254 12s. 5d. It removed 415 loads, amounting to 1,226 tons, the cost per ton being 20s. 5.46d.

Another gully emptier, purchased in January, 1921, for 21,450, cost 21,414 5s 3d. to run during the year. It removed 532 loads, amounting to 1,739 tons, the cost per ton being 16s. 3.15d.

Preston Parade : Challenge Cup Disappears.

One of the sensational incidents in connection with the first annual parade held on Saturday, October 28th, of commercial motor vehicles organized by the Preston branch . of the C.M.U.A. has been the disappearance of a 20-guinea silver challenge cup recently presented by H. Viney and Co., Ltd. The premises where the cup was being kept until the parade were broken into, and the cup, a massive two-handled trophy, bearing the Association crest, was abstracted. It has not yet been recovered, but it has been replaced by a duplicate. The Viney challenge cup was competed for at the parade, arid was awarded to the best fleet of petrol vehicles of any make. G. and II. Dewhunst. Ltd., presented a silver challenge cup for the best fleet of three steam vehicles of any make, and Leyland Motors, Ltd., another challenge trophy for the best Leyland vehicle on parade, excluding the winners of either of the two challenge cups.

B22 About 103 vehicles took part in the competitions, which must be considered exceedingly gratifying, bearing in mind that this was Preston's first effort.

Grants for Rural Roads.

In view of the great increase which has taken place in the use of rural roads

by motor vehicles and the inadequate grants towards the maintenance of such roads which tire received from the 'Roads 'Fund, the Rural District Councils' Association is urging the Ministry of Transport, when funds trke available, to make grants direct to rural authorities, includiag grants for roads Which are now not classified.

Diversion of Traffic.

Rochester Town Council is endeavouring to secure an order from the Ministry of Transport to divert heavy traffic from the high Street to Corporation Street, which was constructed to relieve the congested traffic of High Street, and is not yet imicffi used.

London's Concrete Roads.

All visitors to the Motor Show, which opens in a few days, will naturally be interested in road construction, but many of them have not had the opportunity of inspecting or driving over concrete roads. A visit to London will provide them with the opportunity of judging for themselves the quality of this form of construction,. which may be found at Southwark, where some , 60 odd concrete seeds:havebeenTlaid; and at Edmonton, Enfield and Willesden, where portions of the great arterial roads a ie being constructed.

Spare-parts Service.

One of the difficulties which face the user of commercial motor vehicles who is situated outside the large towns, par-. ticularly if his vehicles are of fairly old pattern, is that of obtaining suitable spare,parts .anel accessories. In order to minimize t. this ....difficulty, Bourke and Porte, Ltd., of •7, Queen Square, Southaisspton Row, tiondon, W.C. 1, have made arrangements to supply any part or accessary LICS-1 to sclespetteh it the same day, if it is t-,:yecusab.le, in London, and within -a day if it is not. The company intend tu' sesve.dhe same. purpose.:as if each user, had a represeelative:permanently in town to procure the articles required, and they cicbM to have the advantage of knowing exactly where to lay their hands on any particular part, besides making arrangements with various manufacturers to facilitate the service.

Arterial Roads and Town Planning.

The Cardiff City engineer has reported to the corporation housing committee that the Ministry of Health would favourably consider the formation of a regional town-planning committee for the South Wales area—the centre to be Cardiff—such as has been done in the Manchester area. The object. of this committee would be the securing of cooperation between local authorities in the construction of arterial roads.

The Cardiff committee thought the scheme one of importance.

The Scottish Exhibition.

The forthcoming Exhibition at Glasgow is likely to be a great success, and to demand much more floor-spec/a than any of its predecessors. A. feature will be the large number of provincial motor agents who will occupy stands, there being scarcely a town of any importune° that does not send one

or more representatives. Motor tractors will be on view in very large numbers, and it is expected that heavy bookings will be made by farmees from all parts of the country. Miter lorries and wagons 'will also attract much attention, for this form of transport for goods delivery is becoming very popular throughout Scotland.

Mechanical Transport in Uganda

Twenty-five of the 38 transport vehicles belonging to the Government and stationed at. Kampala Depot at Uganda are 2-ton or 3-ton Albion, -which are sant to be giving the most satisfactory service. Although petrol is used for starting purposes, the vehicles run on paraffin.

Exceptional mileages are obtained on this fuel, although native drivers are employed, the average working'out at 8.3 m.p.g. in wet weather and 9 m.p.g. in dry weather, whilst the gross tonmileage per gallon is 40. The cost per mile of the Albion vehicles amounts to 1s. 8icl., and the distance run by the .oldest of this make is 104,000 miles.

Economy by Light Lornes.

The ambulance committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board reports that the conditions of the Board's transport service afford opportunities of saving much time and of avoiding haulage of dead weight by the use of lighter lorries and trailers in place of heavy lorries without trailers.

The committee has arranged for the old omnibus chassis, which are being converted to lorries, to he provided with smaller bodies and adapted for use with

• trailers. The economy by the use of these trailers should ba prontouziced in the frequent instances in the Board's service where loads of -bulk disproportiona'c.e to the weight have to be transported ; where the trailer can be left at one institution for loading or unload

ing while the lorry proleeds to a neighbouring institution to load or unload; and where the trailer can be left for loading or unloading at an institntion in the Metropolitan area while the lorry proceeds on its day's running to and from one of the Board's institutions in the Home Counties.

The committee suggests the purchase of four trailed' chassis for this purpose from R, C. Warren and Co., Ltd., at £112 10s, each The bodies for these trailers will be constructed at the Mead Works of tie Board.

Axle Weights.

At a meeting of the Rural District Councils' Association it was reported that .158 rural councils had supported a resolution viewing with alarm the increase of axle weights on vehicles, and urging for the reversion to previous weights and speeds.

The Association, however, came to the conclusion, that it was not expedient to raise objeetions to the increase inn the maximum weight of trailers from 4 tone to bi tons, or to the increase of the speed of certain heavy motorcars from 8 m.p.h. to 12 m.p.h., which were both in accordance with the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Road Vehicles.

The Cardiff-Newport Bus Services.

The Great Western Railway Co. has written to the Cardiff Tramways Committee requesting that the company's views shoukl be considered before active step are taken in the matter of -the motorbus service be. tweerk Cardiff and Newport, which the corporation intends to run. The company will ask -that the plans made by it for improving Cardiff-Newport service should be borne in mind, and it is hinted that there is ii. possibility of the G.Vv''.R. Cc. applying for the right to run a road service 'between the boroughs if the corporation does not run one.

The company will be represented by a deputation at the next meeting of the tramways committee.

A Motor Repair Policy.

The Metropolitan Asylums Board has adopted a policy of providing skilled -attention on the spot for the Board's establishments where a considerable number of motor vehicles are running daily. Now it is proposed to establish a. small repair shop at a Dartford insti • tution, where there will, be 14 vehicles under constant supervision, adjustment and repair. A mechanic and labourer will staff the shop, and the cost of plant and tools will be about £190.

"The Motor "Show Numbers.

A, in past years, our assobiated journal The Motor is publishing several Special Numbers in connection with the annual Motor Show at Olympia and the White City. The keynote of the first. issue was, " Better Cars—Lower Prices." The second will deal with " 1923 Prices and Tendencies," and the third will contain a complete report of the Show, in which will be found illnstrated technical descriptions of every car exhibit, as well as matter relating to accessories and equipment. Those who are unable to make the journey to London will find the equivalent of the Show between the covers of The Motor, whilst those who are in a more fortunate position will find that the issues will serve as a very useful and helpful guide when making a tour of the Show.

Tyre Tender Acceptances.

The Ambulance Committee of the Meteopolita.n Asylums Board recommends acceptance of the tenders of 0. Spencer Moulton and Co., Ltd., foe pneumatic tyre covers and inner tubes 3 of the North British Rubber Co., Ltd., for pneumatic tyre covers and inner tubes ; and of Chas. Macintosh and Co., Ltd., ior solid tyres, during the, period ending March 32st, 1925.

LAE. Data Sheets.

We beg to tendenspur sincere thanks to the Institution ô Automobile Engineers for granting. us permission to utilize certain tilieles irom their data sheets in our " 1923 Outlook " Number.

These data_ sheets should prove of extreme value to all connected with the industry. They have been prepared by well-known authorities, and will be added to from time to time as occasion warrants. With the sheets is issued a special cover, by which they can be preserved from damage. The sheets and cover will be issued free on application to all members of the S.M.M. and T., whilst other persons can purchase them at the price of 3d. per sheet. Inquiries should he addressed to the Secretary, the Institution of Automobile Engineers, 28, Victoria Street, S.W. 1.

The 24th Edition of "The Motor Manual."

The increasing demand amongst men of business for each successive edition of " The Motor Manual" forms an aceurato pointer as to the esteem in which it is held by those who have to do with commercial meter vehicles. After 20 years of extraordinary success during which over 600,000 copies have been sold, it has now become the standard book of reference on the subject, recognized by business men as their great help in dealing with motor vehicles, as well as an asset to the driver on the road.

The 24th edition, which has just been published, is revised, rearranged and reillustrated, and contains many useful additions, including an entirely rewritten section of the new taxation, licensing and registration regulations. Containing 238 pages and 266 illustrations, it may be said to comprise a complete course in motors and motoring, and also includes sections on steam and electric vehicles.

" The Motor Manuel " is now offered at the revised price of 2s. 6d., and can be obtained from all newsagents or booksellers, and also from the office of The Commercial Motor post free for 2s. 10d.

Local Proceedings.

The Caerphilly Urban District Council has decided to purchase;a. fire-engine.

The Weymouth Town Council proposes to purchase a motor ambulance at a cost not exceeding £300.

The Newport Corporation invites designs and tenders for a four-wheel trailer of 4 cubic yards capacity.

Worthing Corporation proposes to install. a petrol: plant, with a capacity of 500 gallons, at a cost of £110.

Halifax Watch Committee recommends the purchase of a 20 h.p. chassis, to be used with a horse-ambulance body.

Bournemouth Coiporation Parks Committee recommends the purchase of a motor ohaesis from the Hampshire Motor Co. for £630.

Halifax Fire Crsmmittee recommends the purchase of a standard Lee-land motor fire-engine and accessories at a cost of £1.966 10s.

Preston Watch Committee has accepted the offer of Mecca. Merryweather of a new petrol engine few the motor fireengine for the sum of £400.

The Dronfield Urban District Council has appointed a sub-committee to consider the question of purchasing a motor and abolishing horse traction.

Southwark Council's Health Committee recommends the purchase of a Hell. ford 30-cwt. chaseis, with two detachable bodies, from Bayley, Ltd., at a cost of £612.