Toronto Notes and News.
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American-made Commercatis. Inspection of War Lorries. The Jitney
in Canada.
Industrial Motor Trucks, Ltd,, of 85, Dupont Street, Toronto, the agent; for Commercar trucks, has recently also taken up the agency for Viikans. A photograph herewith is of the first of these machines recently sold in Toronto. It was delivered to C. A. Ward, 300, College Street, Toronto, early in May., Ward's is one of the largest furniture storage firms in this city. I understand the Vulcan trucks are built at Sharon, Pennsylvania, by the Driggs-Seabury Ordnance Corporation. Practically the only difference between Vulcans and the 1909 Cominercars is the former have a four-speed gearbox of the sliding type, vertical-change speed lever, exposed driving chains and the road wheels much smaller than the standards fitted to the Commerears. The engine and minor details are as near facsimiles as possible. It appears that the gearboxes were too light. Packard Extensions.
Plans are being ,drawn for a three-storey reinforced concrete building to be added to the plant of the Packard Motor Car Co. at Detroit. It is understood that the 96,000 sq. ft. of floor space in the building will be devoted to the manufacture of motor trucks. The building is to be 400 ft. long and 80 ft. wide. Men by hundreds are being added to the working forces of the Packard Co. The secretary of commerce at Washington reports the receipt by this company of an order for trucks to the value of $5,000,000 from France, but this refers to an order, in all probability, of 400 trucks for France and 500 for Russia recently received.
Inspecting Commercial Motors Before Shipment to Allies.
One of the busiest places m New York is an enclosed pier measuring 300 ft. by 75 ft., and 150 mechanics are employed there night and day, and also many carpenters. These men are examining motor trucks and taking them down in part, and boxing them for shipment to Europe for the war. The trucks are run out of freight cars on one side, and after examination and boxing are hoisted to steam lighters on the other side, The trucks now on hand and arriving arc going down the Atlantic, through the Panama: Canal and to Vladivostock for shipment by the Trans-Siberian Railroad to the scene of fighting on the eastern Russia border. The trucks are now being shipped, and are part of an order for 1000 trucks placed with one manufacturer, and now onethird filled, and another order is about to be placed of equal size. The work on the pier is not dissimilar to a factory, for there are saws run by steam to cut the lumber, and power is used for boring holes for bolts. The cases are lined with tar-paper.
The Advent of the Jitney.
In a recent letter I told you of a Jitney car commencing as a trial in this city. When I wrote you there was only the one running" The Glen Road Jitney." I also enclosed a photograph of it [we now publish it on page 273.—En.]. As soon as this idea. had started and was seen to be a success, chauffeurs and others anxious to make money at once were buying up second-hand five and seven passenger cars and running them as "Jitneys" on various routes in and around the city. To-day, I am safe in saying there are over 100 "Jitneys" running in Toronto alone. I know two or three men who have commenced on this new money-making idea, arid they tell me they are making them pay well. The public has taken well to the " Jitney " so far, although it is a poor substitute lor a motorbus, as regards the number it carries. Toronto, like many other cities, has its main streets disfigured with and often obstructed by a steetrailway system, which seems to have no regulations in respect of overcrowding. It is an every-day sight in Toronto between 4.30 and 6.30 p.m. (the busy hours) to see the cars packed and people hanging on to the rear step, so crowded that it would be impossible for one more person to find room to put his foot upon the step. They are allowed to travel this way ; the police never object, and the conductor is usually helpless in the matter, for as a rule he is jammed into the car with the crowd, and has to remain there quietly till the
load lightens. My description of
the way things. are run on our street railways is not at all.exag gerated, so you can quite imagine the " Jitney" is an improvement, and can, conjecture how the public would welcome a civilized means of transportation, such as motorbuses, worked on proper lines. During the next few days I will take a photo. of one of our crowded street ears and send you a copy, just to give you an idea of how we have to travel in Toronto.
Some of the "Jitneys" are following the example set by the "Pioneers of overcrowding," and are carrying more passengers than they can seat comfortably, and I see already the city is trying to pass a "bill" to put restrictions upon them. The city has no interests in them, but the street railway is a different matter. I understand the Eaton battery is ready now to leave with the 2nd contingent for the Front. This is the battery equipped by J. C. Eaton, Esc', of Toronto.