WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealtffli will be slowed by all diOculties of transport at whatever Points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness Of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
No Scottish Commercial Show This Year.
The council and exhibition committee of the Scottish Motor Trade Association inform us that they have concluded pegotiations for the 24th annual Scottish Motor Exhibition to be held in the Industrial Hall, Edinburgh, from Friday, November 13th, to Saturday, November 21st. On this occasion the exhibits will be divided into two classes: '(1) For private cars, and (2) for components, accessories, etc. There will be no commercial vehicle section this year.
The Industrial Hail, Edinburgh, whilst not so spacious as the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow (which was recently destroyed by fire), is an excellent permanent structure centrally situated in the city. It has a highly glazed roof, a cement floor and very few pillars.
It is interesting to note that the last occasion on which the Scottish Motor Show was held in Edinburgh was in 1914.
The Threatened Diversion of the Resources of the Road Fund.
Owners of motor vehicles should not take too seriously the prospect of a realization of Lord Montagu's apprehensions 'as to a raid on the Road Fund by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the purpose of buttressing financially the Electricity Commissioners. If such a proposal were to get beyond the stage of inclusion in some officially prepared minute of items to be surveyed by a Chancellor engaged upon economical adjustments of national expenditure, there would he such a public outcry—not only by motor taxpayers, but by local authorities all over the country—that the project would be strangled at birth. The Unionist Aericultural Committee of 11.1.P.s has already met and passed a resolution against any diversion of the resources of the Road Fund. There are other considerations, however, which preclude the acceptance of any such • scheme. The proceeds of the Road Fund were strictly ear-marked for road improvement and development, whilst the Ministry of Transport is committed, to a programme which will absorb all the revenue of the Road Fund for several years. In that case, there would be little purpose in the Treasury taking money from the Road Fund and having to finance road development from some other department of the Exchequer. It is fairly certain that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is quite well aware that the country would not tolerate any restriction .of or tinkering with the great policy which is now beginning to transform the conditione of road transport in this country. He would certainly have little support from Members of Parliament.
Adjustment of Motor Coach Brakes.
There was a point of interest in a case heard before the Liverpool stipendiary a few days ago, when two motor coach drivers employed by the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., were summoned for not having two independent brakes in good working order
on their vehicles. They were each fined £5. Defendants contended that the brakes were quite efficient and said that on the company's orders they were not allowed to interfere with their adjustment. If anything went wrong drivers had to ring up the garage and the breakdown car would be sent.
The stipendiary remarked that it seemed dangerous to send out men in charge of chars-ä-bancs unable to do anything to the brakes if they were not in proper order. All he could say was that the company took a very great responsibility.
We have before us the "Rules and Regulations for Drivers" iseued by the Motor Coach Department of the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., which warn drivers to test their brakes immediately after leaving the garage so as to prove their effectiveness. In the case of breakdowu involving serious delay drivers must immediately telephone to the head office. Should they not be able to gain access to a call office or private telephone, they are advised to proceed to the nearest police station and ask permission to use the telephone.
In view of the fact that the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., take the utmost care in the matter of brake condition, it would be interesting to know the nature of the Mots imposed by the police in these two cases. We hold the view that a method of testing should be devised and approved by users, drivers and police before testing for brake efficiency be made a regular practice.
Fodens Profits.
The net profit of rodens, Ltd., the steam vehicle makers, of Sandhach, for the year ended June 30th Net, after making an allowance of £7,339 for depreciation, is shown to he £23,513, to which must be added a sum of £25,506 brought forward from the previous year. A dividend of 61 per cent. (lees tax) is to be paid on the ordinary shares, and 19,895 is carried forward.
An Award for the Lacre Sweeper. The Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd., Letchworth, advise us that one of the Lacre motor sweepers in the service of the Glasgow Corporation obtained a silver medal at the Conference and Exhibition of the Royal Sanitary Institute recently held in Edinburgh.
In our issue dated July 21st we briefly described and illustrated a shooting brake supplied to the order of Sir Albert Bingham. We are now told that the basis of the yehicle consisted of a Guy chassis.
Results for Paris ssSingle-seater Cabs. At a general meeting of the Compagnie des Auto Taxis Monoplace, held a few days ago, tits accounts for the year 1924 were approved by the share, holdete. The balance-sheet shows a gross profit of 77,121 francs on the year's working; 76,692 francs were written off for depreciation on cabs and the remaining 429 francs placed to reserve.
The figuraa may appear small, but it must he remembered that the idea of running single-seater taxicabs in a great city was quite an experiment, and, in any case, the first year's running of a new concern more often shows a loss than a profit. On the whole, therefore, the single-seater cab may be regarded as a success so far as Paris is concerned, and this year's figures should be better. The intentions of the company with regard to two-seater cabs have already been mentioned in The Commercial Motor.
With regard to the operations of the company in 1924, it may be mentioned, incidentally, that the entire fleet of single-seater cabs remained idle for a month owing to a strike amongst the drivers.
Building Tilling-Stevens Buses
in America.
It is anncunced from Detroit, U.S.A., that Mr. Ernest M. Howe, who is described as •a British transportation expert, has been elected as president of the Gray Motor Corporation, and that the company have obtained exclusive manufacturing rights in America for Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric leases, all parts of which, except the electrical equipment, are to be made in the United Statee. Present production plans call for the manufacture of 1,000 buses, both single and double-deekers, between now and June, 1926. It is stated that orders have already been placed for 700 vehicles.
Producer-gas Trials on the Continent.
It would appear that few entries have been received for the trial of commercial vehicles and tractors fitted with gas-producer plants, which is to be held next month, under the auspices of the Belgian and French Automobile Clubs, for it lias been decided to receive entries at single fees up to August 15th, instead of the double and triple fees originally specified. The trial will commence on September 15th with a road test extending to 1,250 miles, which will be followed by bench tests of the power plants.
A 5-ton Electric Tractor.
Richard Garrett and Song, Ltd., Leiston, have, we understand, just introduced an electric tractor capable of hauling a trailer with a load of 5 tons. The tractor, which weighs approximately 2 tons, has a normal drawbar pull of 500 lb. and a temporary maximum of 3,000 lb. Hauling a full load on hard, level roads, the vehicle can cover a distance of 32 miles on a single charge o the battery.
Sleeping Car Motor Coaches.
A regular service of saloon coaches is to be started shortly by the Michelin Co. between their works at Clermont Ferrand in Central France and their Paris offices. The service will be a private one, being intended, as it is, for the use of officials of the company. Comfortable beds and washing accommodation are to be provided in the coaches, the idea being that the passengers shall travel at night and arrive at their destination fresh and fit for the day's business.
The coach bodies are being mounted on the new heavy-duty Renault sixwheeled chassis which is not yet on the market. We understand that this vehicle will be in the neighbourhood of a 4i-5-tonner.
Bus Results at Plymouth.
The accounts of the Plymouth Corporation referring to the working of the municipal buses for the 12 weeks ended Jane 24th last show a net profit of £930. The passenger receipts on the vehicles amounted to £6,566, equivalent to 14.827d. per bus-mile. On the other side of the accounts we find that main
tenanee and repairs absorbed £1,313, traffic expenses £2,116, cost of petrol £1,191, and general expenses £276. The total mileage covered by the fleet of vehices was 106,252.
B.A.T. Traffic Receipts.
The figures just issued by the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., show that the traffic receipts of the company for the four weeks ended July 17th totalled £231,158. The increase in receipts on the passenger vehicles comprising the group of the British Automobile Traction Co. continues to be maintained, and this figure is £40,006 higher than that for the corresponding period of 1924. The total receipts for the first 28 weeks of this year amounted to £1,112,026—nearly a quarter of a million in excess of the receipts for a like period of 1924.
nstitute of Metals Autumn Meeting.
The programme of the annual autumn meeting of the Institute of Metals, which will be held in Glasgow from September 1st to 4th, is an attractive one, and opens with a lecture by Sir John Dewrance. K.B.E., on "Education. Research and Standardization."
The mornings of September 2nd and 3rd will be devoted to the reading and discussion of no fewer than 16 papers dealing with many aspects of metallurgical work. On the first of these two days we note that members are to make a tour of the works of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., at Scotstoun. The concluding day of the meeting is set apart for a visit-to the Trossachs and Loch Lomond.
A copy of the programme can be obtained on application to the secretary of the Institute at 36, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1.
Westinghouse Brakes in Demand.
As a result of the satisfactory performance of the Westinghouse pressure brake installed on a vehicle previously supplied by the makers, the Westinghouse Brake and Saxby Signal Co., Ltd., have now received an order from the Four Wheel Drive Lorry Co., Ltd., for the equipment of five similar vehicles with their pressure brakes, which are destined for passenger and goods service on the trade routes of a foreign government.
Supporting Home Industry. Thompson Bros. (Bilston), Ltd., Bradley Engineering Works, Bilston, Staffs., inform us that they have secured
a large portion of a contract recently placed by Shell-Mex, Ltd., for kerbside visible measuring pumps. The action of the company in placing the order in this country deserves every commendation, since we are told that such equipment can be obtained from abroad at a lower cost. It is a policy which must help to ease the unemployment problem.
A Fleet-maintenance Engineer Available.
We know of an extremely qualified man who is seeking an appointment. He has been knoWn to us for some years and has operated and controlled the maintenance of the fleet of a large trading concern. We shall be very pleased to put him into communieation with concerns who may be requiring the services of such a man, and letters addressed "E.B.," care of the Editor of this journal, will be forwarded.
Scientific Fire-fighting.
The second annual conference of the Institution of Fire Engineers was recently held in Edinburgh. when Mr. A. Pordage, Firemaster of Edinburgh, was elected president. in the course of his address Mr. Pordage stated that the object of the institution was to promote more scientific methods of fire-fighting and fire preventing.
Canadian Production.
A statement which has been prepared by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics at Ottawa, and circulated by the High Commissioner for Canada in London, shows that in 1924 the 11 automobile factories in the Dominion produced a total of 132,460 motor vehicles, of which 18,043 were commercial vehicles, the aggregate selling value being 88,240,418 dollars.
The total production figure shows a decrease of 10 per cent, over that for the year 1923, but in spite of this feet the average number of wage-earners in the industry in 1924 was slightly higher, at 7,867, than in the previous year.
During the period covered by the statistics Canada imported 957 commercial vehicles and exported 12,772 machines of the same type.
A West Riding Road Touring Guide.
We have received from the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., a copy of their official touring guide. This enterprising company, who have their centre in Wakefield, run passenger vehicle services over some 200 miles of route, covering 153 towns and villages. The
signs of mining and manufacturing are seldom absent from the landscape, bat, as the guide shows, an industrial town is not necessarily empty of historic treasure, and this part of the West Riding is not without beauty spots.
Wakefield, as the depot town, comes in for a large share of attention, and Abe surrounding country is described with fluency and candour. Two maps are included in the handbook; one of Wakefield and the other showing routes covered by the " green " buses.. There is a number of good illustrations.
Rubber Growing in the Philippines.
According to a report from Manila, the Bureau of Forestry has prepared a bill for the next legislature providing for the leasing of approximately 125,000 acres of land in Cotobato province, where success in growing rubber has been demonstrated. The bill provides for leasing the land to any company agreeing to plant it with rubber trees. The life of the leases would be 25 years, with privilege of renewal for a like period, and it is stated that the Government would assess no taxes on the land during the first period of the leases. ,
Rubber growing is carried on at various points in Mindanao and the adjacent islands, although on a small scale.
Safety of a Main-road Bridge.
The main-road bridge over the River Wye at Chepstow, which connects Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire, is reported to be unsafe for modern motor traffic. The clerk to the Chepstow Urban District Council has informed the council that the bridge vibrates conSiderably when used by heavy traffic, and his advice that the two county councils concerned be asked to undertake a test of the structure and its capacity for traffic was acted upon by the council.
The bridge is over a hundred years old, and the Gloucestershire county surveyor advocates the erection of a new bridge to replace it.
More Buses for Stockton, In view of the increasing demand for motorbus facilities in the Stockton neighbourhood, the Stockton Corporation, which maintains a useful network of routes, has decided to augment its fleet by the purchase of two new vehicles. Most of the recent acquisitions have been Leyland 26-seaters of
the one-man operated type, which have given extremely . satisfactory results, but the latest Purchases are to be of slightly larger capacity • and arranged for the ordinary method of central. The makeof -vehicle' to . be purchased has not yet been decided upon.
Municipalities and Road Improve ments.
Much unemployment still prevails in the City of Nottingham, and, to meet contingencies during the winter mouths, the corporation determined, at its last meeting, subject to the approval of the Government Committee and the necessary grant being forthcoming, to carry out further works of road improvements at an estimated cost of £183,351. Incidentally, an important point was raised as to the eventual effect of such financial assistance in relation to municipalities in general, it being pointed out that, after the period B22 covered, a very heavy burden will fall upon corporations for loan charges which it was suggested they ought not to be called upon to bear, it being urged that the whole question should be dealt with nationally.
Stoke's Decision re Bus Exits. Stoke Watch Committee has reconsidered its decision that new motor _ butes should be provided with a second side exit, in lieu of a rear exit, and has rescinded that decision and is to insist upon the provision of rear exits in all cases.
A Thornycroft Municipal Wagon in Egypt.
The 50 h.p. type J Thornycroft combined gully-emptier and road-watering wagon which is illustrated on this page has recently been shipped to the order of the Egyptian Government by Iolin I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., the machine being shown outside the showrooms and offices of the company's resident representative in Cairo.
We are told that since the vehicle has
been delivered it has been in continuous use for 16 hours a day and given excellent service, the only difficulty which has arisen not being concerned with the running of the vehicle but with the considerable interest which it has created amongst the native population, who have crowded round it and hampered its operations. In fact, only by the aid of the police is the vehicle able to tackle its work. This is not surprising, for it is said to be the first vehicle of its kind to be employed in Egypt, althong,h vari0 LIS other types of Thornycroft vehicles are in use in the country..
Barry Bus Owners' Benevolence.
The Barry (Glam.) Motor Omnibus Proprietors Association recently gave a free outing to the poor and crippled children of the district. The youngsters were conveyed by coaches to Ogreoreby-the-Sea, and sports and refreshment were provided by the association, the members of which provided the vehicles..
Inst. of T. Graduateship.
The London County Council has arranged a series of preparatory classes for the graduateship examination of the Institute of Transpert. One series of classes is being held at St. Clement Danes School, Drury Lane, W.C., whilst another is to take place at the Haverstock Senior 'Commercial Inti
tdte Hill, N.W.3. The subjects which are embraced are : French, economics, economic geography, statistics and traffic working, and each. subjeCt will be taught by an experienced i nst r uct or. The fees vary according to the residence of students, but further particulars can be obtained from the principals of the Hugh MYddelton Commerdal Institute, Clerkenwell, E.C.1, and the Haverstock Commercial Evening Institute at the address given above. The courses at both centres start on September 28th.
The Rubber Industry in Malaya.
The Incorporated Society of Planters (Malaya) held its annual dinner recently, when the president of the Institute of the Rubber Industry, Sir Stanley Dais, and the chairman of the Rubber Growers' Association, Mr. W. D. Campbell, were present.
Mr. Campbell, proposing the principal toast, said he thought the rubber industry suffered from too much publicity. They read, far example, that rubber was being sold at 4s. per lb., and the public believed that the planter was getting that price, whereas he very much doubted whether the price was more than is. 9d.' per lb. The 1926 crop had been sold forward, he added, on very much the same lines, and what really was wanted was stabilization—of prices. He thought the time would come when all the capital invested in the estates would once more get a fair return and that those connected with planting and working estates would experience easier days than they had had of recent years.
Another Exhibitor at Wembley.
The little Walker electric vehicle, which is to be seen in daily use in the grounds of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, provides those who are interested with an opportunity of examining a type of van which can economically replace horse-drawn carts engaged in delivery work. We note that Walker Vehicles, Ltd., the makers of the van in question, have just opened a ,stand in the Palace of Housing and Transport, where they are showing the driving unit of their standard chassis and an interesting set of photographs, of some of the Walker vehicles in operation in this country.
Motor Shipbuilding Surpasses Steamer Construction.
For the first time the tonnage of motor ships now building exceeds that of steamers. According to the August number of The Motor Ship the motor tonnage under construction has trebled within the past two years, and during the same period steamer tonnage has diminished by 50 per cent.
Amongst the leading contents of this issue of The Motor Ship are articles giving illustrated particulars of the French motor .liner "Theophile Gautier," and the "Asturias," the world's largest motor liner. Concrete Roads in America.
From figures which have been obtained by the British Portland Cement Association, it appears that from January 1st to June 6th of this year contracts were placed in America for the laying down of 51,080,153 sq. yds. of concrete paving for road, streets and alleys.
During the corresponding period of the three previous years, the figures were :--41,769,755 sq. yds. in 1924; 33,241,443 sq. yds. in 1923; 40,559,281 sq. Yds. in 1922, thus showing that the figures for the current year break all previous records.
The Association states that on December 31st last the total length of concrete roads in the United States exceeded 32,000 miles, as compared with Great Britain's small total of about 250 miles.
A 11-mile Convoy of Passenger Vehicles.
The Midland Red Bus Co. recently carried out what is said to be the largest outing in which motor vehicles have ever been employed. The occasion was the annual event organised by the Dudley Co-operative Society, the destination being Cheltenham. The outing necessitated the use of 95 motor vehicles to convey the 2,524 members and friends, and this is stated to be the largest convoy of motorbuses and chars-h-banes that had ever been assembled for the use of one party in Great Britain. About 1,300 gallons of petrol were consumed by the vehicles during the trip.
The procession of-vehicles, which was led by three C.W.S. carnival lorries, was a mile-and-a-half long and naturally attracted a great deal of attention.
A Detachable Tipping Body.
The tipping wagon which is illustrated on this page has recently been delivered by Leyland Motors, Ltd., to the Linotype and Machinery Co., Ltd., of Altrincham. The chassis employed for this vehicle is the company's .3-tormer. and the tipping mechanism is their patent hydraulic pattern, which enables the body to be tipped at the sides or rear. The body possesses one or two inter
esting features. The sides and tailboard are so built that they can be detached when it is desired to use the machine as an ordinary flat platform lorry for the transport of heavy machin
try. Lattice extensions can also be fitted to the sides so that •a load of three tons of coke may be carded, whilst the same quantity of coal can be transported without the lattices, owing to the lesser bulk of this class of commodity.
A Large Petrol Storage Installation.
The Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., have recently installed at the Cross Keys garage of Messrs. Lewis and James (Western Valleys Bus and Motor Co.) a petrol tank for the storage of 10,500 gallons of spirit. This, the oil company states, is the largest tank supplied by them to a private company.
Leeds Bus Development.
It will be remembered that the Ministry of Transport recently held. an inquiry into the bus controversy which has received much attention in Leeds. A new phase of the proceedings was indicated a few days ago, when, following a meeting of the Watch Committee, it was announced that a number of the bus proprietors who run vehicles in and out of the city had agreed to observe the conditions laid down by the Watch Committee, as slightly amended at the inquiry.
The main clauses which have been accepted, and which were in dispute, are that buses shall not pick up or set 'down passengers within the city, and, alternatively, if such traffic be dealt with within the city, an extra charge of 2d. per passenger shall be made in excess of the fare which is charged for a similar journey on the corporation tramcars.
Weight Restrictioft on Irish Bridge.
The Derry (Ireland) Corporation has received a communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs drawing attention to the Order of the Ministry prohibiting the driving over Carlisle Bridge of any mechanically propelled vehicle carrying more than 15 tons, and limiting the speed of heavy motor vehicles to 6 m.p.h. The Order is being enforced by the police, and the penalty for its infringement is £20.
Petroleum Prospecting in Italy.
After spending large sums annually in prospecting for petroleum without baying obtained any tangible results, the Italian Government agreed, according to the Department of Overseas Trade Report, to grant a concession to an American company to search for this mineral in Emilia and Sicily, reserving the rest of the country for exploration by Italian enterprise. The proposal has been the subject of much criticism, and at the date of the report had not been approved by Parliament. According to the latest information, it is reported that the company have withdrawn. Local Proceedings.
BevhilI Corporation has arranged for a report to be prepared concerning fire appliances, etc.
Leeds Watch Committee has decided that all motorcabs must be provided with taximeters.
Trowbridge Urban District Council proposes the purchase of a motor mower at a cost of £82.
The electricity committee of the Bradford Corporation is considering the purchase of two motor vehicles.
Plymouth Corporation has purchased a Burford. motor lorry for the mental hospital committee at a cost of £571.
Leeds Corporation is to invite tenders for the supply of a steam wagon for the use of the tramways department.
Leeds Corporation has authorized the purchase of a 1-ton motor lorry for the gas department at a cost not exceeding £300.
&ahem Harbou,r Urban District Council has decided to invite tenders for the supply of a new motor ambulance.
The finance committee of the Willesden Urban District Council recommends the purchase of a motor vehicle for the education department.
The tramway committee of the Northampton Corporation has decided to purchase two 16-seater motorbuses at a total cost of about £1,200.
Darlington Corporation has received sanction from the Ministry of Health to a loan of £2,063 for the purchase of a motor fire-engine and equipment.
Surbiton District Council has recently acquired a new Austin motor ambulance which provides accommodation for two stretcher cases and four sitting patients.
Plymouth Watch Committee is being asked by the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd. for a licence to store an additional 720,600 gallons of petrol at Cattedown.
The Sedgefield Rural District Council has appointed a sub-committee to consider the desirability of replacing the present system of horse transport by motor vehicles.
The tramway committee of the Leeds Corporation has accepted the tender of Dennis Bros., Ltd., for the supply of fifteen motorbuses, each with a seating capacity for 20 passengers, at a cost of £1,063 each, Plymouth Corporation has authorized the purchase of a 6-ton steam wagon for the gas department at a cost of about £775.
The works committee of the Fulham Borough Council recommends the purchase of two motor dust carts at a cost of £589 each.
The electricity committee of the Fun3am Borough Council recommends the purchase of a Morris motorvan at a cost of £225.
Newbury Corporation has authorized the purchase of a motor vehicle, at a cost of about £225, for the gas department for use on coke-delivery work.
Tynemouth Corporation has accepted the tender of Shell-Mex, Ltd., at £95, to provide a Bowser petrol pump coupled to a 1,000-gallon tank at the George Street Depot.
The tramways committee of the Plymouth Corporation has accepted the tenders of H. G. Burford and Co., Ltd., and Vickers, Ltd., for the supply of ten omnibuses, consisting of Burford chassis with four-wheel brakes and fitted with Vickers bodies, for the sum of £919 2s. for each complete bus.
A Leyland Picture Gallery.
Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland, Lancs., have just issued an interesting little leaflet which, in the main, serves as a picture gallery of various types of Leyland lorry in different branches of commercial activity. The illustrations reproduced therein serve to give a very good idea of the wide range of trades in which Leyland lorries of light and heavy types are employed.
14,000 Miles through Africa.
The conquest of the African continent from end to end by motor vehicle is one of the greatest achievements of modern applied science. Even those of us who do not know the country can picture the difficulties that must have been encountered, but from the appearance of Capt. and Mrs. Delingette in the accompanying illustration and the view of the oar one does not feel justified in using the word " hardships" as well as " difficulties." In fact, one is encouraged in the hope that the expedition had a very pleasant and extremely interesting experience. The length of time occupied by the journeys undertaken by Livingstone and Stanley make the feat of Capt. Delingette all the more remarkable, for, with his wife, a French mechanic and a native servant from the Northern Cameroons, he left Colomb-Bechar, the railhead of the line from Oran, in Algeria, on November 15th last, and he arrived at Cape Town on July 4th—occupying 7-} months from north to extreme south. His vehicle was a Renault six-wheeler, having a standard 10 h.p. four-cylindered engine driving through the fourwheeled rear bogie. The total distance was 14,000 miles. Throughout the whole journey, so we tire assured, the power plant received no overhaul whatever, whilst another remarkable feature of the expedition was that no supply depots had previously been arranged along the route. Provisions and supplies were taken, in whenever opportunity occurred—which, by the way, is an illuminating fact, showing
that important centres of civilization only require to be linked together by some means of useful. transport. To affect the connections by railway would not yet be economic, but the creepertrack and the multi-wheel vehicles can do it, and thus can aid civilization by the establishment of valuable transport services throughout the great continent.
British Tyres in Latvia.
A letter addressed by the War Ministry of Latvia to the Riga agents-of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., who have forwarded it to the headquarters of the company at Fort Dunlop, makes it clear that British motor tyres are giving good service to the military authorities in spite of the had road conditions in Eastern Europe. A paragraph in the letter states that the Dunlop tyres supplied for military use are "entirely satisfactory and suitable for local roads."