From Our Berlin Correspondent,
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A few landowners and other interested parties purpose forming a company for connecting up the towns of. Statle and jork, in the neighbourhood of Hamburg, with a motorbus line.
Progress at Munich.
Munich seems to be going strong in point of self-propelled trathe. Motorcabs are increasing in favour, especially the electric-driven variety ; new motorbus lines have sprung into existence; and the Miinchener Automobil-Gesellschaft is now running a couple of commodious vehicles for the enlightenment, convenience, and amusement of " rubber-necks."
The "Freibahn" Road Train.
The Bohemian Brewery (Bohmisches Brabhaus) offered Berliners an unusual spectacle on a recent busy Saturday, by using a " Ereibahn " train to transport 88 tons of beer through the streets to Strassberg.It was an eight-axle train, consisting of a ,[coh.p. steam tractor and half-a-dozen two-wheel wagons. "We illustrated and described one, of these trains in our issue of the 1st November, 1906.
Austrian Foreign Trade in Freight Automobiles.
. In 1907, Austria imported 30 vehicles from 400-1,800 kilos., seven from 1,8003,20o kilos., and six over 3,200 kilos„ valued at 4,528,000 crowns. The bulk came front Germany and France, Switzerland and Italy coming next in importance. Her exports consisted of 28 _vehicles, 26 of the first class and two of the heaviest. Germany took the most ; then followed Italy and Bulgaria and Egypt, the last-named being debited with 16 cwt. Motor Traffic in Turkey.
From Constantinople comes the intelligence that, at the instance of the Postal and Telegraphic Administration, the Porte has sanctioned the use of automobiles for postal purposes between Eregli, the provisional terminus of the Bagdad Railway, and Aleppo, under the proviso that the service shall cease with the extension of the railway line to the latter town. Further, Biledjik, on the Anatolian Railway, is to be connected up with Brussa for passenger and freight traffic. It is also proposed to run automobiles between Brussa and the port of Mudania, on the Sea of Marmora, in which case the Biledjik station would be in motor communication with the sea.
Bohemia's First State Post Automobile Lines.
Bohemia has at length risen to the dignity of State motor post lines, two such having been officially inaugurated, on the 14th May, in the presence of numerous gentlemen representing the interested Government departments, municipalities, and other bodies. Hofrat T Infer attended en behalf of the Ministry of Commerce, which sanctioned these lines only last fall, so that parties at the back of the enterprise have gone to work with commendable expedition to carry it our. What the inhabitants within the districts traversed think of the innovation may be judged from the fact that they beflagged and otherwise decorated their houses on the day of the inaugural trip, regarding it as a distinctly festival occasion, in which respect these Bohemians dis played a cheerful lack of traffic conservatism which I Might earnestly commend to certain bigoted communities on the German side of the Austrian border.
The small fleet of omnibuses working the lines, which link up Pardubitz with Horitz and Bohdanec respectively, were all manufactured in a home shop, to wit, Laurin and Klement's, this firm, which has made its mark with motorcycles and voiturettes, now .devoting attention to the heavy class of passenger automobiles. One is curious to see how these vehicles will turn out in the long run, since Messrs. Laurin and Klement are, comparatively speaking, tyros in the province of omnibuses and the like. As may be gathered from the illustration, one has here to do with the single-decker type, part of the roof being railed and wired off for the reception of luggage, a mechanicallyadjustable ladder affording the necessary connection with the roadway. In front, next to the chauffeur, is an enclosed space of two cubic metres for the mall bags, also an iron receptaclo for registered matter. Each vehicle carries [7 passengers.
At the inaugural run, the buses covered the distance between Pardubitz and Horitz in 37 minutes, that between Pardubitz and Bohdanee occupying 22. Another interesting point about these lines is that every vehicle is provided with a portable telegraph apparatus, which can be connected up with the telegraph wires along the roadside by propping against them a wire attached to a long bamboo rod. Thus, our Bohemians are quite up-to-date A Buessing Victory.
According to all accounts, in the industrial automobile run Moscow-Podsolnichoe-Moscow, held on the 24th May, a Buessing lorry was an easy first. A Saurer wagon took the second prize, whilst the Gaggenau works had to be content with the third. A fuel consumption competition formed part of the programme.
Military Subsidies.
Bavaria has now adopted the system of subvention referred to in previous communications. Only three Bavarian -firms, it appears, have been found equal to the business of producing vehicles regarded as suitable for military purposes, and consequently other Federal States come into consideration as centres of production for I3avaria's commercial motor requirements.
Excursion Runs.
Both the Berlin traffic companies which work motorbuses are developing a lively business in Sunday excursion trips to the popular resorts for trippers Within the 16-mile radius. The Allgemeine Berliner Omnibus-Gesellschaft, too, has hit upon the idea of running buses. to and from the distant suburban stations, and the places of attraction within the neighbourhc.:od in which its vehicles are operated. More Motor Fire Engines.
Taking a leaf out of the books of other Corporations, the Corporation of Biebrich, on the Rhine, has acquired a self-propelled fire-engine, but driven and worked by steam power, a twocylinder engine being carried in front. The total weight of the vehicle is nearly 73 cwt. At present, the general tendency is in favour of electric power for fire-brigade vehicles of this class, and I shall be interested in hearing how the steamer answers. It has been supplied by one of the most widely-known German firms.
Markets in Northern Spain.
A company has been formed at Corunna, under the name of "Automobiles du Corunna," with the object of establishing motor lines in the district. The following lines are proposed by way of a commencement :—.(t) Corunna to Corubion, for the conveyance of persons; (2) Corunna to Sade, with three services a day-also for passenger traffic; (3) Corunna to Santiago, for the transport of goods. Further, in Pamplona (Navarre), in the latter half of September, a great agricultural competition, with a special section for freight automobiles and other self-propelled vehicles adapted to agricultural operations, will be held. The inhabitants of this Basque district are, it appears, open to novelties, and especially to such as improve traffic. More
over, roads are tolerably good. Vehicles entered from abroad will come in duty free. A. Jackson, Esq., his Majesty's Vice-Consul at Madrid, would doubtless help interested parties in getting a footing in Spain.
Motorbuses and the Tiergarten.
The question of opening up. the Tiergarten to motorbus traffic is still sub judice ; but it appears altogether improbable that any other of the great park's roads than the few main connecting links with the populated districts enclosing it will come into consideration, as the Corporation aim at preserving as much as possible the Tiergarten's tranquillity and seclusiveness, while making a concession to the increasing requirements of traffic in that quarter.
Local Conservatism.
Reichenhall, the Bavarian Spa near the Austrian border, not content with wrecking the scheme to run semi-State motorbus lines in the district, has further manifested its antipathy to the self-propelled vehicle by levying a toll of 3d. upon every automobile passing through the town ! The State authorities, it may be remembered, made short work of the objections raised by the Corporation to the proposed lines, with the blunt declaration that if Reichenhall would not have the buses on the State's terms it might go without them, as the vehicles would be welcomed elsewhere.