Haulage Opportunities
Page 53
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Keen Demand, for Coke. Big Business in Cutlery. Increasing Activity in Drapery and Clothing. Building Boom Continues
AMONGST those towns in which trade generally is active, thus justifying an anticipation of a proportionately improved demand for local haulage, may be included, this week. Middlesbrough and district, the industrial towns of Staffordshire and Sheffield, Rotherham, Birmingham and Coventry.
Coal.
The warmer weather has so diminished the demand for coal for domestic use as to make the amount of haulage required almost negligible. An encouraging aspect of this business, however, is the steadily increasing use of coke, for which, in all quarters, there is a keen demand.
General Hardware.
The volume of cutlery trade in Sheffield is stated to be better now than it has been for several years. Makers of scissors and edge tools are active. There are signs that the canning season is opening and the beginning of a steadily increasing flow of orders for steel plates for the manufacture of cans is to be noted. In Birmingham general hardware business is good, especially orders for the home trade.
Hosiery and Clothing.
The demand for tennis and summer sports wear is causing increasing activity in wholesale drapery and clothing warehouses. Deliveries on account of anticipated Whitsuntide sales are now beginning. The lace trade is improving and the development of the use of elastic yarn in this material is expected to 'give an additional fillip to the trade. A similar condition applies in connection with the manufacture of hosiery.
Roads, Bridges and Waterworks.
In several important industrial areas misgivings are being entertained by local authorities as to the effect of the operation of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, in so far as it applies to bridges over iailways.
The Government is being petitioned either to delay the putting into operation of that part of the Act, which attitude it cannot logically adopt, or to expedite measures for strengthening or reconstruction. Hauliers in each area should keep themselves informed of proceedings relating to this important matter.
Colne is to spend £54,000 on a water scheme and Grimsby a like amount on sewerage. Contracts already placed include one with Messrs. P. Prendergast, Mount Pleasant, Newcastle, Staffs, for the construction of new roads in New. castle-under-Lyme.
The Harland Engineering Co., Alloa„ has received an order from Brighton Corporation for borehole pumping equipment, comprising two electrically driven pump sets each to raise 6,000,000 gallons of water daily. An electric motor of nearly 800 h.p. is required to drive each pump.
Cotton and Wool.
Business in the woollen area is quiet. There is a little more activity in some of the cotton-manufacturing districts, especially as regards export trade, which, of course, involves a considerable amount of haulage between mills, warehouses and stations and docks.
The home business in cotton appears to involve quick delivery of comparatively small consignments.
Boots and Shoes: Leather.
Trade in the boot and shoe industry continues to improve. Some manufacturers have business to last for several weeks, whilst others report that they are in receipt of more inquiries than has been the case for some time. The prospect of increased sales for Whitsuntide is beginning to have its effect. The leather trade remains steady.
Timber and Building Trade.
Business in all kinds of timber is good, especially for the time of the year. Prices for timber on the water are reported to be higher than they have been for some time, which is a strong indication of the keenness of the deniand and the prospective activity in haulage from the docks.
The building trade is so good that it is now stated that there is a difficulty in finding sufficient bricklayers to meet the demand. In this connection, it is of interest to note that, according to the financial newspapers, there is an active demand for shares in commercial-motor manufacturing concerns.
This is an anticipation of trade improvement and especially because it is believed that there will be an increasing demand for lorries, owing to the prospective activity in slum clearance and building.
Amongst the larger projects may be included a decision of Dover T.C. to build an institution to cost £50,000; the building of a new fire-station for London (£115,000); municipal buildings at Stoke Newington, London (267,000); tenements at Deptford, London (243,000); a hospital at Rochford (2270,000) and another at Sunderland (2170,000). Stockton is to spend £117,000 on rehousing, and Newport (Mon.) £95,000 on a power scheme.
Actual contracts placed include one by Barnsley T.C. for the erection of 75 houses, at a cost of £23,387 (to be built by direct labour). Messrs. C. J. Downey, of Waterford, are to build 274 houses for Bray T.C., the cost to be 278,626; the Public Works Construction Co„ Ltd., Swindon, is to erect houses for Bury St. Edmund's T.C. (£10,765), Copp Bros., Ltd., Lewis Street, Barry, is to build 145 houses on the Rose Hill Estate, Oxford (£45,000).
Tenders are to be invited by Tynemouth T.C. for the erection of 306 houses on the Ridges Estate.
Messrs. Amos Hinton and Sons. Middlesbrough. have accepted the tender of A. II. McLeod, Ltd., Bridge Street, Thomaby-on-Tees, for the extension of their premises. Mr. W. C. Leech, Coutts Road, Newcastle, is to start the erection of a further 150 houses in Scrogg Road, Wallsend: Messrs. LongstafE and Bain, Denton Road, Lemington, are commencing work on the building of 90 houses on the Chapel House Farm Estate.
Paper.
The demand for newsprint is rapidly increasing. In this connection it is interesting to note that Messrs. Peter Dixon and Son, Grimsby, have been extending and, presumably, will find their needs for haulage expanding.
Chemicals.
The demand for industrial chemicals is rather keen at the moment, which is of interest particularly to hauliers in the Widnes, St. Helens and Runcorn areas.
London Docks.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from May 6-14 inclusive : — DOCKS :—King George V, 7; Royal Albert, 16; Royal Victoria, 4; Surrey Commercial, 5; West India, 2; East India, 4; South-West India, 2; Tilbury, 11; Tilbury Stage, 3; Purfleet, 1; Millwall, 6; London, 11; River, 1. WHARVES : —Hays, 12; Middleton's, 1;• Mark Brown's, 1. JETTIES : —Tilbury, 2; Regent's Canal, I.