WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whateVer points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crazier.
New Roads to London.
Work will shortly be commenced on two main roads leading into London, the Road Board having completed the necessary final arrangements with the local authorities. The cost to the Board is estimated at £900,000, and are necessary demolition and construction will provide work for a large number of men during the winter.
One of the roads will be from the west through Brentford, and this will involve the entire reconstruction of Brentforcl High Street, which is to be widened to 80 ft. This widening will be carried out over a length of 51 milts. A tender amounting to £356,081 from a Manchester contractor has been accepted by the Middlesex County Council for the construction of the first section of the road, about three miles in length, and for other necessary work The other road from the south • through Croydon is to relieve the present main read of much fast motor traffio from Brighton and Eastbourne. This entails a widening of e‘econdary roads from Croydon to 60 ft. for a distance .of four miles.
Charging for Bus Services.
Whilst the municipal elections in Manchester led to the impression that most candidates were wedded to the trams in the city area the local authorities around are licensing a cobweb of motorbus tracks that will ultimately spread into the boundaries of Cotton> polia. There is a service from Cheadle to Macclesfield linked to Manchester by one from Withington to Cheadle. Now Warrington is to be the central point of an important system. Recently a service was opened between Runcorn and laTorthwich to Warrington, the Town Council of the latter place imposing a charge of £20 for the privilege.
Now they have licensed some vehicles of the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., to ply for hire between Warrington and Stockport via Lymm, AItrinhani and Cheadle on the same terms. These charges arc for the first twelve months and are liable to revision when the effect on the roads has been seen.
London's New Tramway Projects.
The Highways Committee of the London Comity Council laid before a meeting of the Council on October 28th a series of legislatiVe proposals for the extension and linking up of the Council's tramways system and-for new tramways. Under standing orders consideration was then deferred for one week.
The scheme involves the construction of 90 miles 3 furlongs of single line at an estimated cost for construction and equipment of £5,344,340, and for property and works for widening of more than £2,770,650 for, over one portion of the suggested routes, an estimate for this work has not yet been prepared. Many of the routes are bound to raise i (have, n fact, already raised) much outcry: some of the suggestions have been put forward before and successfully opposed, but they crop up again in the hope that the opposition may have become tired or exhausted. Important roads and streets in the City and West End are scheduled for tram routes at B20 colossal cost. Thus for a short length from Farringdon Street Station across Ludgate Circus to Blackfriars, of about 51 furlongs, the cost is estimated at £124,665. All the traffic going in that direction is now adequately catered for by two bus services. For £28,550 a length of double line, 176 yards long, is proposed to be constructed to carry the Aldgate terminus that much nearer Aldgate Station. The route is covered by the District Railway and by many omnibus services.
The main objects of the proposals are obviously to make the tramway system look more complete on the maps, to carry 'the dead ends further and further into the heart of the Metropolis, to make Connections between the present termini, and so link up north and south. But in the narrower streets in the centre Of the City arid in the West End the more flexible omnibus is by far the better vehicle,Obstruction occurs already far too often in the more open and wider roads on the outskirts, for the central conduit system with its sections of what are known as ' dead rails " at all the cross over points is a constant and terrible source of trouble. These obstructions in the head qf the Metropolis, for they must inevitably 'occur, will act, in constant paralysis of traffic circulation.
Committee on London Traffic.
Ort the invitation. of the Prime Meister and the Minister. of Transport, Mr. Kennedy Jones, M.P., has accepted the chairmanship of the Advisory Committee on London Tra c which the Minister of Transport is appointing. The names of the other members will be announced shortly.
Taxation Ba,sis.
The matter of the declared intention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to alter the existing 'basis of taxation on motor vehicles and motor fuels when he bareduces his next' Budget statement is agaia receiving the attention of the Standing Joint Committee of Mechanical ROO( Transport Associations. Views are near being interchanged, and later on conceded action will, no doubt, be decided upon.
New Morris, Russell Co.
Morris, Russell and Co., Ltd., are about to go into voluntary 'liquidation, and a new company to tie known as Morris, Russell (1919), Ltd., has been registered with a capital of £150000 in £1 shares, to take over the business of manufacturers and agents for motorvehicle parts and accessories and agricultural machinery carried on by the original concern. The registered office is at 75, Curtain Road, E.C.
An. Institute of Transport is in process of formation. Sir Albert Stanley is a moving spirit in the scheme, and Sir Eric Geddes will probably be the first president.
The Daimler Co., Ltd., have acquired an imposing site in Oxford Road, Manchester, where they propose to erect and equip an extensive service and repair depot.
Reducing 'London Traffic.
For some time past the railway companies, with the approval of the Railway Executive, have been evolving a scheme for the better organization of cartage in London. It is now complete on paper, though it is undergoing a finishing process at the hands of a, committee at the Railway Clearing House, and it will be brought into operation by stages, beginning soon.
This is the scheme explained to the Departmental Committee on Mr. Gattie's proposals by Mr. J. Pepper, assistant goods manager of the Midland Railway Company. The claim is made for it that it will lead to the employment of fewer vehicles in the streets and greater mobility, besides bringing about • coordination in, the use of vehicles for passenger and goods traffic. For the purposes of the scheme London is divided into 26 areas, with a distributing station in each. Geode in full wagon-lo'ide will pass -from the provisional centres to the distributing statithe neareat to the consignee's premises, thus reducing vehicular street traffic. The residue of the traffic, consisting of consignments less than wagon-loads, having beensorted and -amalgamated, will be conveyed by fast motor vehicles from the large goods termini to one or other of the 26 distributing stations. All the traffic of a partalar -consignee Within any of the areas will again be sorted and amalgamated, and finally one vehicle will suffice to deliver his conaigraments to him. The reverse process occurs in colketion.
Tractor Work in Notts.
Viscount Galway, at the last meeting of the Nottingham County Council, referred to the invaluable work of the Agrieultural Committee, in which highly efficient tractor work has revolutionized arrangements during the war period, to the great advantage of farming throughout the area extending from the confines of Leice.stershiro to the Yorkshire border. •
The salient feature of the Nottinghamshire selection of tractors has been its comprehensiveness based epon considerations of widely varying character of soil. There have been probably few areas in England in which in this respect greater multiplicity of difficulties has arisen than in the territory which has become entirely changed during the last few years by the exploitation of coal-mining resources.
With a commendably moderate incidenee of expenditure on fuel, some excellent results have been achieved during the past year in tractor work in Nottinghamshire, warranting the anticipation of its substantial extension in the . interests of landowners and farmers the position which the county has i occupied n the table of general results throughout England haying been uniformly high.
A new transport company is being formed on a large scale, to which Mr. J. C. Moth, of Commercial Car Hirers. 144., has been appointed managing director.
Rates Revision.
The Minister of Transport announces that he has appointed the under-mentioned gentlemen to be members of the Rates Advisory Committee under Section 21 of the Ministry of Transport Act:— Mr. F. Gore-Browne, K.C., chairman, nominated by the Lord Chancellor. Mr. Lionel A, Martin, representative of trade, nominated by the Board of Trade. Mr. W. W. Berry, representative of agriculture, nominated by Board of Trade. Mr. W. 3. Davis, representative of labour, nominated by the Minister of Labour. ,Mr. W. A. Jepson, representative of transportation, nominated by the Minister of Transport, and Mr. W. M. Acwoi th, additional member for questions of immediate increase of rates, nominated by the Minister of. Transport.
A Creditable Karrier Climb.
Quite recently there was a gathering of Karrier agents at Huddersfield, when . many interesting features bearing on the 1920 Karrier programme were discussed. The Irish representatives, Mr. W. F.
Poole, of the Motor Ili'rage and Sales Co., Ltd., Dublin, andMr. E. E. Maclean, of. Chambers Motors, .Ltd., Belfast, showed particular interest in the hilly nature of the district ; and at their request were taken on a standard Karrier live axle test lorry up the hill, Church Avenue, Linthwaite, with its gradient of 1 in 3.8. We reproduce an illustration of the vehicle on the hill, which gives some idea of the nature of the climb.
Messrs.. Poole and Maclean are now actively employed in furthering the good work which Karrieris have already commeneed in the Emerald Isle.
Highway Engineering Chair.
The University of Michigan has set our universities a good example by estab. lishing a Chair of Highway Engineering, and also by its authorization of the appointment of a professor and assistants in highway. engineering. By these means it has made provision for a broad deVelopment of the subject, botth, as regards the road and as regards the transport which uses them. Close investigations will be conducted into the many problems which have developed owing to the rapid changes of recent years. Thoroughly trained and experienced highway
engineers are needed to occupy the numerous pcsitions connected with the administration, fieatice, design, construetin and maintenance of the 2i million miles of rural highways, and the thousands of miles of streets in the United States.
An indication of the extensive character of the road programme is the fact that for the year 1919 the appropriations for highway improvements and for the construction of new roads amount to over £100,000„000. The Officials realize that a serious condition will confront them if the graduates of technical colleges are not properly trained in this branch of engineering.
The rapid growth of motor transport has rendered necessary most of the improvements. In 1918 there were no fewer than 600,000 motor lorries in use in the United Stales of America.
Michigan University has established a laboratory where materials intended for road-ma-king Can be tested free of charge. For the convenience of those who are already highway engineers and wha cannot spare the necessary time to take long
courses, short-period courses are avail, able.
Our own universities and technical colleges would do well to think seriously of instituting courses by which our budding road engineers can obtain up-to-date information.
The Cart Before the Horse.
Quoted from a -small sales advertisement in a recent issue of The Commercial Motor :— " Char-a-bancs for sale. A beautiful all-weather-proof body, fitted with Kerrie'. 50 h.p. chassis, the finest in Ireland."
Truly an Irishman's modern method of putting the cart before the horse.
Salesman Free.
A man Whom we have known for manyyears and can recommend, and who has had a useful amount of service on the sales side of the commercial motor industry, who knows the motor agents throughout the country and is well known to them, has lately put ,himself into touch with us saying that he is free to accept a position which suits his par ticular bent. We shall be pleased to pass on all letters addressedF.A.S., care of the Editor of this journal.
Gas Production.
Lord Moulton, as President of the British Commercial Gas Association, presided at the annual conference of that body in London last week. In his address he said that the war had hastened the development of the gas in dustry. It was -.threatened with hot schemes for the development of electricity on utterly strange lines, hut the requirements of the public did not seem
to be studied sufficiently. Before gas producers, electricity put a standard in the way of distribution of motive power and of -light which it would take all the energies of those in the gas industry to equal. But they had to make the .public realise that they possessed unrivalled power of distributing heat, so that it could be used economically for domestic purposes. For °mechanical traction, there was a practically limitless supply of that which, unless the price of petrol fell, could give effectiVely the same power, namely, gas. It was quite possible that the flexible motor omnibus would develop largely,and, if so, unless the price of petrol kept low, they would have te come to the useful gas industry for the solution of mechanical transport.
To Sell Beardmore Taxicabs.
The Taxicab and Motor Supply Co., Ltd., formed mainly to supply the Beardmore taxicab for cash or on the hire-purchase system to owner-drivers and small taxicab proprietors has issued a prospectus which gives particulars of a contract on advantageous terms with Beardmore 'Motors', Ltd., who are the distributing organization for William Beardmore and Co., Ltd., of Glasgow. The tympany commences with the very considerable advantage of close association with the owner-driver branch of vehicle workers, which is the recognized association connected with the taxicab industry.
The capital of the company is £250,000, made up of 100,000 seven-and-a-half per cent., cumulative participating preference shares of £1 each; and 150,000 ordinary shares of £1 each. Agreements have been concluded and deposits paid for the sale to actual mars of WM cabs.
Liverpool Motor Haulage Clearing House.
Steps to improve road transport facilities throughout Lancashire and outlying counties are being actively devised in Liverpool. Conditions in that port are notoriously congested, and only recently has it been seen that one solution lies in the development of toad transit over the shorter distances, the railways being left free for long-distance transport.
In furtherance of this scheme, what is known as the Liverpool Motor Haulage Clearing House has been set up with the approval of the Chamber of Cominerm, and under the management of Mr. J. F. Shaw, who has spent the last six years in the traffic department of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. Its purpose is to co-ordinate motor transport matters to bring merchants with loads promptly into touch with contractors with vehicles, and to ensure that lorries carrying goods to the pert do not return to their home towns empty. Thus a vehicle from Bolton or Huddersfield, for instance, would not perform expensive " dead mileage" on its return trip, The organization which is being sset up is a clearing house for petrol and steam lorries. It will be simple in working.
If •a, merchant has goods he wishes to have transported he will be able to apply to the motor haulage clearing house for one or more Ionia% The clearing home will have a list of registered haulage contractors having motor lorries available. Meter haulage contractors in the Liverpool area having lorries available will also be able to communicate with the clearing house, and one of these contractors will then be put in touch with the merchant who wants the goods moving, and the work will be performed. One of the main features of the scheme is the arranging of " return loads." Haulage contractors in Lancashire and Yorkshire and towns having motor lorries proceeding to Liverpool with goods, and drivers of vehicles arriving in Liverpool requiring loads back will be able to communicate with the clearing house, and will be similarly put in touch with merchants who want goods moving up country.
The Liverpool scheme came into. operation yesterday, November 3rd, and merchants and haulage contractors desiring to make use of it are asked to communicate with Mr. Shaw at the Chamber of Commerce offices, Exchange Buildings, Liverpool. In the case of haulage contractors, they should state the number and carrying capacity of the vehicles they have at liberty, and should instruct their drivers to get in touch with the Clearing House when they have discharged their loads at Liverpool if they require return loads.
Derelict Government Lorries.
As a conseq.uen:Ce of protests by the-Heston and Ieleworth U.D.C. about the damage caused by the haulage of wornout Government lorries through Hounslow, the War Office has agreed that no more such vehicles shall pass through the district.
Cost of Eight-hour Day.
With the adoption of the eight-hour day on the bus services, tramways and railways operated by the Underground, an additional Expenditure is incurred of nearly £700,000 per annum, and ap_proximately 20 per cent. more staff are required to work the service.
Smoky Road Locomotives.
Manchester Corporation Health Committee, in view of the repeated complaints of nuisance arising from the emission of smoke from light locomotives in the public streets, and the consequent danger to health, is asking the Government to introduce fresh legislation to enable local authorities to deal with the nuisance.
Tractors for the Continent.
As the GM. tractor is, we believe, the only one driven by friction gearing, it is of interest to note that a contract has been placed with Colonel C. Finch Noyes, Lennox House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, WC., for 750 of these tractors, together with 750 sets of spare parts, for use in France and Belgium.
The New Link Boys.
The London streets are to have a specially-trained staff of fog men, whorn will be on duty in time of fog, both day and night. These fog men will be employed by the London General Omnibus Co. and will be equipped with lamps and signals to guide the omnibeees at
bay traffic centres. A beginning is being made at 34 of the busiest treffic' points.
Slough Depot Costs.
In the House of Commons last week Captain R. Tertell asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Government policy with regard to the "Mlougb depot had undergone an modification; and would he also state the total annual cost for running this depot?
Mr. Kellaway : There has been no modification of the Government's policy with regard to the motor transport depot at Slough. As the dep& has not been r i iinning for a year, it s not possible to give an estimate of the total annual cost.
Mr. Newbould ; Does not that create a record in continuity of policy in regard to Slough?
• Mr. Kellaway :' The policy of the Government is based on the recommendation of the Select Committee which expressed the opinion that at the end of two or three years, when it becomes necessary to take a decision as to the futuro of the depot, the Government as a whole should carefully re-examine the question. That the Government proposes to do. Captain Terrell : Will he give us the monthly cost of running this depat? Mr. Kellaway : I will see if that can be done; but I am not sure that very useful conclusions could be formed from the monthly costs..
Merchandise Marks Committee.
The President of the Board of Trade has appointed a committee to consider :— 1. Whether any extension or ainendment of the Merchandise Marks Act is required in respect of the .proyisions relating to indications of origin. 2. The utility and effect of national trade f`rnarkiel" or other similar (collective) marks, and how far they should be authorized or encouraged in this country. 3. How far further international action may he necessary for the purpose of preventing the false marking of goods.
Representatives of the Association of Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of British Industries, the Irish Industrial Development Association, the Co-opera'tive Wholesale Society, the National Chamber of Trade, and the Board of Trade are members of the committee, as well as a commissioner of Customs and Excise.
The secretary is Mr. M. F. Levey, of the Industrial Property Department of the Board of Trade, and all cominunications on the subject of the committee should be addressed to him at the Patent Office, 25,. Southampton Buildings, W.C. 2.
Replacements.
During and since the war a large number of old vehicles have been put into service. There are also a considerable number of American vehicles for which the manufacturers have no agents in England. In such cases it is sometimes extremely difficult to obtain spare parts. T. B. Andre and Co., Ltd., 5, Dering Street, New Bond Street, London, W. 1, are prepared to supply replacements and to cut gears suitable for every description of British, American, or other make of motor vehicles, and they are able to give good deliveries.
Garner's New Company.
A new company under, the name of Tom Garner, Ltd., has reCently been registered with a capital of £20,000 in
shares, to take over the business of manufacturers an dealers in motor vehicles of all descriptions carried on in Manchester as Tom Garner. The first directors of the new company are T. Garner (who is permanent governing director subject to his holding 1,000 shares in, -the company), G. Richardson, and J. E. Rundbaken. The registered office of the company is 12 Peter Street, Manchester.
Clayton and Shuttleworth Developments.
Interesting developments are occurring at the works of Clayton and Shuttleworth, Ltd.., of Lincoln. They have recently secured a very large order for Pullman cars, which will be constructed in their rolling-stock department at Abbey Works, Lincoln. The company are to be congratulated on having secured such an. important contract in face of keen competition. The company are still continuing the manufacture on a large scale, at their Titanic Works, of the well-known Claytom steam wagon, whilst the Stamp End .Works, where the head offices of the company are situated, is given over entirely to the manufacture of traction engines, road rollers, steam tractors and various types of agricultural machinery.
Board of Trade Removal.
The Board of Trade will be leaving Whitehall Gardens for their new offices in Great George Street within the next few days. The President, Parliamentary Secretary, Permanent Secretaries, the Commercial Relations and Treatment Depattment, the Industries and Manufacturers' Department, the Power Transport and Le? onomic Department, the Marine Department, the Legal Department, the Secretariat of the Board of Trade Council, the Board of Trade journal and the Establishment Department will form the nucleus that is being transferred. New and more departments will follow as further accommodation becomes available.
Relieving Dock Congestion.
Further to a paragraph which appeared in our issue of October 14th concerning the utilization of -motor vehicles by the Ministry of Transport to relieve dock congestion, the scheme which has been formulated by the executive committee of this Ministry has now been put into operation. Some 325 vehicles have been allocated to centres in London, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester and Hull, and it is likely that the number of vehicles will quickly be increased. So soon as the keel committees dealing with the situation have tested the value of road transport in dealing with congestion applications for additional vehicles are expected, and so far as possible the Ministry of Transport will arrange to meet this demand. Within a few weeks it is hoped and anticipated that the lorry service will have had an appreciable effect in relieving the present state of congestion.
Karrier Choir.
Amongst its many male voice choirs, Huddersfield has now to recognize a new comer in the Harrier male voice choir; of which Mr. R. F. Clayton, managing direetor of Clayton and Co., Huddeesfield, is the president. The choir is composed exclusively of employees of the Harrier works, and the second concert which they gave recently met with much success; every available seat was taken and the audience was highly appreciative. It is the intention of the choir to attain such excellence as will justify them in entering for the " Sunderland " competition in due time. It is proposed to give a third concert in the early part of the new year.
Last quarter the L.C.C. had to pay E1,154 in settlement of 238 claims in respect of tramway accidents. The Council obtained compensation amounting to £238 for damage to tramcars.
Local Proceedings.
Wednesfield U.D.C. has decided to purchase a steam wagon for £700.
Hackney B.C. has under consideration the purchase of four electric dust vans.
Preston Corporation has decided to purchase a Leyland meter lorry at a cost of 21,290.
The Chief Constable of. Wigan is ob taming tenders for another pump motor fire engine.
Two motor tipping wagons are to be purchased by the Hindley U.D.C. at a cost of £735.
Merton and Menden 11.D.C, has decided on the purchase of two electric vehicles at a coat of 22,750.
Burton-on-Trent Corporation has received sanction to a loan of £2,650 for the purchase of a motor fire engine.
Hatton U.D.C. has applied for a loan of £6,000 for the purchase of electric vehicles and the erection of a garage.
Tottenham U.D.Q. is applying for sanction to borrow £1,153 for the perchase of two motor sweeping machines.
God oath U.D.C. is getting a loan of £2,520 for the purchase of two motor wagons for the collection of house refuse.
Whitehaven T.C. is applying for sanction to borrow £3,246 for a motor fire engine, and for the building of a fire station.
Waltharnstow TJ.D.C. has purchased four additional second-hand Clayton steam wagons from the Government at a total cog of £2,130.
The committee instructed to go into the matter having recommended Southend T.C. to obtain a fleet of 12 motorbuses, the electrical engineer has been instructed to get particulars and estimates.
The Health Ministry has arranged an inquiry into the application of the Whitehaven Council for permission to borrow £3,246 -for the purchase of a motor fireengine and the provision of a new fire station.