Comparing Costs of Oil and Steam Lorries.
Page 43
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The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[3953] Sir,—I realize that "this correspondence must now cease," but would ask you to allow me to reply to the various correspondents who kindly referred to my claims for the oil engine, etc., in your issue dated December 16. There appears to be a considerable discrepancy in the estimates of the fuel which a steamer uses in a day's work of 100 miles. Mr. Bennett says about 10s.; Mr. Baxter, Junr., using coke, claims 8s. 6d.; Mr. Cole says 15s., including the lighting up. One estimate from the Sentinel Co. states 13s., another states 20s. 3d. (the figure I used). Perhaps these gentlemen will agree to my taking an average of all these as a fair estimate. This brings us to 14s. 2d. per day carrying 12 tons load for 100 miles. For a year of 300 working clays the total is £212 10s. As Mr. Cole allows me only 10 m.p.g., I will take him at his word, and on that figure my oiler does the 30,000 miles with 12 tons load and costs only £50 for fuel. Thus I am £162 10s. to the good on fuel. Deducting the £80 agreed as.loss on depreciation leaves me £82 10s. to the good.
Few steamers have automatic stokers, and most of them employ a driver's mate, which the oil lorry does not require. On oil and grease costs the on lorry wins hands down.
Thus, on your correspondent's own figures I think that I have proved my case. With regard to my statement that the unladen weights of steam lorries are mostly out of proportion to the load legally allowed, may mention that at this moment there is a six-wheeled steam lorry being converted to oil power in Leeds, the unladen weight of which (as a steamer) in running order was 13 tons 5 cwt., thus allowing a legal load of only 5 tons 15 cwt., and this on six wheels. I shall be pleased to show this to anyone who is interested. Leeds. W. H. GODDARD.