WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"rhe wheels of wealth will be stowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, the roughness of the roads over which it ritria."--Johit Beattie Crozier.
Institute of Transport Officials.
• ^".. The new president of the Institute of Transport. for the year 1922-1923 is Sir Sam Fay, the general manager of the Great Central Railway, whilst the vicepresidents are Sir John G. Broodbank, Sir Lynden Macassey, K..B.E., KO.,
Mr. H. H. J.P., Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, Gordon,.B.E., and Mr.
Arthur Watson, C.B.E., Sir Philip Nash, K.C.M.G., C.B., is the honorary treesurer and Sir Wm. Joynson-Hicks, Bart., M.P., is the honorary solicitor. Mr. H. E. Blain, C.B.E., has, at the express wish of the .council, consented to retain the office of honorary secretary for another year.
New Ambulances for the L.C.C.
The L.C.C. has had tenders from the six undermentioned concerns for the supply of four petiol-driven motor ambulance chassis, and has accepted the lowest • satisfactory tender—that of Clement Talbot, Ltd., amounting to £2,380:— Fiat Motors, Ltd. .-£1,748 Keith and Boyle (London), Ltd. (Guy's) ... £1,860 Vulcan Motors (London), Ltd.... £2,236 Clement Talbot, Ltd. ... £2,380 Crossley Motors, Ltd. ... £2,600
Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. ... £2,944, A Progressive Bus Undertaking-.
Some interesting facts and figures relative to the working of the Northern General . Transport Co., Ltd., who, in operating the large total of 97 miles of routes in North Durham and around Newcastle and the Tyneside area, provide the huge industrial population of these districts with convenient and cheap road travelling facilities, are given in the report of the directors for the year ended December 31st, 1921. The traffic receipts (less workinf expenses), dividends, and other revenues for the 12 months are given as £59,411. After the provision for administrative eNpenses, deducting £6,111 for loan and debenture interest, and making a provision of 213,367 for renewals, there remains the sum of £29,938. Adding the sum of £18,540 brought forward from the last account, the divisible surplus is £48,478 5s. 11d., which the direoters recommend should be applied as under :—To sinking fund for redemption of debenture stock, £1,411 to dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, for the year on the preference shares {in respect of which 3 Rer cent.. has been paid), £6,523; to dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares (in respect of which 24per cent. has been paid), £22,711; leaving £17,835 to he carried forward.
During the year additional capital expenditure on the motor omnibus undertaking amounted to £47,440, making a total expenditure of £186,785 to date. The fleet showed an increase of 20 vehicles as compared with last year, the totals now being 117.
Aberdeen Road-closing Order.
The secretary of the Scottish CommerCial Motor Users Association, 43) York Place, Edinburgh, has received from the Minister of Transport a copy of an Order issued under Section 7 (4) of the Roads Act, 1920, prohibiting the driving of heavy motors carrying passengers on that portion of the Linn of Dee Road which lies between Auchendryne, Braemar, and the north end of the Linn of Dee Bridge.
It is interestng to note that the Order will be in force for a period of five years from June 12th, 1922.
For the third year in succession the. Royal Air Force pageant. is again being held at the London Aerodrome, Hendon, on Saturday, June 24th. This pageant is an integral part of the annual training of the R.A.F. A wonderful programme is promised for the afternoon named.
International Road Congress.
At the invitation of the Spanish Government, the fourth International Road Congress will take place at Seville in May, 1923. The programme is representative and important', and practically all aspects of road construction and maintenance, road transport and traffic regulation will be discussed.
The British Government, will be officially represented, the head of the British delegation being Sir Henry Maybury, K.C.M.G., C.B., Director-General of Roads.
With the approval of the Permanent International Commission and of the Ministry of Transport, a committee is being set, up for promoting the representation of Great. Britain at the congress; for ensuring that British highway experience is adequately demonstrated. The president of the committee is Sir Henry Maybury, the chairman Mr. Rees Jeffreys, chairman of the Roads Improvement Association and hon. secretary of the Third (London) Congress, and the vice-chairman Lieut.-Col. C. H. Bresse:v-, 0.13.E., of the Ministry of Transport.• Representatives of practically the whole of the local authorities, road, transport, and housing and town planning organizations of the country will serve upon the committee the first meeting of which has been fixed to take place at the invitation of the Minister for Transport at 7, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.1, on Monday, . June 19th, at 11.30 a.m.
'Further information respecting the congress can be obtained from the hon. secretaries to the British Organizing Committee, Messrs. E. B. Hart and W. E. Riche, at 15, Dartmouth Street, S. W.1.
Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton, F.R.S., M.Inst.C.E., has" joined the board of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co, Ltd.
An A.E.CRajl Car.
The railway authorities in Victoria, Australia, are about to introchice a rail motorcar on a branch line. The object is to develop traffic while at the same time reducing operating costs. The new car is a. petrol-driven 5-ton motor lorry, the chassis of which was built by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd. The railway department stripped off the wheels and steering gear, extended the chassis frame to a total width of 6 ft. 10 ins., and placed on it a body with a seating accommodation for 43 persons. A trailer for the car has been constructed at the railway workshops, and will seat an additional 12 persons, while space is provided for two tons of freight. The vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 25 m.p.h. If the initial ear is a success, others will be placed on the run. A feature of the service is that adjustable steps are provided so that passengers may be picked up or set down at level crossings.
Welsh Traffic Restriction.
Complaints were received at a meeting of tee Carmarthenshire County Council Highway-s Committee from motor vehicle_owners in the county that in certain boroughs, both in Carmarthenshire and Glamorganshire, holders of county licences for vehicles were not permitted to drive through the town. The committee expressed astonishment at this treatment of vehicles licensed by it, and decided to act immediately to obtain redress for the grievance. It was stated that Glamorganshire licensed vehicles were in no way hindered by the Carmarthenshire authorities, and that this, in itself, was a just basis on which to make representation to the offending authorities in the adjoining county.
New N.E.R. Bus Service.
The North Eastern Railway Co. have just established another highly useful motor omnibus service in the County of Durham, which should provide a convenient means of transit for the large population of the area covered. Already the company.operate a number of routes touching large mining and agricultural districts, which form a valuable connecting link with Durham City, a popular local shopping centre, and that the new service, which is to operate in the Consett and Blackhill district, will also receive good patronage is assured. This will provide a frequent service between Leadgate, Consett, Blackhill, with extensions to Shot, ley Bridge and Knitsley Station Road end, via Delves Lane. In addition, a through service "will be maintained each morning and afternoon from Durham to Blackhill and each evening from Blackhill to Lanchester and Durham;
Council's Second-hand Fleet
Deptford Borough Council Works Committee has had under consideration the desirability of appointing a fitterdriver for work in connection with the council's motor vehicles under its control. AL the present time there is a fleet of 11 vehicles, and the staff consists of a motor foreman and 11 drivers.
These vehicles were purchased mostly second-band, and the whole of the repairs hitherto have been carried out in the council's repair shop, occupying the whole of the motor foreman's time. Owing to the personnel being limited to a minimum of drivers, it has been necessary for the motor foreman to take out any vehicle the driver of which has been away through illness or leave, with the consequence that the repairs have had to stand over.
If a skilled motor mechanic, .capable of driving a vehicle when so required, were appointed, much time would be saved in effecting the repairs, and it would be possible eventually for repairs to the road rollers and other plant to be carried out. departmentally.
Northumbrian Bus Services.
Tivo new bus aservices which have been inaugurated in North Northumberland are of interest as showing what can be done by companies to cater I or the requirements of the public in their own neighbourhoods. Between Alnwick and Alnmouth, which is a Northumbrian seaside resort, regular services have been commenced, and are operated each Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, and, in addition, special facilities are announced for all holidays, thus providing the people of the inland district with a capi tal and economical means of reaching the seaside. The fare for this route is 9d. per passenger.Another interesting innovation is the extending of the Amble service, from the first-named place, to take in Warkworth, which is also a seaside place of some local repute. The return fare for this route is 2s. Children under 13 years of age are carried at half price, and a scale has also been drawn up for the conveyance of small parcels, and, in a word, the general public. should benefit greatly from the provisions made on their behalf.
Horse and Motor Costs.
It is considered by the Alnwick Rural Council that Hue provision of motor lorries would effect a saving, and a committee has been set up for the purpose of thoroughly investigating the merits of horse and motor haulage on their .roads. The figures for the half-year ended March 31st show a strong case for mechanical haulage, the expenditure in that direction being £1,211, as against £1,713 for cartage.
Chesterfield Licensing Committee has asked the town clerk and hackney carriage inspector to report on the number
of routes upon which licensed vehicles now ply for hire in Chesterfield.
A New Northern Road
The proposal to construct a new road from Newcastle to the coast, with a length of some 8.70 miles, at an estimated cost of £470,000, has been advanced a further step, the Newcastle Corporation Town Improvement and Streets Committee having decided to approach the Government in order to see what financial assistance will be forthcoming from the Treasury in the event of the scheme, which would greatly benefit all classes of commercial and other motor owners, being proceeded with.
A Trial Electric.
The Health Committee of the Grimsby Corporation recommends acceptance of an offer of the Clayton Wagon Co., Ltd., of Lincoln, to supply an electric street-watering vehicle, complete, on approval for three months, or return, at the option of the corporation, but if the corporation decides to purchase, the price to be £1,070, the company to supply at its own cost such improvements as may be fitted by it on
other vehicles supplied during the three months.
Coaches to Carry First-aid Equipment.
Following the recent general inspection of motor chars-a-bancs omnibuses and taxicabs in Stoke-on-Trent, the following conditions are now attached to the issue of all hackney carriage licences in the county borough :—(1) That every licensed hackney carriage and omnibus be provided with a fire-extinguisher, to be fixed in such a position as to be easily accessible to the driver ; (2) that all licensed vehicles • going on tours be provided with a first-aid outfit in case of accident.
Refuse-collection Vehicles.
A sub-committee of the Kendal Corporation has visited Lancaster. Fleetwood and Blackpool and inspected various types of motor vehicles used for refuse removal, and it does not recommend the purchase of Ford ton motors for the work on account of the heavy cost of upkeep occasioned by the over
loading of these vehicles. The subcommittee recommends the purchase of a -Vulcan two-ton lorry.
Islington's New Electrics.
The L.C.G. has given, permiesion to the islirigton Borough Council to borrow 26,077 for five years for the purchase of four 24-ton electric lorries and one 4-ton petrol motor lorry for the collection of ashes, clinker and other refuse at a east of 25,200 and 2877 respectively. The lorries cost. 21,300 each compared with earlier purchases at 21,525 each. These vehicles form a. further instalment of the scheme of substituting motor vehicles for horse-drawn vehicles in respect of which the council in December sanctioned the borrowing of 28,237.
Recent lean sanctions have provided for 15 motor vehicles with interchangeable bodies adapted for refuse removing or street watering, and these have been used niainly for the former purpose. It. is now necessary to provide additional vehicles for the summer season. As the L.C.C. Finance Committee stated. ex
perienee has shown that one motor vehicle is equivalent to two horse-drawn vehicles for dust collection, or four for street watering, and a reduction in working costs is also effected.
Farming Machinery for Chili.
The farming machinery trade in Chili during the past few years has been stagnant, owing to the abnormal conditions prevailing, especially of late, when the very low value of local currency has made prices prohibitive. There are goad prospects for the tradeonce conditions become normal again, for much old machinery must be replaced, and also because new areas are being opened up for farming purposes, especially in the south, where land is being cleared and new railways and roads are being built. Apart from this factor, large farms are being sub-divided, and this procedure will mean a greater demand for machinery.
Most of the machinery in service in Chili, with the exception of portable engines, the majority of which are of British manufacture, conies from the United States. Binders, reapers and B22 threshing outfits are very extensively used, and the same can be said of the lighter machinery, such as mowers, fertilizers, ploughs, harrows, cultivators, eta.
Producer-gas Lorries for Egypt and • Sudan.
The Egyptian army medical transport authorities, after a series of tests, have reported favourably to the War Office as to the advisability of adopting producer-gas plant for propelling lorries. The mixture used in the tests was made up to PO per cent, gas-coke and 10 per cent, small charcoal. This casts POs. per ton, whereas petrol costs, 232 per ton. The mixture, weight for weight, gives more power than petrol, and does no suffer deterioration under tropical conditions. It is also claimed that the beading capacity of lorries is unaffected by producer-gas installation, while the mechanism is practically fool-proof, a most important factor where native labour has to be relied on. The Sudan Government has already adopted the idea, and is having several of its lorries fitted with the plant.
Goods Traffic in Hampshire.
Hampshire County Surveyor reports that motor traffic continued to increase during the year, and particularly heavy goods traffic. During the coal strike, a large amount of additional commercial traffic was diverted from the railways to the roads, where a considerable amount of it remains. Much of the damage to roads by this heavy motor traffic would be avoided if the traffic could be kept, within the limits of speed allowed by law. Notices have been posted throughout the county of intention to enforce the speed limit so far as heavy traffic is concerned.
Walthainstow District Council is negotiating with the Ministry of Transport regarding its tramways being taken over by the London County Connell.
Parking at Ripon.
The finance committee of the Ripon City Council recommends the provision of accommodation at the market area at the following charges :— Horse-drawn vehicle capable of carrying six passengers, or less, 4d. Over six passengers, 6d. Motor vehicle carrying six passengers or less, Pd.
Free accommodation-ler above, if space permits, on other than market or fair days, and free accommodation at all times in Water Skellgate.
Motor vehicles capable of carrying , more than nine, passengers, 1s.
Trade vehicles on market and fair days, according to schedule. On other days, is.
tree accommodation on market days in Water Skellgate for trade vehicles not used in actual process of sale or ex, change, but for bringing produce into or removing same from the market,. The council refuses liability in respect of vehicles or contents whilst accommodated either free or for Payment.
Machine Tools for Abroad.
There has been a severe slump in the Swedish machine tool trade for some considerable time owing to the depression in the manufacturing .industries. Normally there is a steady market in Sweden for machine tools, but the fact cannot be ignored that the Germans have developed the market with scrupulous care by adapting their machines, tools and gauges to Swedish. requirements. Moreover, every inducement was offered, in the past by way of long credits, and in some cases engineering firms were allowed to effect payment by instalments over a period of twelve months and even longer.
Some exporting firms adopt. the method of keeping a permanent travelling technical expert in Europe, whose duty it is to make workmen thoroughly acquainted with the mechanism of the machine tools installed. By this means a good foune dation is laid, and it, has resulted in the placing of many repeat orders. There ought to be good openings in due course, especially for plate-bending machines, the heavier types of shearing and drilling and stamping machines, high-class lathes, etc.
At present importers and merchants are saddled with fairly heavy stocks of standard machines, and these will have to be reduced before further imports take place on any considerable scale.
" Exceptional " Speed Limits.
Waltharnstow Urban. District Council has had a letter from the Ministry of Transport stating that the Ministry did not see its way to consider applications for speed limits for the present. until fresh legislation has been considered by Parliament, unless the circumstances were quite exceptional. The clerk is to make a further application to the Ministry in the matter, and the engineer is to prepare a plan showing the gradients , of the roads leading into Forest Road between the Felice Station and the Bell Corner.
The London office of the Hoffmann Manufacturing, CO. Ltd., the roller bearing specialists, has been removed from 59, New Oxford Street to 8, Bedford Square, W.C. t. All the company's branch offices are staffed by experienced engineers.
Birmingham Bus Finance.
According to the accounts of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., the company had a good year during 1921. The net traffic receipts and other revenue amounted to £103,095, compared with £81,892 for 1920. This increase has been brought about by the larger volume of passenger receipts, due largely to the extension of the services, and the increased passenger revenue which has been earned with a smaller percentage of expenditure to receipts than was the case in the previous year. Administration and general expenses have been reduced by £4,722, being £18,626, as against £23,348 in the previous year. This reduction was partly brought about by the transfer of the licence duty on vehicles to the running expenses account and the inclusion in last year's figures of the expenses of the preference share issue.
The balance-sheet shows a strong position with regard to cash and investments. A sum of £25,000 has been placed to reserve, bringing the total of that account to £65,000. The amount available for distribution is £90,343, as compared with £59,812 for a year earlier. The company it paying a dividend of 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares, with a bonus of 5 per cent., and carrying forward £22,170.
Current for A.E.C. Works.
The electricity committee of the Welthamstow Urban District Council has considered the report of the electrical engineer as to his negotiations with the Associated Equipment, Co., Ltd., and recommends that. all agreement be entered into with the company for the supply of a. minimum quantity of 1,000,000 units per annum for a period of five years from April 1st, 1922, subject to the payment by the company of 30s. per quarter per kilowatt of maximum demand, and to the current being paid for at. the rate of id. per unit, with the addition of .01 of a penny per unit for each sixpence by which the average price of coal exceeds 1.7s. 6d. per ton.
A Popular Tour.
The 1922 motor coach programme of the Scottish Motor 'fraction Co. was commenced in real earnest a few days ago, when a start was made with the daily services to the Trossachs, St. Mary's Loch, and round the Abbeys. The first-mentioned tour is a particularly attractive one, and if the large number of passengers who travelled on the new 14-seater motor coaches a few days ago is an indication of the patronage which is likely to continue throughout the season, this run will prove exceptionally popular. The fare is 258.
A Lancashire Bus Dispute.
In connection with the recent Westhoughton bus dispute, the Ministry of Transport received a deputation from the Hindley and Westhoughton Urban District Councils a few days ago; there were also present representatives of the two companies concerned—the Ribble Motor Co. and the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd. The negotiations which led up to the dispute began when the Wigan buses ceased to run.
The Ribble Co. (whose services, by the way, have been thoroughly described in the columns of this journal) then desired to establish services through the Hindley and Westboughton districts, but after tenders had been sought the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., began to run their buses. The two services have for some time been clashing on various roads, and when the Ribble Co. asked for extended permission thee councils refused, believing that the two services clashing would injure one another. When the Preston company complained to the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry practically ordered the council to issue the licences, although subsequently it agreed to receive a deputation to discuss the question. It is thought, however, that the Ministry will not modify its decision.
'Closing Stirling's Roads.
An inquiry will be held by an inspector of the Ministry of Transport on June 20th to consider the application of the County Council of Stirling for an Order to prohibit or restrict the traffic of heavy motorcars and locomotives on certain highways in Stirling.
The Scottish Commercial Motor Users Association has given notice of its desire to be heard at the inquiry, and all commercial motor users who are interested in opposing the proposed order, and who are not members of the Association, are desired to send notice in writing on or before June 10th to the Assistant Secretary, Roads Department, Ministry of Transport, London, S.W., or to communicate with the general secretary of the Association at 43, York Place, Edinburgh.
The "golden pump," as installed by the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., at a considerable number of garages throughout the country, has been approved by the Standards Department of the Board of Trade.
C. A. Vandervell and Co., Ltd., announce that, as a result of a reduction in costs, due to increased, production, they are now able to reduce the price of the popular. C.A.V. horns to £3 3s. each, The company will shortly be producing brackets which will greatly facilitate the fitting of the horns by the user himself.
A Live Stock Van.
Bucks Mechanical Transport, Ltd., of Chalfont St. Peters, have a very interesting vehicle amongst their fleet, which is a 40 h.p: Thornycroft chassis fitted with a special van body for the transport of pedigree live stock. This vehicle has accommodation inside for four cattle between ,padded leather partitions hung on alternate sides. Each compartment can be sub-divided into two foi)*=the transport of 4'smaller animals. Both sides of the van are ventilated at the top, the slates being able to be removed separately in order to allow the temperature to be kept as even as possible.
The near side of the body bas four shutters hinged at the top. When the vehicle is at rest these shutters can be opened to enable the cattle to be watered and fed. One-half of the back of the body has a swing door with a window, the other half being the tailboard with an extension folding in the centre, which, when fully extended, Provides a gangway 12 ft. long with detachable sides. The animals can easily be led up this gangway into the interior of the van. The detachable sides, when not in use, are carried beneath the body. The back of the driver's cab is fitted with adplate-glass window, enabling the driver to keep the cattle under observation whilst the vehicle is on the road.
Since this vehicle was built and put into. service it has been in constant domaid, and we understand that it has been used for transporting pedigree stock to various agricultural shows in different parts of the country, upon which class of work it has given the utmost ssfl sfaction..
Halifax' Hackneys.
Members of the Halifax Watch Committee recently made their annual inspection of motor coaches and taxicabs in the district, the former numbering 29 and the latter 15. The committee has under consideration a reduction in taxicab' fares. It.is thought that the existing cEar-' of 2s. per mile, which is 103 per cent: :higher than that of pre-war days, should be reduced to the pre-war level in view of the general decline in wages aneother running incidentals.
Local Proceedings.
_dull Corporation Works Conimittet ass decided to purchase a Ford one-ton _tipping lorry.
.Audenshaw District Council has decided to invite tenders for the supply of a one-ton Ford motor tipping wagon.
Mansfield Corporation has accepted the tender of Messrs. S. F. Bowser and Co. for the installation of a petrol bulk storage system Hasiemere Urban District Council is applying to the Ministry of Health for sanction to borrow £1,750 for the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Yeovil Rural District Council is inviting contributions from neighbouring parishes towards the cost of the proposed purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Battersea Borough Council Health Committee recommends the purchase of two Ford motorvans at £282, each from Mr. S. Whitmee, York Road, Battersea.
A Karrier sweeper nas just been ordered for the -use of the municipal authorities of 4Rotterdam alter one of these machines had undergone a month's trial.
The Works Committee of the Southwark Borough Council suggests holding the annual motor and horse parade as usual, July 1st being suggested for the purpose.
In response to a deputation from the Annfield Plain branch of the St. Jahn Ambulance Brigade, the Annfielel Plain Urban District Council has decided to• support a scheme for the provision of a motor ambulance for the neighbourhood.
The Works Committee of St. Pancras Borough Council has authorized the purC.11 MS of a Lafely motor sweeper, which the borough surveyor says is superior from the point of view of reliability and strength of construction to the machines at present in use by the council. The new Dennis motor turbine are.. engine, which has recently been delivered to the Aberdeen Town Council, was recently demonstrated before certain committees of the council. The machine gave excellent results during the demonstration.
Leeds Rail-less Results.
In our last week's issue we published brief, details of the working of the railless vehicles run by the tramways department of the Leeds Corporation for the year ended March 31st. Below we give comparative statistics of the system for the years ended March 31st, 1921, and 1922
A New Two-headed Plug.
A novel and interesting sparking plug has been produced in the States. It is double-ended, the central electrode, of course, being common to the two ends. The wire lead terminates in a clip which is sprung on to the upper body. The current must jump across the upper gap before it can run to " earth " by way of the spark gap inserted in the cylinder, the action and function of an outer spark gap being well understood by now. Should the plug which is being used to fire the charge become sooted or oiled up, resulting in missing, the spark at the top plug will show yellow instead of blue, acting as a fault indicator. The double plug is then removed and reversed end for end, thus providing for a rapid change of plugs, and it is claimed that the fouled plug will automatically clean itself in the air (the spark, of course, being larger and hotter in the air). The "Double-head " plug, as it is called, is made by the Reardon Co., of Peoria, Illinois.