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WHEELS • OF INDUSTRY.

"The evheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roaghness of the roads over which it ran:."—John Beattie Crazier.

Government Inquiry into Use of Tetra-ethyl.

In the House of Lords on Wednesday ,last Lord Buckmaster moved that it was expedient that the Government should immediately set up a committee to ad-vise as to the public danger that may arise from the use of lead tetra-ethyl in metor spirit.

The Marquis of Salisbury, speaking for the Government, said the Government recognized the risks attaching to this commodity and it proposed to deal with the matter. The substance was manufactured in America. The blending with petrol spirit involved considerable risk, undoubtedly, and that was receiving the attention of the Home Office, but so far no case of lead poisoning had arisen. The admixture of tetraethyl was very small. It was! undoubtedly a very useful source of power and the Government had to consider how far it ought to interfere with an improvement in the source of power.

The Government was going to appoint an inter-departmental committee consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Home Office, and the Medical Resparch Council. which would check the conclesions arrived at in America and confirm or differ from them.

Profits of Bangor Blue Motors.

The report of Bangor Blue Motors, Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last shows a profit of £2,717. The company has motorbus and motor coach interests, and in the year just closed the total receipts from the operation of vehicles of this type were £33,737. So .far as expenditure is concerned, £15,074 was disbursed in connection ' with licences, wages, rents, advertising, etc., whilst £6,626 was spent on maintenance work, and the cost of petrol, oil and sundries accounted for £5,639; the sum of £3,661 was written off for depreciation. After these items have been taUti into account and a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, has been paid, as well as £500 placed to the reserve account, a sum of 1884 remains to be carried forward.

Profits of Barton Transport Ltd.

A-meeting of Barton Transport, Ltd., was held in Nottingham recently, when Mr. T. H. Barton, the chairman and managing director of the company, presided. The chairman briefly reviewed the progress made by the company, and said that during the past year a considerable increase in gross traffic receipts had taken place. He gave some indication of the improvement in this respect by quoting figures for several months past and comparing them with the corresponding periods of the previous year. Por instance, in November, 1926, the takings were £5,767, whereas a year later they were £7,742, whilst in January, 1927, they were £6,077, and in January of this year, £8,246. It is anticipated that the gross turnover of the company for the current year will exceed the £100,000 mark, as compared

B20 with approximately £87,000 in the last year of the old company.

Seventeen new buses have been acquired and put into service since the new company was formed, and the total weekly bus mileage has increased appreciably. It is the company's intention to develop the touring side of the busi

ness in the forthcoming season, and it will employ specially equipped vehicles for this purpose.

Although only a short time has elapsed since the inauguration of the company much progress has been made in enlarging and improving the garage accommodation. A building is being erected to house 50 new buses and improved washing and cleansing apparatus is being installed to cheapen these processes and to reduce labour costs.

• An Invaluable Publication.

The 1928 edition of the New Car Number of The Motor is on sale to-day (Tuesday), and contains over 800 pages of reeding matter and advertisements. There is a complete 'guide to cars on the British market.

Another Long-distance Service from Tyneside.

There is ample evidence that the present year will witness very extensive developments of limited-stop services. In these the Tyneside neighbourhood will continue to play a prominent part. In addition to the new and contemplated long-distance services which have been dealt with in recent issues of The Commercial Motor, other important projects are under consideration.

One of the most interesting developments is that of the Clan Motorways, Ltd., of Glasgow, which has just commenced a daily service between Clyde and Tyne. The route is by way of Hamilton, Loekerbie, Carlisle and Hex. ham, and entails a single-journey mileage of about 154. The single fare is 13s. and the return fare 23s., which compare very favourably with rail fares between the two centres. The company has a smart and speedy fleet of nine 25-seater Studebaker parlour-type saloon coaches in use.

The new service was opened on March 1st and, at the outset, one journey is being made in each direction daily. This route is now becoming an extremely popular one, for other concerns run vehicles between Newcastle and Glasgow by alternative routes, these being the Novocastrian Motorways and the County Motor Services.

The G.W.R. Road Services.

The financial accounts of the Great Western Railway which were submitted to the shareholders on Wednesday last disclosed—inter alia—the fact that the omnibus and other passenger vehicles (not running on the railway) belonging to the company, produced a gross revenue during 1927 of £201,059, the expenditure amounting to 1190,816, whilst the net receipts from this source were £10,243. The comparable figures for the year 1926 were: gross receipts, £167,980; expenditure, £164,875; net receipts, £3,105. The number of passenger motor vehicles owned Was -232 and of goods and parcel motors 719. •

Hand Lamps for Garage or Vehicle.

The use of portable and self-contained electric hand lamps often facilitates the performing of small repairs on the road or in dark corners of the garage, and in this -connection we have received details of a well-built lamp known as the Ionic, which is claimed to give 20 hours continuous light at one charge. It is made by the Iron and Nickel Battery Co., Ltd. 17-19, Cockspur Street, London, S.VV.1, and it contains an Ionic allsteel alkaline accumulator. With a wood case this lamp is priced at 29s., whilst 37s. 6d. is asked with an all-metal case.

A High Mileage from Pneumatics.

Many high mileages stand to the credit of pneumatic tyres, and a further instance of the serviceability of such equipment is affotded by a Star 20-60 h.p. low-loading i22-seater bus which has covered 53,000 miles on a set of 32-in. by 6-in. Dunlop pneumatic tyres, the set comprising seven tyres. •

Ball-bearing Spring Shackles.

Ball bearings are used to a remarkable extent throughout the medern commercial vehicle, but so far little use has been made of them for spring shackles. However, they are now being developed by the Fafnir Bearing Co., of New Britain, Conn., U.S.A., for utilizing in this connection.

Shackles fitted with these bearings require no adjustments, obviate rattle and squeaks and call for lubrication only at Yong intervals. At the free ends of the springs they are interchangeable with standard types, but at the fixed ends a slight redesigning of the frame brackets is' necessary.

The free-end assembly includes two ' hardened "pins of chrome-molybdenum steel, pressed directly into the spring eye and the frame 'bracket respectively. At their ends, .where the pins are of .smaller diameter, they carry Fafnir radial-thrust ball bearings held in casehardened cups mounted in pressed-steel links. Each cup has two dust washers, one at each end of the felt oil retainer, the felt being pressed against the pin by Means of a coiled wire spring carried around the outside.

Electric Tool Makers Amalgamate.

We learn that the Van Dorn Electric Tool Co. has recently been acquired by the Black and Decker Co. The latter concern has specialized in the manufacture of portable electric drills and tools of a similar nature for many years and its products are widely used in the motor trade. The company originally designed an elegtric drill for the purpose of meeting the require

merits at the average garage and service station, but in later years its activities have extended to the marketing of many types of electric tool, such as are used in motor-'Vehicle maintenance work.

Refuse Collection on the Continent.

We published in our last week's issue the report of 'Capt. W. F. Cable, cleansing surveyor of the Westminster City Council, dealing with the advanced methods of collection and disposal of

refuse adopted in Germany. Apart from the interesting facts which were gontained in this report, it is worthy of note that Capt. Cable thinks that in many Continental cities the methods adopted for collection are ahead of those used in this country,but in his view we are equally ahead of them so far as the methods which are generally employed fordisposal in this country are concerned.

Safetex Glass Developments.

We understand that a company is about' to be termed in America to`acquire the rights and processes to manufacture Safetex safety glass in America. The capital of the new'company is to be five million dollars, and the price paid for the licence to manufacture runs into substantial figures. The British company controlling the foreign patents and rights is the Safetex Glass Holding Co., Ltd., which is a separate company frcan Safetex Safety Glass, Ltd. The, balding company receives 5Q per cent, of the common stoek in the new American company.

It is also said that negotiations are proceeding for the formation of a Fretnah company, and it is the intention of the holding company to form similar concerns throughout the world for the purpose of manufacturing and telling Safetex glass.

Bus Co-ordination in South Wales.

A conference has been held at Cardiff between municipal representatives and the managers of the municipal omni.,, bus undertakings in the South Wales area regarding co-ordination of road passenger services.

. The Peugeot Van Cheaper. Peugeot (England),. Ltd., 78-80, Brompton Road, S.W.3, advises us that, as from the beginning of this month, the price of the Peugeot 13-35 h.p. delivery van has been reduced from £245 to £225.

A Bus Station for Cliorley.

A recommendation that a strip of land on the Cattle Market, Chorley, be rented by the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd. for 15 years at an annual rental of 1225 has recently been approved at a meeting of the town council. The site is to be used as a bus station.

Trent Motor Traction Dividend.

The sdirectors of the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., recommend the payment of a dividend at the rate of 8' per cent. on the shares of the company for the year ended December 81st last. This is the same' rate as was paid in the previous year, but 150,000 additional capital ranks for dividend. S.D. Freighters Favoured for Street-refuse Collection.

The highways committee of the Leicester Corporation has considered the question of improving upon the present method—by horse and cart—of picking up road sweepings, and has carried out trials with a S.D. Freighter. From the results of the trials the committee is of opinion that, by the use of these vehicles in place of horses and carts, the picking up of sweepings can be performed more quickly and the refuse can be carted direct to the tips, instead of having to be taken to the nearest depot mid later re-carted to the tips. Furthermore, it says that the work of cleansing the streets could be much more efficiently and economically carried out.

The committee has, therefore, recommended the purchase of four S.D. , Freighters, with bodies specially constructed to carry street sweepings, either wet or dry, at the price of £000 each, and two S.D. Freighters, with water tanks interchangeable with these bodies, so that the vehicles can be used for street watering in the summer and picking up sweepings in the winter, at the price of £800 each. Application is to be made to the Minister of Health for sanction to borrow the sum of £4,000 for the purchase of these vehicles:

• Awkward Canal Bridges.

The county surveyor of Warwick reports that there are three awkward and dangerous canal bridges carrying the Warwick-Southam-Daventry main road over the Oxford Canal, which, in the near future, should be widened. Two of these bridges are particularly unsatisfactory as they have very steep gradients which completely obstruct the view of approaching traffic and, as their widths are respectively 17 ft. and 20 ft.

• between the parapet walls, there is scarcely room for two vehicles t5 pass with safety. The surveyor is to prepare plans and estimates for dealing with these bridges.

A New Express 21-tonner.

The Hansa Lloyd Co., of Bremen, Germany, has lately brought out a new chassis designed to carry loads up to 2i tons at speeds from 25-32 m.p.h. Features of the vehicle are a low centre of gravity, separate gearbox, and worm-driven back axle. The motive power is supplied by a four-cylindered engine developing 40 h.p. at 1,600 r.p.m. The springs are not shackled in the usual way, but are supported at their extremities in rubber blocks. Both electric lighting and starting equipment are provided, as well as battery ignition. The road wheels are of the steeldisc type, pneumatic tyres being used all round, with twin tyres at the rear. The standard lorry has a loading area measuring 12 ft. by 6 ft. 4 ins., the platform height being 3 ft. 3 ins, from the ground level. The maker is also employing the new chassis as the basis of a 21-seater coach.

Special Parts for Peerless Lorries

The Universal Ball Bearing Repair and Manufacturing Co., 111, The Grove, Hammersmith, London, W.0, has recently drawn our attention to the fact that it is in a position to supply owners of Peerless lorries with numerous different types of special fitting. The fit.

B22

ments include water-jackets for cylinder heads, and it is claimed that with these in use no overheating of the engine canin normal circumstances occur. There are also a cooling fan of an efficient type and a strong and easily fitted jaw to facilitate the use of the starting handle. The list also comprises valve caps of a robust pattern, with a special spanner for manipulating them, and a patent differential drum. All these parts sell at reasonable prices and are well worth the attention of Peerless.owners.

Berlin's Increasing Bus Traffic.

In our issue dated February 21st we mentioned that the number of passengers carried by the bases of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., during 1927 was 1,323,423,819, an increase of over 71 million, or about 6 per cent., as compared with 1926. In this connection it is interesting to record that in the German capital the number of passen.gers carried last year by the Aboag, the Berlin equivalent of the L.G.O.C., amounted to 158 millions, as compared with 113 millions in the.preceding year,

the increase in this case being nearly 40 per. cent.

Motorbuses are, relatively, a new introduction in Berlin, a city which is equipped with an extensive electrictratnways system that carriesover 50 per cent. of the total passenger traffic. At the same time there is a growing preference on the part of the public for buses, which is indicated by the fact that the number of tram passengers declined from 836 millions in 1926 to 818 millions last year.

Long-distance Service Success.

The success with which Mr. H. NI. S. Catherwood's long-distance service between Belfast and Dublin has met has justified a further improvement, and now six trips are made daily in each ; direction. The buses now stop in Dundalk, the intermediate town, to allow of the passengers having refreshments, Six-wheeler Developments in New York.

By L recent mail we learn that the Surface Transportation Corporation, of New York, is about to extend its motorbus services in that city and the surrounding districts by the opening of new routes over a total distance of about 100 miles. To provide the rolling stock for the new services the company has lately placed orders for 26 double-deck and 36 single-deck sixwheeled buses with the Six Wheel Vehicle Co., of Philadelphia, for 28 six. wheeled petrol-electric single-deck vehicles with the Vesare Corporation, and for 14 four-wheeled single-deckers with the American Car and Foundry Co.

"The Welding Test."

A miniature edition of "The Welding Teat," which contains a number of illustrations and descriptions of examples of the class of welding repair undertaken by the company, has just been issued by Barimar, Ltd., 14-18, Lamb's Conduit Street, London, W:C.1. Steam Wagons on Roadmaintenance Work.

The annual reptrt of the county surveyor of Nottingham for the year 19261927 gives details of the cost of working four steam wagons on road-maintenance work. The fleet is composed of two Clayton wagons and one of both Burrell and Foden makes. The total cost of working was .£2,514, and the wagons carried 19,786 tons and hauled 3,151 loads. The number of miles which the fleet travelled, was 17,538, for 8,769 miles of which loads were being carried. In the aggregate the vehicles worked for 818 days and their cost of working per day was 13 1s. 5d., this being equivalent to Ss. 9d. per mile and 10s. 9d. per ton per mile.

Good.Roads are Cheaper.

Motor-vehicle users in %New South Wales are interested in the announce'Dent made by the assistant railway administrator that the 5,800 miles of railway constructed in the State cost £112,000,000. A resolution was re

cently carried at the roads conference regarding future railway construction, and it was made clear that, (hiring any future inquiry into railway-construction proposals, full consideration should be given to the question as to "whether a suitable modern road will not serve the same purpose much more cheaply." According to official figures, the cost of the railways built in New South Wales was nearly £20,000 a mile, whereas a first-class modern road may be built for about £10,000 a mile.

Big Swedish Bus Developments. We have on several occasions referred to the remarkable growth of motorbus traffic in Sweden, and it is not in the least surprising to learn that many of the isolated districts in that country, are now linked up with the more populous areas by means of the road motor. In spite of the fact that Sweden, in proportion to its population, is better provided with railways than almost any other country, the number of motorbuses in use has risen to about 4,000. The number of regu

lar bus routes which are in operation is roughly 1,500, their total length being about 40,000. kiloms., i.e., more than 26 times the length of the country. As a result of this progress the railways have suffered, especially on local lines. Bus traffic in the country is strictly regulated by local government authorities.;

A KnoWle Road Improvement.

Warwick County Council has instructed the county surveyor to proceed With the widening and improvement of the Birmingham-Warwick main road and the Redditch-Knowle-Coventry main road at the entrance to ICnowle, provided that an appropriate grant be obtained from the Ministry of Transport.

Municipal Co-operation with the Railways.

The York Corporation Transport Department and the London and NorthEastern Railway Co. have just introduced a co-operative scheme which is of particular interest at the present time in view of the position created by the efforts of the railways to secure widespread road powers. All late excursion trains arriving at York after the ordinary bus and tram services have finished for the day are met by 'special buses and trams and the passengers are conveyed to their homes 'at a special standard fare of 3d. It is understood that in the near future the scheme will also be introduced at Middlesbrough, Hull, and other centres.

The institution of the scheme is largely due to the enterprise of the York Corporation transport manag4r, Mr. J. A. Bromley. Tickets for the buses can be bought by excursionists at the same time that they purchase their ticket at the railway booking office.

Big Albion Users.

A recent striking announcement of the Albion. Motor Car Co., Ltd.. is to the effect .that six British concerns have between them a total of over 1,300 Albion lorries in operation. The Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., is at the top of the list with 331, followed by Carter. Paterson and Co., Ltd., with 236; the 'United Dairies, Ltd., 213; Shell-Mex, Ltd., 200 ; the Redline Motor Spirit Co., Ltd., 180;• and Harrods, Ltd., 147. The exact total of the six fleets is 1,307 vehicles.

For Maintaining Bodywork.

Passenger-vehicle owners and those concerned with the maintenance of bus and coach ,bodies will be particularly interested in the portable compressedair plant for paint Or cellulose splaying which has redently been placed on the market by Mann, Egerton and Co., Ltd., 5, Prince of Wales Road, Norwich. It has been designed for use in the smallest repair shop where such work is only oecasionally dealt with, bat it is also useful in larger works for odd jobs and relief work when the main plant is fully occupied.

. The compressed-air cylinder is charged by means of a quick-acting' foot pump, and, once charged up to a pressure of 75 lb., there is sufficient air in the container to spray a single wing or panel, which is as much as is generally needed on small touching-up or repair jobs. It is quite a new equipment and has been marketed by the company after considerable experimental and test work.

More Thornycrofts for Overseas. Orders from overseas figure largely in the list of those which have recently been received by Jdhii I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd. Five 30-cwt. chassis and two six-wheelers are being bbilt for Kenya, whilst three 30-cwt. chassis are destined for Australia, two six-wheelers for Singapore and another of this type for Ceylon.

Many other orders for goods and passenger vehicles have been received by the company from prominent users in different parts of the country, one of importance being for six bus chassis. for 28-seater vehicles from the Stalybridge, Hyde Mossley and Dukinfield Tramways and Electricity Board:

Scottish Motor Traction Co.'s Results.

In the year ended October 31st last the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., made a net profit of 142,009, after transferring £2,075 to the staff fund and £1,386 to reserve. After adding the amount brought in from the previous year the available total is 168,079, and of this sum 130,579 will be carried forward after a dividend_ of 10 per cent., free of fax' has been paid. on the increased capital. In the year under review considerable additions were made to the fleet, 68 new buses of an improved design being put into service.

Linking Up Nottingham and Newcastle by Motorbus.

Within a recent period there have been many extensions of district motorens services in and around Nottingham, but no such important development has been hitherto projected as that for which arrangements are now being completed for the institution of a service between Nottingham and Newcastle-on-Tyne. This is One of a series of new routes which is being organized by a company in the northern city.

One of the vehicles to be used, it 20seater with a small luggage compartment at the rear, was recently inspected by the Nottingham' authorities.

A Dangerous Bridge.

The county surveyor of Warwick is to Prepare a scheme for reconstructing Brown's Bridge, which carries the Coventry-Banbury main road over the River. Stowe at Southern. It is a very narrow and' dangerous bridge, and one at • which slight accidents have frequently occurred. The parapet walls are often being damaged.

Free Travel by Bus.

The operation of horses at 'extremely low fares during acute competition between rival concerns is not unknown in the north country, but the Tyneside area had its first experience of absolutely free travel on Tuesday of last week, when the United Automobile Services, Ltd., introduced this novel form of protest against the alleged action of the Tynemouth Corporation -with reference to a licensing question. The company is one of the concerns operating vehicles over the new coast road and began a service from Whitley Bay to Newcastle via that highway last October. Licences were obtained from the Whitley Bay and the Newcastle authorities, but, although similar application was made to the Tynemouth Corporation, no definite decision was

reported until Tuesday, when two licences were issued to the company— over another route from that on which the concern's vehicles run through the borough.

The alleged effect of the decision is that the company is prevented from plying for hire with buses in the thickly peopled parts of Tynemouth on the terms granted to competing owners, and the management is stated to have intimated its intention to carry passengers from Tynemouth free of charge and to continue, on those terms, to use its existing route through the residential quarters of the town.

• A New Tyre Factory.

It is announced that the Firestone Tyre and Rubber Co. has decided to construct a new factory near Brentford for the manufacture of tyres for all types of motor vehicle. Garage Extension for Leicester's Buses.

The tramways committee of the Leicester Corporation reports that the Present garage accommodation is insufficient to house the existing fleet of motorbuses and further accommodation is required. The present garage was built in 1926 and arrangements were made to provide for its extension at an early date to the, building line parallel with the canal. The installation of the necessary boilers for heating purposes and the arrangements for additional lighting have already been made, and the garage, when completed, will furnish accommodation for 45 buses. The estimated expenditure for work in connection with the proposed extension is £11,200.

Alleged Unauthorized Services,

"We learn that the Chorley Motor Omnibus Joint Committee has written to the Preston 'Watch Committee stating that a report has been considered with regard to the commencement of alleged unauthorized bus services between Bamber Bridge and Preston and between Leyland and Preston. The report also refers to the clashing of competitive services on these routes. It was felt that some measure of co-operation should be established between this authority and the constituent authorities in the joint committee's area.

Careful Bus Driving in Swansea.

During 1927 the two Swansea police motor ambulances carried 1,113 patients and travelled 5,012 miles at a total limning cost (all capital and other charges except police-driver's wages included) of 1223. The sum credited to the borough fund in respect of the number of private patients carried was £220.

The d,etails of street accidents show that buses were responsible for fewer accidents than any other type of vehicle.

A Ban on Double-deckers.

It would appear that regulations are about to be issued which will prohibit the use of double-deck buses in the Irish Free State. There may be good reason for this action on the part of responsible authorities, but the value of such vehicles on in-town services or on routes where traffic is heavy Cannot be denied.

Prohibited Roads: How to KnowThem.

In disposing of a case in which a Worcester contractor was summoned for using a traction engine with two treilers on a prohibited road and causing thereby great damage to the road, the'Ledbury magistrates expressed the view that local authorities should put up notices at each end of roads prohibited to certain types of heavy vehicle. The .defendant in the case was a stranger to the district and might not easily know what was prohibited and what was not. ." The prosecution, however, explained that in almost -every county a number of roads was prohibited to very heavy vehicles and the way for owners to overcome any difficulty was to apply to the clerks of county councils for a list of such prohibited roads.

Internationalizing Road Signals. The Seeretary-Geueral of the League of Nations has forwarded to the governments of all states which are members of the League copies of the report of the road and traffic committee on the subject of unifying the various signs and signals used on roads owing to the general increase of motor traffic. The Powers are invited to present their observations on this report by July 15th.

An Informative House Journal. As is usual, there are many informative items incorporated in the latest edition of the ./i'arriee Gazette, the efficial organ of Kerrier Motors, Ltd., of Huddersfield, the February issue of which has just reached us. There is a number of references to six-wheelers and evidence is not wanting to show that this type is giving Much satisfaction to many users.

Reference is also made to the Kneeler. snow plough, which possesses many unique features and was patented in conjunction with Mr. H. Neaverson, the transport manager of the Huddersfield Corporation. The device is specifically

designed for quick attachment and detachment and can be fitted to almost any chassis in under 10 minutes. It is sturdily constructed, dears a track 7 ft. 6 ins. wide and, owing . to its oblique setting ahead of the rear axle, moves the snow towards the gutter or year side of the machine. The suspension system adopted for the apparatus is such that no damage to the blade will result should solid obstacles be encountered. The device can be put into, or out of, action in approximately 30 seconds.

There is also a reference in the journal to the Compound gas-producer, as fitted to a Kanter 4-ton lorry, and the usual abridged data of 1928 models is set out in tabular form.

Experimenting with Six-wheelers.

The Ministry of Transport has approved the use of eight six-wheeled double-deck trolley-buses on the Hastings tramways system for an experimental period of six months.

It is reported from MOSCOW that a number of engineers of the Soviet Russian coverement has recently returned from a six months' visit to Germany, France and the United States, where numerous works engaged in the manufacture of mi5tor tractors were inspected. As a result of the visits it is reported that ne-gotiations have been opened up with the makers of the International McCormick machine in America, with the object of inducing that company to afford technical assistance for the establishment of a tractor factory at Zed= (Stalingrad).

. Bad Roads and Tyre Costs.

The Gladiator Bus Service, which runs between Dublin and Ballinasloe, via Tullamore, has recently been diverted owing to the condition of the roads between Tullamore and Ballinasloe. The proprietor of the service has stated that the road surface has made tyre costs prohibitive. A Dublin Tramways Co.'s Growing Bus Fleet.

Comparison of the merits of buses and trams was made at the annual meeting of the Dublin United Tramway Co., which runs both types of vehicle. It is practically the largest bus owner in the Irish Free State and, so far, it has -avoided overlapping its own trams and has concentrated on developing new

routes. During the past year the number of buses operated by the company was increased from 34to 52. The • expansion is being continued, and it is proposed to obtain 24 additional buses in the near future.

Swansea's Heavy Traffic Powers.

It was reported to the Swansea Watch Committee. that, whereas the council's recently passed Act of Parliament dots not permit the council to place limits, other than those relating to the general law, upon the weight of heavy vehicles using the borough roads, the Act does permit the council to prescribe roads which shall and shall not be used by vehicles classified as "heavy." The committee has decided to put this power into force and to compile a schedule of heavy-traffic routes.

Since 1918 Swansea has expended £460,000 on road maintenance and improvement, and upkeep costs, which were ±1SU per mile in 1918, had risen to £576 in 1927.

Leicester's Latest Buses.

In our issue for laSt week we releered to the fact that the Leicester Corporation was making certain additions to its motorbus fleet. We now learn that this authority, having had an opportunity for testing the capabilities of the Guy six-wheeled doubledecker on pneumatic tyres, has decided to purchase six chassis of this type. The bodies for the vehicles will be built by the Brush Electheal Engineering Co., Ltd., of Loughborough. They will be 56-seaters with covered tops and will each cost 17l2.