Correspondence.
Page 16
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Ignition for Explosion Engines.
The Editor, "THE Comm:Reim. Mo-ros."
Sir :—In the last issue of " TitE COMMERCIAL MOTOR " note that you, under " Abridgments of Patent Specifications," gave publicity to a patent ignition device for oil engines. I would point Oa that a patent (No. 6,035) %vas granted to a Mr. Dunsmore, of Stirling, N.B., so far back as 1897, for an improved self-starting gas and oil engine, including a separate compression ignition chamber, shnilar to the one described, only improved in my opinion. Yours
faithfully, J. BAIN. 30, Barnton Street, Stirling, N.13., November 30th, 1905.
The Motor for Theatrical Tours.
The Editor," THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—My attention was riveted last week by the striking article in your authoritative journal on the subject of motor coaches for theatrical touring. Whilst it must be admitted that the schemes suggested by your contributor are probably quite feasible, there are one or two questions I should like to ask him. Firstly, does he think that the majority of theatrical managers possess sufficiently large capital to purchase such an expensive property as a motor omnibus? The cost of one of these vehicles is, I understand, about 4'85o, and I fear that, in the. present depressed condition of theatri. cal business, managers have to keep by them all the money they have to meet emergencies. Secondly, what length of service does he base his estimate of Is. 3d. per mile upon? If it is intended that the manager should purchase a bus, it would have to do ninny years' constant work to repay the heavy initial outlay. Thirdly, would it be possible to hire, at a reasonable figure, a motor coach, capable of doing the necessary work of a tour extending for five or six months? Is there any firm which does business of this class? The ideas of your contributor, who is evidently a man of considerable experience, if somewhat pessimistic regarding railway travelling, offer an improved outlook to the theatrical artiste, but I am very much afraid that he would find their most serious objection in the matter of expense.
Flying matinees to Brighton and other towns near London could, I am sure, be most conveniently carried out by motor omnibus : the question is whether or no, in the case of extended tours, the large outlay would be repaid to the mana
ger.---Yours faithfully, HALF CONVERTED.
Appreciations of our First Volume.
The Editor," THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.''
Sir :• -We write to acknowledge the receipt of our bound volume of the first 26 numbers of " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.'' We think the paper is, and will be, of the highest value to the motor movement, and we congratulate you upon your enterprise.—Yours truly, CHAS. S. RoLLs.
14 and is, Conduit Street, London, W., December and, i9o5.
The Editor," THE COMNIERCI AL MOTOR."
Sir :—Please accept our very sincere congratulations for the handsome volume of " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR " duly to hand. We think it forms a most valuable work of reference on heavy vehicie matters.—Yours faithfully, THE BEAUFORT MOTOR CO.
14, Baker Street, W., December 4th, I9o5.
The Editor," THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
Sir :—I have to compliment you on the handsome bound volume of "THE COMM F.RCIAL MOTOR " which has come to hand. I always look forward with great pleasure to receiving my weekly copy of "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR." It is so full of useful information and general news as to what is going on in industrial motor circles. I am sure you deserve the full success it has attained.
Only on Friday morning last a gentleman called from Finland with a copy of " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR " in his
hand, and asked roe to sell him buses as illustrated in my tyre advertisement, where I show the fleet of Sussex omnibuses fitted with Royal Sirdars. I had great difficulty in persuading him that I did not sell buses, but referred him to other advertisements in " THE COMMERCIAL M OTOR, " and "-aye him a letter of introduction to a firm whom I knew could deliver promptly. Unfortunately, so many of you; advertisers have sold their outputs that it was useless referring him to some of them.—Yours faithfully,
J. NIActanircii, Managing Director, For the Sirdar Rubber Co., Ltd., London, IV., December 4th, 1903.
The Editor," TILE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.''
Sir :—We beg to advise you that the bound volume of " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR " is duly to hand. Without a doubt, this interesting work will prove very useful to us for reference purposes, containing :Ls it does so much reliable information of the progress of the commercial motor and other interesting matters. We venture to say that it will have a very wide demand, which it justly deserves, and we must congratulate you on its publication.—Yours faithfully,
H. 'WILSON, The Simms Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Commercial Vehicle Dept.). Weibeck Works, Kilburn, December 2nd, 1905.
The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of the paper only, and type-written by preference. The right al abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for The views expressed is accepted.
At the ordinary meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers held on Tuesday, the 14th November, Sir Alexander R. Binnie, President, in the chair, the paper read was " On Waterways in Great Britain," by J ohn Arthur Saner, NI.Inst.C.E. The following is an abstract of this communication :—The paper begins with a short historical sketch, giving dates of inception of Softie of the earlier navig-Ations, and also describing such improvements as have been made in recent years. The author then goes on to discuss the comparative advantages of waterways and railways, and their main differences of construction and use. He points out that where up-to-date canals are owned by independent companies they can in many cases show a reasonable profit, but where the railway companies own them the profits appear to be much less. He next deals with the difficulty of working through traffic on account of variations in gauge, and shows how, if a standard gauge could be fixed upon, the means of communication would be vastly improved. The question of a standard gauge is discussed, and the author gives his opinion as to the best standard to adopt, in view of the existing arrangements in this country. In this connection longitudinal sections, showing the mileage and heights above sea-level, are given of the following main routes :—(1) Hull to Liverpool ; (2) Liverpool to Midland District; (3) Bristol to Midland District; (4) Hull to Midland District; and (5) London to Midland District. There are also tables showing the necessary measures for, and giving the probable cost of, improving the connections between the main ports and the Midland district. Watersupply and towing are considered, the various means now available being described, and reasons for and against different proposals being given. The relative merits of railways and waterways as to speed of travel are also discussed. The author then deals briefly with the question of tolls arid charges, and the cost of upkeep, showing how difficult it is to compare the costs of different systems. Finally, the paper describes the best routes for ship-canals across country, and concludes by discussing the different ways of raising the necessary money for reconstructing the waterways. In the preparation of the paper, the author has obtained replies to certain questions from engineers and secretaries of different waterways. This information is detailed in an appendix.