Goods Transport
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There are indications of a tendency in London to grant increased storage facilities for petroleum spirit—see page 481.
Width of Roads.
Sir George Gibb, Chairman of the Road Board, authorizes the statement that he is not in favour of the widening of the ShalfordReigate road to 100 ft., a report to which effect has somehow got into circulation. He also considers that the metalled carriage-way of the suggested road from Kingston Hill to Esher need not in many parts exceed 40 ft. in width.
A Fine Coal Delivery.
The firm of H. L. Hubert and Co., of New York, has been demonstrating the value of modern motor-trucks in the coal-delivery trade. Three " Commer Cars " which they own performed the remarkable feat of delivering 240 tons of coal, from a suburban coal-yard to the Hotel Belmont, in the centre of the city, in one day. The cars made 33 trips in all, and one of the machines accounted for 941tons out of the total. The same three cars delivered 2,700 tons of coal, during the first 19 days of December. This work included journeys of all lengths, and took place during a time when a heavy snow-fall rendered the streets almost irapassable for horse traffic. These exceptional performances have resulted in the placing of a further order for five 61-ton " Commer Cars." In view of such testimony our English coal merchants will do well to safeguard themselves.
Is There Much Persecution?
A Lancashire owner writes :— " I enclose a cutting from a Northern newspaper [Reproduced below. —ED.] which may be of interest to owners of commercial motors running through Lancashire. I. have not heard of any undue activity by the police in boroughs other than Bolton, and it is to be hoped that the methods at that town will not be copied by the police in other
towns ; otherwise, owners will be in for an unpleasant time.
"'The abnormal increase of heavy commercial vehicles in Lancashire has had the effect of making the police active. The speed of a heavy traction vehicle is limited according to its weight.. In the Bury and Rochdale districts, where many of the heavy vehicles are in use, the police have made one or two captures. Obviously it is their intention to pay these vehicles particular -attention, therefore owners will be wise if they inform their drivers to proceed cautiously. A troubled owner has written suggesting that a notice should be placed in the chief garages as a warning to drivers.'
Excessive speed through towns is an admitted danger, and owners who have a proper regard for the public welfare are stringent in their instructions to their drivers. Unfortunately, however, our police methods of timing and procedure are not all that could be desired, with the result that many convictions are unreasonable and unjustified. I have known cases of trustworthy drivers being summoned, on occasions when they have been aware of a police trap and taken every precaution to be well within the limit. Cases of this kind do not encourage drivers to exercise care, but rather tend to make them reckless.
"Having regard to the enormous advantages which the general trade of the country obtains from the use of mechanical road transport, far outweighing any disadvantages and damage which, it is claimed, result from it, it is difficult to see why some boroughs are so determined to place every obstacle in the way. It will not always be so. Motor transport has sufficiently established itself, and it Will progress in the face of prosecutions."
A correspondent writes from Cape Town that at present it appears there are very few commercial vehicles in that city, though there are signs of early developments. An American motorvan firm is giving novel demonstrations of the capacities of its wagons. Arrangements were made with an express delivery company to supply work for 100 hours of continuous service. A three-ton truck was employed, and it came through the ordeal with success. The stops averaged 106 per day, and the fuel consumption throughout the trial was One gallon of petrol per hour. Great interest was shown in the trial.