Opinions from Others.
Page 19
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Bakers and Motor Vans.
The Editor, TIM COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
,304, Sire --There is a tendency, at the present time, for bakers to make use of motorvans, in the work of delivering bread, in preference to the more-unwieldy form of delivery by means of horses. 'Where blisines=,es are
gradeally increasing, this is more observable. Virms which have adopted the method of delivery he motor have come to the conclusion that the system is both cheaeor and less troublesome, and where a number of men were required to do the work this can be affected hr one or two employees. In addition to thie, the delivery is more prompt when the =terve!' is in use and -tire expense in the upkeep of the vehicles is very considerably reduced.--Yours faithfully, A BAKER'S TRAVELLER.
1We Litiitt agree. SeVeTEL hatters wrote to ns anent our itide 4,11 ,LEILII VELLIK in thn isehe of 5th january.—En.]
The Wasted Mall.
T1rc Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
Sir,--1 was much interested in your short leader of lest week with reference to the waste of the Mall, and tine argument you advanced, that the expenditere of puhlie money with the knowledge of serious restrictions upon traffic is fundamentally wrong in principle. '5 on!. reservations as to the necessity for particular rules when Court functions are taking place are probably right, but these ' close " periods should be as short as possible in duration, anti their effect should not extend ben-oral the absolutely-neeeseary limits of particular seetions of the highways, in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace. I lii co seen people hold up their hands in horror at the suggestion that pneumatic-tired motorvans should be allowed to ' rime through " the Mall at close upon 20 m.p.h., but
objections of that nature are surely out of date, The crush in Piccadilly, especially during the Season, is nothing short of appalling, and the waste of both money and time, as you point oat, is almost incabodabhe I consider that the west-to-east stream ef traffic, limited as you propose to pneumatic-tired motors, should he allowed the free use, up to 20 m.p.h., of Constitution Hill and the Mall. also with the right to leave by Buckingham Gate,
Why should the-nation, or particular local ratepayers, bear the charges for these magnificent highways if they are to he deprived of the use of them practically the year
round?-• -Yours faithfully, R. J. Wiemens.
When the Horse Disappears.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,3061 Sir,---Your paper is always interesting. iestruclive and smaels up at the top on motor transport. hot 1 cannot understand the dictum of Mr. Swinbnrne, the consulting engineer (not the poet). Has Mr. Swinimrne ever enjoyed the " hit 'em hold 'em fun " of getting his horse over a big, blind bank and ditch in country, say, like that of the Bla,ckmoor Vale, where razor-back banks, with double rails on the top, and deep dykes beyond, are _quite common features? I think not. Would riot Mr. Swinhurtle have snoken more kindly of the horse, Imel he had the bare experience of having a setto whir a " rough 'on " with its back up and its bead down!' It is quite sport to have a h-ore catching hold of the toe of nre's bootwith his mouth, then sweeping the dust off one's eyelids end brushing one's hat (if still on) by a magnifioent sweep of his long tail, I wish I were a literary man, to state some of the charms of horseman ship hatter. Why, too, does Mr. Swinburne think itnecessary t,o abuse the harmless fowl? What is more welcome than the defiant-, clarion, extra-tuneful, phonographic-like music cm a still spring morning? The music is more sweet and pure than Wing Pan ever got out of his reed-pipes in Arcadia. No, Sir, it. is not right that you should pitch into the hen and the horse. The motor, of course, is a beautiful thing, and timed far truer than the seasons; in inset, as true as the hour.
admit tha-t it never runs away, has colic, spavin, megrims, or corns. Probably, there is a lot in the lift of the valves, melody in the base notes of the exhaust, and a sharp sparkle di joy in the explosive notes within the cylinders to some people, whilst the " hum and purr " is as pastoral as the hum of the threshing drum at the old farmstead. Is it? The motor, for commerce or pleasure, is a beautiful, well-made, well-balanced " concoction," and some of the old cab-drivers seem to enjoy turning the handle and making it alive.
I am an old horseman myself, hot now I am running motarvans at a laundry. It has; taken some time to transform me. You will see from the letter-heading who I am, and I subscribe myself,—Yours faithfully, ONE PROFESSIONAL HORSEMAN.
letter has neeessarily been abLreviated to the extent of nearly n0 per cent. We admire the sphat which prompted its dispateh.—F.D.)
Knowledge of London.
The Editor, I'ME COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
L.1,307] Sir,-1 noted with intereet your article on "Kno ledge of London " in your issue of the 2nd inst., and agree with you thatsomething should be done, and that quickly, to relieve the present tension in the motorcab world, dine to the shortage of licensed drivers. Vehicles there are in plenty ; there is also an almost-unlimited number -of capable drivers who would be willing to try their hands at so lucrative an employment as that of a taxi-driver. Yes these men and machinee cannot he brought together because of Scotland Yard's limiting edict re knowledge of London. That it is necessary adriver should be conver-ent with the general topography of our great Metropolis no one will deny: were there no. testsa his geographical knowledge, his " fares" might often he penalized by exorbitant charges for excess mileage. As I have stated, there are meny men available who would make excellent drivers, and there must, amongst these men, be a large number wlnose knowledge of Len-don streets is far above that of the average citizen, and T suggest that, given the opportunity, these men would soon become acquainted with every street, byway and every nusable building within the Metropolitan area. To give these men a chance which they need to become proficient, and, at the same time, to protect " fares " from being unconsciously overcharged, I suggest that distinctive probationer badges be issued by the Public-Carriage Department to such graduate drivers, due notice, with explanatory notes, of the issue of these probationary badges being made in all the daily papers. Taxicab users, on occasions when an " old bend " is not, available on the nearest cab rank, could then engage a probationer if one be available, and, before eornmenwing the journey, give him such directions as would enable him to find the nearest way to some main street in the vicinity of his destination. Inquiries made locally would then assist him to complete the journey.
Such an arrangement. I contend, would add greatly to the convenience of the cab-using public, and the only test which the probationer driver need pass would be that of the general direction of main thoroughfares. _After a reasonable peried of probation, -the driver should then be allowed to be re-examined by Scotland Yard, with aview to his obtaining a" full " licence—Yours faithfully, ichmond, -Surrey. GEOFFREY WALf.ACE,