Culled from Contemporaries.
Page 16
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A Selected Collection of Extracts from the British and Foreign Press.
Christmas Shopping.
" Pare, one penny for three stations," advertises the Central London Railway, and a smart Yankee was beard asking fur a penn'orth at Shepherd's Bush the ether day, and choosing as his stations Nlarble Arch, British Museum, and the ISank.—" Punch."
Short-sighted Policy.
In consequence of the growth of motor traffic, the Barnes District Council is testing the eyesight of all men working on the roads. Only such persons as can distinguish minute objects, such as motor omnibuses, at a distance of ten yards will, we understand, be employed iii the future.—" Punch."
Horseless Sunday.
The genius (Mr. H. Thomson Lyon) ho first conceived the idea of " Horseless Sunday " had to pay the usual penalty of originality; he was denounced for his selfishness, and his proposal was distorted out of recognition for the purpose of proving its inherent objectionableness.—" The Sects Pictorial." fWe referred to " Homeless Sunday," and repeated the reason for its abandonment, in our review of the year 1900 (80th alt.).—Er–j
Going ! Going ! ! Gone ?
In none of the conditions of modern Life have greater changes been effected than in the methods of transit. Particularly noticeable is this in large towns, and especially in the metropolis itself. Horse traffic has given way to that of the motor, and underground transit has steadily increased. . . . . Daily one meets with advertisements in the newspapers of the sale of omnibus horses, tending to prove that the conversion is steadily increasing, and inquiries made from the principal omnibus companies
confirm the surmise The disused horses appear to find their way to farms, or are bought for vans and carts. Seldom is a reserve placed upon the price at which they are sold at auction, for they must be disposed of regardless uf price, the numbers awaiting sale being considerable. It should be remembered that formerly there were geurrallx eleven
horses for each 'bus on the road; these did but one journey a day, and every now and then each one of them had a complete day's rest. When it is also remembered that the horse-drawn tram is practically extinct, and that the animals used for them have not vet all been disposed of, the reason for the frequent absence of a reserve price becomes apparent. Again, in January, 1908, there were 9,097 horse-drawn cabs upon the streets of London; whilst in January, 1909, the number had fallen to 7,418.
. . . In one metropolitan borough alone the street refuse collected fell from 54,519 loads in 1905-6 to 45,127 loads in 1908-9, whilst, in the City of London the numbers were 31,997 loads in 1907, and 28,712 loads in 1908. These figures alone suffice to show what beneficial results have resulted from the substitution of motor for horse traffic.—" The Daily Telegraph."
Australia's Coal Strike.
At a time like the present, when everyone's thoughts are centred on the disastrous strike now raging, one cannot well help making reference to its connection with the use of the commercial motor.Transport—the very life of the State—is being slowly but surely brought to a standstill through lack of coals. Trains, trains, and ferry-boats have all been largely reduced in number, and in time must cease altogether unless the coal supply once more becomes available. Business men at present are one and all thinking what, can be done to prevent the recurrence of the existing state of affairs. Undoubtedly, the aim should be to make themselves as far as possible independent of such supplies. This can, of course, be done in part by relying on outside coal, but that is expensive and not too sure. Next, of course, to be considered is petroleum and its spirits, which are used in internalcombustion engines. It is the internalcombustion engine which it is desired to deal with here, and whether the Government or the Railway Commissioner cares to admit it or not, that type of motor is all established success to-day. and a factor to be reckoned with. If when purchasing its motor omnibuses some years ago the Government had taken care to obtain satisfactory machines instead of what il, did, there might havo been anything between 100 and 150 petrol motor omnibuses in and around Sydney to-.day. Instead of some of the experimental tramlines and extensions that have recently been opened, motorbusea would have been used., and these would in no way have been dependent on the coal supply ; if the tram service was to be entirely stopped there would still he these machines to do something towards carrying the traffic ; and the chaos desired by the miners would not have been so complete. The petrol motor still has more uses in the shape of rail motorcars, which are in use in most parts of the world other than Australia, and these are or could be used exclusively, on branch lines which at present are without any train at all. Where they are used they are found to be cheaper and quicker, in that., being light, they are started and stopped more easily. Unfortunately, steam engineers in Australia just now seem to be like the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand. They know these things exist, but fear to adopt. them; they know the risk they run, yet deliberately ignore it. If this problem were tackled as it should be—nay, must be—the use of one or two thousand tons of coal per week might be saved by the use of rail motorcars, motor omnibuses, and oil engines for power where small plant only is necessary. The extra demand for oil would reduce its cost, as importation in bulk could be established; and, apart from the supply obtainable in New South Wales itself, there are three main sources from which it can be obtained outside, viz., Sumatra, Russia, and America. . . . If London's 1,000 motorbuses could be placed on Sydney streets to-morrow, there would need to be no further talk of no trams next Sunday, etc. ; and it is surely the duty of the department to take atens to ensure themselves as far as possible against a recurrence of the present lamentable state of affairs.—Mr. E. F. Boult, in " The Sydney Herald."