News of the Week.
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Nine thousand copies of." No. 17 " were supplied to newsagents and issued by mail.
We still await .any information from the Automobile Club regarding the light delivery van trials. It looks as though the officials regarded the arrangements as of interest to nobody but themselves.
The industry at large does not want the preliminaries to be kept secret. If such a trial is to benefit trade, a succession of announcements must be furnished to the general Press as well.
Those in charge at Piccadilly need not be too proud to copy the methods adopted in this connection by the Automobile Club of France, the Liver pool Self-Propelled Traffic Association, Mr. Claude Johnson (the late Secretary of the A.C.G.B. and I.), and other successful organisers of experience in such matters. If they will avail themselves—wisely, we think—of these examples before it is too late, the needed advertisement and publicity may yet be gained. Manufacturers do not want a little private seance at the discretion of the Club officials, and the committee is too much pre-occupied over other matters, apparently, to see that the van trials are given the attention they merit.
Any owner of a steam motor wagon who is prosecuted for an alleged emission of smoke by his vehicle should be prepared with expert evidence to prove that its construction is such as to prevent trouble of this character "except from a temporary or accidental cause." The onus of proof is upo.1 the defendant.
Mr. James Jackson, cleansing superintendent to the Sheffield Corporaton, has been very busy over the recent congress of the Association of Cleansing Superintendents at Sheffield. Mr. Jackson now has under consideration the question of motor watering carts and refuse vans. His office is at the Sheffield Town Hail.
The General Purposes Committee of the London County Council has recommended for adoption a detailed scheme for electric motor ambulances. It is proposed to hp.ve one head and seven branch stations within a two-mile radius of Charing Cross, and a number of call-posts are to be erected. The estimated capital cost is 4:13,000, and the cost of maintenance is put at 4:6,000 per annum.
The enterprise of the Simms' Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Is again proved by the arrangements the company has in hand for demonstrating the practical value of its Simms-Welbeck delivery vans. At the present time one of these vans is on exhibition at the depot of Messrs. Newton, Bennett, and Carlisle, King Street West, Manchester, and we certainly recommend intending purchasers in the Manchester district, or any other interested parties, to avail themselves of this ,opportunity.
Co-operation seems to be in the air. Not only do we see farmers combining to save expenses and to secure lower rates, but even railway companies are lying down together. TheMidland, L. and N.W., and G.N. companies are sharing common premises for receiving purposes, at the corner of Norfolk Street, Strand, where rents have taken a big jump upwards since the Aldwych and Kingsway improvement was entered upon by the L.C.C.
To show how the wish is often father to the thought, it is worth quoting from an account of the opening of the Metropolitan Railway, published in January, 1863—. . . "a report gained currency that a serious casualty had occurred through foul air or choke damp in the tunnel. . . There can be no doubt as to the present able management, and, as everything objectionable will be removed by electrification, the prospects of increased dividends should be very rcsy." The italics are ours. Forty-two years is a long time, even in retrospect, and it is satisfactory to compare the rapidity with which motor services are installed nowadays. We arc officially informed that the necessary steps have been completed for the constitutton of a Society of Moter Omnibus Engineers.
The further arrzngements are in the hands of Messrs. Lawrence Jones and Co., solicitors, 6, Old Jewry, London, E.C., from whom all particulars may be obtained.
The first council is composed of the following representat:ve engineers :Messrs. F. C. A. Coventry (G.W. Railway), R. Bel (London Motor Omnibus co.' Ltd.), H. P. G. Brackenridge (London Road Car Co., Ltd.), K. H. Buchanan (London Power Omnibus Co., Ltd.), W. Flexman French (Sussex Road Motor Co., Ltd.), P.
Frost Smith (Tilline-s, Ltd.), XV. M. Hodges (London and District.Motor Bus Co., Ltd.), George Pollard (Birmingham Motor Express Co., Ltd.), W. Spiller (London General Omnibus Co., Ltd.), and W. Turner Smith • (Eastbourne Col poration).
We understand that a secretary will shortly be appointed, and that the society has prepared a programme which will be useful rather than " showy." The annual subscription is one guinea—with an entrance fee of one guinea, except in respect of the first 25 members.
Tar macadam has recently been laid on the Thames Embankment between Savoy Street and the Charing Cross Station bridge.
The Rural District Council of Harrogate is grumbling at the expense caused through motors to the roads in the district. A suggestion was made that some of the heavy fines imposed on drivers might be turned over to the district council to help the repair bill.
. The Llang-olien Rural District Council has accepted corn . pensation in kind for alleged road damage by the Garth, Silica and Roadstone Company's traffic in their area. Five hundred tons of 201. stone are to be delivered by the .company on the council's roads at reduced charges averaging is. 6d. a ton.
The British Empire Motor Trades' Alliance has issued an interesting circular directing public attention to the predominance of British cars in the list of awards for the recent Scotch reliability trials. The figures confirm the view that it is quite unnecessary to purchase from abroad in order to obtain an efficient ano reliable motor vehicle.
One hundred electric cabs will shortly be put upon the streets of Buenos Ayres by the German Trans-Atlantic Electric Company of the same city. The machines will be of a light type, suitable for the climate, and fitted with a canopy for protection against sun, or wet weather. The streets are practically flat, and well paved with wood and asphalte, so should make ideal running for motors of all descriptions.
We commented in our issue of June 8th on the action by Mr. Edward Alcott, wood paving contractor, against the Mayor and Corporation of Westminster, which has been in the lists since November, 1903. The Lord Chief Justice has dismissed Mr. Alcott's claim for .4:17,000, and directed that the Corporation's counterclaim for 3c),000 shall stand over. It was stated that Mr. Alcott was still in America suffer'ing from the effects of the amputation of a limb due to injuries received in a railway accident.
The Motor Union of Great Britain and Ireland, to which body the Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association is allied, has taken in hand the collection and tabulation of precise and exact information regarding the operation of the 1896 and 1oo3 Acts as affecting commercial motors. The secretary, Mr. Rees Jeffreys, 16, Down Street, Piccadilly, W., will be pleased to receive particulars of any experiences, or details of any cases of injustice, likely to be of assistance in connection with the forthcoming enquiry by Royal Commission or Departmental Committee which has been promised by Mr. Gerald Balfour. Paris will shortly have 250 motor cabs running for hire, The vehicles, which are made by Messrs. Renault Freres, are being placed on the streets by the Compagnie des Automobiles de Place.
Mr. A. T. Davis, the county surveyor of Shropshire, supports Mr. C. II. Cooper, M.lnst.C.E., surveyor and engineer to the borough of Wiinbledon, in advocating the rounding of the building lima at corners and not only that of the footmiy.
Mr. IL T. Wakelam, the county surveyor of Middlesex, is of opinion that the road through Brentford is really a blot on the suburbs of London, but the estimate for widening it I---1-75,000. This could only Le done if there was an Exchequer grant to aid the Middlesex County Council.
Dunfermline district committee has decided to hire a motor lorry tor general carting purposes. The surveyor, Mr. Mackenzie, estimates that at present it costs the committee lid. per mile for a horse and cart, whereas the manufacturers of the lorry guarantee that the same work can be accomplished for 31d. for the same distance.
Reigate R.D.C. has unanimously passed the following resolution :--"That owing to the great increase in the cost of maintaining highways in consequence of the rapid devempment of long-distance motor traffic and steam transport—the o.vners of which do not make an equitable contribution towards such expenses—and as this new mode of conveyance tends to lessen the earning power of railways and other carrying ratepayers, and also to depreciate the letting value of property adjoining highways, this council is of opinion that a proportion of the upkeep of roads should be contributed from the Imperial Exchequer, and that such contribution should be recovered by increasing the cost of licenses of these vehicles."
Glover Brothers, Ltd., of 28, Cleveland Street, W., is doing an increasing business in motor vans, principally of the type to carry about two tons. The van which this company sold to Messrs. Hampton, of Pall Mall East, and which is fitted with steel tyres, had a somewhat unique experience last week. It was stopped on a fairly level country road for exceeding the 20-mile speed limit, at a time when it was loaded with nearly two tons of furniture_ We hope that the driver was not "over-driving "in order to get home on this occasion ; but a reference to the log sheet reveals a very high average speed throughout for these machines, which, be it noted, have wheels with steel tyres and are maintained on contract at a fixed annual sum by Glover Brothers, Ltd. Royal Show orders for Fodens, Ltd., were from J. and H. Robinson, Ltd., Deptford Bridge Mill, Greenwich, and Mr. J. R. Hutchinson, of Nottingham.
A report received from the British Consul at Cadiz states that there arc good possibilities for a motor service, both goods and passenger, in that town.
The patent abridgments on page 364 are prepared by Messrs. Boult, Wade and Kilburn, international patent agents, lit and 112, Hatton Garden, London, E.G.
The National Road Traffic Co., Ltd., has secured the contract for carrying the mails between Darlington and Reeth, via Richmond, New vehicles will also be put on the rcatte shortly, for the conveyance of passengers. The saving ol tune effected by the motor van over the horse-drawn vehicle makes it possible to deliver the lezters two hours earlier in the ntarning.
Mr. F. J. Fitzsimons, of Philip's Park Road, Beswick, Manchester, has patented a new preparation for use in laying, dust on roads. It relates to a silicious solution of sand, soda, and water, capable of being mixed with the water used for the roadway_ The sand is placed into a crucible along with the soda and heated in a furnace until it is properly fluxed. The fluxed sand is removed and dissolved in water by steam. The quantities of sand are one part by weight to three parts soda, and the quantities of fluxed material ai-e one and a half parts by weight to one of water.
The " Archiv fiir Post und Telegraphie " publishes an interesting essay on " Innovations in Mail. Cart Construction," in which the gradual transition from horse to motor propulsion is touched upon. Although the horse will, perhaps, never be wholly dispensed with in the postal service, yet slowly, but with the sureness of an advancing tide, the motor gains ground. The motors at present in use in Germany are on their trial. In Berlin an electric parcels post van has been on trial, indeed, since 1903, and eight motor vans are employed by private carriers who work for the postal authorities. But on June 1st, which deserves to be marked with a white stone, Berlin received the first Stateowned motor mail cart. And additional motor vans, as well as fight motor-tricycles, will shortly be running. For some time past no fewer than nine mechanically-driven vans have been carrying letters from the head office at Cologne to the delivery districts, and one carries the parcels between the former and the railway stations. Each covers some 32 miles a day, travelling at nine miles an hour. The German postal authorities appreciate time saVtng We learn that Mr. Francis Waetier, jun., Elek, Arad, Hungary, is in the market for the purchase of motor ploughs.
The Direction-Generale des Posies at Berne is asking for tenders for the carrying of mails by motor vehicles in Switzerland.
The first seven cars in the recent Gordon-Bennett race were fitted with the Simms-Bosch magneto ignition, which is so widely used on motor omnibuses and other commercial vehicles.
Mr. Philip W. Carr, M.lnst. Mech.E., who until recently was in charge of the 20 motor vehicles owned by the Motor Cartage and Transport Co., Ltd., of London, is at liberty to accept an appointment as engineering manager to any road carrying undertaking, whether for goods or passengers. Our knowledge of Mr. Carr and his wide exix.rience justifies our mentioning his name as one who would be of great service to any enterprise of this nature.
The Sutherland Motor Traffic Co., Ltd. of Golspie, advise us that they will shortly send photographs of their Albion wagonettes together with particulars. We also have to acknowledge the balance-sheet of the Brighton, Hove, and Preston United Omnibus Company, Ltd., and a photograph, which is reproduced on page 352 of this issue, illustrating the latest type of An-ol-Johnston public service charh-banc, of which we hear excellent accounts from the owners. This particular vehicle is one of several on order for the North British Railway Company, and we understand that the manufacturers can give reasonable delivery.
The Motor Pneumatic Tyre Co. is shortly to be offered for public subscription. The capital is to be Ziso,000 in ordinary shares. The company has been formed for the purpose of acquiring the business of the British Motor Tyre Syndicate, Ltd., which is the owner of the Seddon motor tyre patents. Contracts have been entered into for the sale of the American, French, and Belgian patents. Messrs. David Moseley and Sons, of Manchester, will manufacture, and J. E Hutton, Ltd., 81-83, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W., will sell these tyres. The registeredoffice of the company is 22-23, Cullum Street, London, E.C.
Since we went to press last week Mr. Thomas Whillens, motorcar and carriage hirer, Slitrig Crescent, Hawick, N.B., writes as follows :—" I have two Albion cars and an extra brougham body which I can put on my nine-seater for winter use; the other one holds eleven people including the driver. I have travelled all over the Border counties with full loads, inclusive of a run to the English Lake District, when I took six passengers, myself and baggage all up the famous Kirk;tone Pass without a hitch. We have never had one single stop from engine troubles, but I have had to renew my drivingtyres. My average speed is fifteen miles per hour, -and our district is very hilly. I may say the people are all quite surprised at the comfort, and say they will never again :ravel with horses if they can get motors. I enclose you a Jhotograph of my nine-seater with canopy, which I have aken off for the present fine weather. I cannot give you toy real particulars on the point of saving compared with horses, because I am doing quite a different trade."
The surveyor for the western district of the county of Petth, Mr. XV. L. Gibson, of Dunblane, has been using an Nveling and Porter tractor for the haulage of road metal. N load of 4 tons tocwt. is hauled on ordinary roads, and From 3 tons 15cwt. to 4 tons on hilly roads. Mr. Gibson seports that he has found the scheme a decided success, and hat it shows a saving of 36 per cent, over horse haulage. steam haulage for 41i days by tractor resulted in the conTeyance of 664 tons of metal at a total cost of .4737 125. 2d., ximpared with a total amount of 456 6s. 3d. of displaced !xpenses for horse haulage. Mr. Gibson points out that he saving is really more than is apparent, because the netal used to be carted to depots along the roadside, whereas he tractor takes the metal to feed the roller wherever it is yorking, and saves labour charges. We may mention hat Mr. Robert J. Smith, hon. secretary of the Scottish Nutomobile Club, has taken the trouble to circulate these -esults, but in a letter addressed to us on the moth inst., Mr. 3ibson repeats the information, and adds :—" I would trongly advise other surveyors to introduce steam motor 'ewer in place of horses." We extract the fAlowing from a letter received from Messrs. C. S. Rolls am:.! Co., under date of July 5th :—" You will no doubt be pleased to hear that we have already received enquiries as the result of our advertisement in the last COMMERCIAL MOTOR.'" This has reference to No. 17, published on July 6th.