WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crther
Closing of Narrow Roads to Heavy Traffic.
Following upon the application of the Warrington Corporation for the closing.
to certain typos of heavy motor traffic„ of Sankey Street, in thatrown, att4i.of the, Burnley County Borough for a sevenmile speed limit on the Manchester Road (both of which applications have, by the way, been refused by the Ministry of Transport), Westmorland County Council laid its. case forahe closing of certain of the roads in the county of Westmorland before an inspector appointed by the Ministry of Transport, who held an inquiry at Kendal on Wednesday and Friday last, and at Penrith on Thursday. On behalf of ther.Cbuncil it_ was contended thatethe roads were unsuitable for the wid6, heavy and long motor coaches which visited the Lake'District from the large towns in Yorkshire and Lancashire. .There were, main roads throughout the county which heavy vehicles could uso without goingalong the scheduled roads.
It was admitted iv cross-examination by one of ths witnesses that the dominating factor of the conference between the chairman of the Main Roads Committee of the County Council and the C.M.U.A. was the financial affairs of Westmorland.
The conclusion of the ease of the roads in the southern part of the county and the inquiry into the case of those in the northern part of the county will be fully reported, in our next issue.
An Aid to Starting in Cold Weather.
We were recently asked to experiment. with an aid to starting known as Startol, which is a highly volatile fluid contained in screw-stoppered tins. Weetried a few drops of liquid in the manner specified, i.e., by damping a rag and placing it IDNW the air inlet to the carburetter of an engine which, incidentally, is particularly obstinate in starting, and found that the latter operation was greatly facilitated; we even had quite an unexpected kick at the first turn.
Startol should prove of particular use during cold weather, when starting is often is matter of considerable difficulty.
Inquiries regarding it should he addressed to Startel Sales Department, 12, Theohald's Road, London, W.C. The retail price-is 5s. per tin, which, it is said, containa sufficient for at leant 120 starts.
Transport Scheme for India.
A syndicate has been formed in London to investigate the possibilities of cold storage and: food transport in India. Part of the scheme is to provide for internal distribution at each centre by means of insulated motorvans. The proposal has already received sympathetic support from the India Office, the Government of India, and the Railway Board.
Inst. P.E. Paper.
A general meeting of the Institution of Production Engineers will be held at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, December 30th, at the
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Storey's Gate, London, S.W.
On this occasion Mr. G. H. Hales, A.F.R.Ae.S., M.I,P.E. (member of council), works manager of Drummond Bros., Ltd., Guildford, will deliver a paper, to be illustrated by lantern slides,
dealing with " The Costing System and Its Relation to Production."
Advance copies of the paper will be available a few days before the meeting, and may be obtained on application to the hon. secretary.
The loss of the British Motor Cab Co. for the year ended March 31st was £29,407, which increases the total debit to £519,978.
Wo have been asked by the General Vehicle Co., Ltd., to point mit that Messrs. Whitbread and Co., Ltd., now own 13 electric vehicles, comprising 12 G.V. 3 ton ners and one Orwell 4 tonner.
Tom Norton, Ltd., with headquarters at the Royal Palace, Llandrincloof Wells, have recently opened new premises at. Wrexham, under the management of Mr. R. A. Bishop. This move has been rendered necessary to enable the company to deal with increasing business in the six counties of North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.
Mr. Arthur Legge, of Messrs. Arthur Leggt, and Co., tells us that. upon commencing a new official receipt book, his
• attention has been drawn to th& last eight counterfoils in the book, from which the adjoining reeeipts have been detached. The most stringent inquiries have failed to produce a solution of the matter. Mr. Legge. is, therefore, desirous of finding clients holding the receipts which are missing. Those dealers or ugers holding receipts numbers 492 to 500 inclusive will assist if they will corntromicata with Mr. Arthur Legge at 78a, Queen Street, Hammersmith Broadway, London, W.
Fire Tests of a Kerbside Petrol Pump.
An interesting demonstration of the new Shell kerbsidepetrol delivery pump wasegiven:recently at Hurlingham. There were present representatives from the Home Office and Board a Trade, Chief Officers of the Fire. Brigades, and members of prominent London and Provincial town councils, insurance companies, etc.
The demonstration was made with two objects: (1) to show the operation and prove the accurate measuring arrangements of the plant; (2) to show its safety from fire or explosion.
As regards the working of the appara-tus, spirit is lifted from an underground• storage tank by means of a semi-rotary band-operated pump, through a doubleacting valve into a pair of one-gallon containers, which, ineideotally, are stamped as correct by the Weights and Measures Department of the Board of Trade.
Before the valve lever is completely „switched over for delivery of each gallon into the tank, a warning gong is automatically sourelnd, and at the same time the galleon delivered is registered on the recording meter, which also bast a totalizer.
Thefire tests were made with a 500gallon tank containing 200 gallons of spirit and only half Zunk into the ground. Flaming torches were applied to the disn connected suction and overflow pipes and to the patent vent protector. In the former case, the vapour at the mouths of the pipeS took fire, but after a few flickers of the flame it went out, whilst in the latter ease no fire occurred.
The cap wise then removed from the filling pipe, and the vent pipe disconnected, but do fire occurred when the torch was applied to both openings. The petrol tank was then emptied, leaving the tank and its pipes full of petrol vapour; but it was proved that even in this condition there was no risk of explosion or lire.
Bus Licence Conditions.
Whenthe Birmingham Watch Committee renewed permission for the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., to continue certain local services a low days ago, it did so subject to the condition that the company will vacate its present terminus in Old Square, "which may shortly be required as a terminus for the Nechells
Next week's issue of The Commercial Motor will he on sale on theTuesday— the usual day of publication of the journal. It will contain a special article on detail design of six-wheel chassis' emu. ponetits, and a number of other interesting features.
The Underground (meaning the wonderful group of railways and bus and tram systems of London) have introduced many time saving methods in connection with ticket issue on the railways when will they consider the question of issuing season, tickets on the buses!
Stockton Bus,-Costs.
La view of the fact that the,acommittee had to buy omnibuses at a high cost, coupled with the fact that on the inception of the services working coats were at. their highest, the half-yearly financial statement for the period ending September 30th, as submitted by the Stockton Town Council Omnibus Committee, was generally regarded. as satisfactory. Besides alluding to these points, Mr. G. Waiters pointed out that petrel at that time was 5r.1. per gallon dearer than it is to-day.
Expenses for the period were £15,276 and receipts for the buses were £16,707, leaving £1,446 for reserve fund, payment of interest and redemption. The receipts on the various routes were as follow :—arm, £5,190; Seaton Carew, £6,217; Fairfield, £741; Transporter, 23,329; Hartb urn, £633; specials, £165; chars-it-banes, £228; and Norton to Seaton, £199.
The committee have resolved that from January 1st contract tickets shall be issued on the Yarm service at the following charges per quarter :—Stockton to Yarm, £3; and Stockton to Eaglescliffe, £2 5s.
Smoky Road Locomotives.
The final report of the Departmental Committee on Smoke Abatement states that road locomotives can be dealt with under Section 30 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878, which provides that a locomotive shall be constructed on the principle of consuming its own smoke, and imposes a penalty upon any person using a locomotive not so constructed or not consuming, as far as practicable, its own smoke. Section' 1 (1) of the Locomotive on Highways Act, 1896, defines a motorcar as a vehicle which, amongst other things, " is so constructed that no smoke or visible vapour is emitted therefrom ex cept from any temporary or accidental cause."
The Motor Car Acts do not impose any penalty in respect of the emission of smoke or visible vapour, but when such emission took place from a motor omnibus weighing less than five tons, the Court of King's Bench exempted the vehicle, under Section 1 of the. Locomotives on Highways Act, 189e, and the Heavy Motor Car Order, 1904, from the operation of Section 30 of the Act
of 1878.
The New London-Southend Road.
As will be seen from the illustrations published at the foot of this page, much progress is being made with the new arterial road which is to connect London with Southeacl. When the road is completed it will relieve the two principal roads which at present connect. the Metropolis with the. coastal town, viz , the Brentwood-Billericay read and the Barking-Grays road, of much traffic. Moreover, the journey between the two places will be reamed by about three miles by using the new road, which, it is anticipated, will have a considerable bearing on the future commeicial prosperity of south-east Essex, which, up to the present time has remained almost undeveloped.
The total cost of the new road will be approximately £750,000, and a rough estimate of the total number of men who will eventually find employment as a result of the scheme is 12,00). The new road, which will be 100 ft. wide, stoats
close to Wanstead and is being cut in two sections, section one, which is from Wanstead to Rendord Common, haying already been cut, while section..two, which extends from Romford'Commen to Southend, is only just started, and work at the present time is proceeding about three miles from Rumford Conamon.
National Omnibus Report.
The report of the directors of the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., shows a profit of £26,930 before providing for depreciation of rolling stock, to which must be added a. sum of £7,682 brought forward from the previous year, making in all an available sum of £34,612: A sum of £15,000 is to be transferred to the depreciation of rolling stock account, and in view of the necessity for reserving the cash resources of the company for the purpose of development, during 1922, the directors recommend that the balance of £19,612 he carried forward to next year, and that no dividends be paid.
The company's various bus services have been developed and extended during the year, and National depots are now established at Chelmsford, Colchester, Clacton, Bishops Stortford, Bedford, Yeovil, Stroud, Taunton, Bridg water, Trowbridge, Grays and Watford.
Motorbuses for Southport.
At the December meeting of the Southport Town Council, a motion was discussed that a special committee be appointed to consider the advisability, or otherwise, of a system of motorbuses as an adjunct to, or in whole or in part substitution of, the existing tramway system. The mover of this resolution said he brought this matter forward after reading a statement from an authoritative source that, the tramway services were not in a sound financial position. On the other hand, it was stated that motorbuses were a much more economical proposition.
Several members of the council thought that the matter-merited investigation, and it was subsequently agreed that the Tramways Committee should go thoroughly into the question of the possibilities of motorbuses.
Thornycroft Report.
The report of the directors of J. I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., for the year ended July 31st shows a profit of 298,563 after deductions of debenture interest and interim dividends. This sum is to be allocated to the payment of a final dividend of 3 per cent. on the preference shares (making a total interim dividend of 6 Or cent, for the year), which will absorb 25,940; by a payment of a dividend of 3* per cent. on the participating preferred ordinary shares (reeking 71 per cent, for the year), which will absorb 29,375, and by the payment of a dividend of 71 per cent, on the ordinary shares which will absorb 222,500. Alter deducting these amounts plus 25,000 transferred to the reserve account, a balance of 265,748 remains to be carried forweed.
The trading results of the company for the year Were satisfactory, but it has been necessary to apply a large sum to the writing down of stocks so as to bring values into relation with current sales prices.
London Traffic Figures.
Statistics recently issued by the London County Council ,infer that the tramwayz carry a greater number of passengers annually than any other form of locon3otion, but figures issued from EleetrieRailwayHouse would appear to contradict this statement, the figures circulated from these quarters for the year
being ar follow tramways, 693,042,358 passengers; Underground group tramways and other tramways, 372,746.273 passengers; motorbuses, 935,946,002 passengees.
Oldham Traffic Control.
Observations of traffic passing several points in the borough of Oldham extending over a period of eight hours • during the day have been carried out, audit was found that witlesn the period nearly 3,000 vehicles passed at the various pieces. In view of this great amount of traffic, and having in mind the increase in the number of street accidents, the chief constable has now adopted-a new system of controlling the traffic passing through the town. He has formed a special traffic squad of con B8 stables, including four mounted men. The foot constables will be on duty at the same paints each day, so that they can better control the traffic through being accustomed to the daily variations at the respective points. The mounted men are to patrol the main roads 'throughout the day, they will report cases of obstruction, and take observation of vehicles left unattended. for unreasonable periods, whilst they will pay particular attention to cases of reckless driving.
A Bradford Bus Service.
The Licensing Committee-of the Brad: ford. Corporation has considered a proposal from Messrs. Brearey and Spence to run a motorbus service between Allerten tram terminus and Wilsdere
In view of the applicants having given a written undertaking to the satisfaction of the town clerk. safeguarding the interests of the corporation in the matter, the committee has agreed to grant a licence in due course for such portion of the route as lies within the city, subject to inspection and approval of the vehicle concerned.
Weighing Charges for Motors.
New charges for weighing vehicles at the public weighing machines have been fixed by the 'Glasgow Corporation as :—Under two tons, 2d.; two to three tons, 3d.; three to six tons, 4d.; six to 10 tons, 8c1. ; 10 to 15 tons, 1s.; and exceeding 16 tons, Is. 6d.
Nottingham Chamber of Commerce.
it is stated that the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce has just rejected the offer of a private company to take Over its transport service, being convinced that in the long run this change might prove costly, both in the matter of money and efficiency. The Nottingham Chamber of Commerce road transpert organization has proved an unqualified success, which is largely due to the missionary work done by members of the department, and to the confidence which local haulage contractore place in an organization which has given them considerable assistance
Argentine Roads.
Except in the vicinity of the larger towns, Argentina is practically devoid of roads suitable for motor and other
traffic. Under the railway law 3 per cent. of the net profits of the railways is devoted to the improvement of the roads and bridges in the neighbourhood of the system and approaches to stations, but the construction of highways through the country is not yet in sight. A step taken this year has been a recommendation to Congress by the Roads and Bridges Department of the Government for an appropriation of 50,000 pesos with which to defray the cost of studying a proposed main road to connect Buenos Ayres with the towns of Rosario and Cordoba, which it is provisionally estimated would have a length of 700 kilometres with a macadamized width varying between 4 and 6 metres, and would cost approximately 18,000,004 pesos.
Char-a-bancs Roisterers.
• At a meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Worthing Corporation, a letter was received from the town clerk, Reigate, stating that the Kent County Council recently passed a bylaw prohibiting the playing of noisy in struments, lend singing and the very dangeroue practice of throwing money to children by persons using motor coaches when passing along the public highways, and suggesting that the town council Should also pees such a by-law.
The committee recommends the council to defer taking any action for the present, as it has not been reported.that there has been any Cause for complaint in Worthing, but observation will he kept during next seasen.
No Highway Pumps for Burrlu.
At a meeting of the Burnley Corporation Highways Committee, the borough surveyor submitted a letter from the local manager of the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., in which he made application to fix petrol pumps near the following premises ;---Hebden and Sons, Calder Street; Hartley Clegg, Ltd., Cliviger Street and Adlingtoe Street; W. H. Harrison, Ltd., St. James's Street; Fearing and Son, Padiham Road.
The committee, however, has refused to accede to the application, so far as it relates to the erection of pumps on highways.
Overcrowded Buses.
The Licensing Committee of the Worthing Corporation reports that it has again considered the question of overcrowding on the vehicles of the Sonthdown Motor Services,' Ltd. The town clerk has ascertained that in Brighton three persons are allowed to stand inside licensed motor omnibuses when the seating accommodation is taken up, whilst in London, the Commissioner of Police state that the provisions of the Railway Passenger Duty Act, .1842;as to overcrowding were hot enforced during the period of the war, and owing to the continued shortage of means of passenger transport, it is not proposed to enforce the provisions at the present time.
The committee suggest that the council shall allow the matter to remain in abeyance for six months, when it will reconsider the question.
Report of Rossleigh, Ltd.
The directors of Rossleigh, Ltd., report that, including £946--balance carried forward from last year—the profits available on the last year's working of the company amount to 233,869. Out of this sum a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per Bullpen on the preference shares will absorb 2420, a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares 211,250, and a bonus of 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares 27,500, leaving 214,699 to be carried forward. TheY accounts show the very healthy state of the company's business.
Argentine 'Petroleum.
Exceptional interest has been awakened in oil possibilities in the Argentine during the past two years, which indicate thatconsiderable developments are imminent. In the present circuitstances, the Government retain a reservation of 5,000 hectares at Comodoro Rivadavia, which has been a producing field since 1908, and have urged Congress tO pass the necessary legislation nationalizing all oil deposits in the republic with power to grant concessions to private enterprise. In the meantime private interests have been active in surveying and acquiring titles to petroliferous land under the general mining laws and in commencing operations. The output from private and official sources during recent years is as follows :—
Private. Official.
Metric Metric Year. Tons. Tons.
1916 7,950 121,794 1917 11,601 168,984 1918 14,929 183,743 1919 21,126 173,797 1920 32,352 209;328 There has been an appreciable increase in the output during 1921, especially during the months of February and March, when a new well was struck which, at one stage, yielded as much as 200 cubic metres per hour. The official production in the first eight months of 1921 amounted to 192,478 cubic metres, nearly equal to the whole production of 1920, and it is officially estimated that an output of 320,000 cubic metres will be reached by the end of the year.
The Argentine petroleum production does not nearly satiefy requirements of the republic, as is shown bir the fallowing table of imports of petroleum pioducts
Restriction of Heavy Traffic.
At a 'meeting of the Bolton Corporation Highways Committee a memorial was presented for steps to diminish the heavy motor traffic along Moorfield Grove, and the Borough Engineer was authorized to communicate with the Commercial Motor Users Associatiun wieh a view to the thoroughfare not. being 'used by members of the Association for heavy motor traffic.
London Fire Brigade Competition.
The L.C.C. Fire Brigade Committee reports that the final round of the annual motor pump competition was held at the chief station on November 29th. The competition was won, in the record time of 38 seconds, by the team from the Clapham fire station, and the Manchester Square and Waterloo Road station teams tied for second place (39 seconds).
The challenge cup, which was presented for competition by the chairman (Lieut.-Col. Eric Ball), was handed to the winning team by ehe donor.
Elusive Profits:
The municipal committee in charge of the Bootle Corporation's fleet, of electric vehicles reports that the car revenue account for the quarter ending September 30th last shows a profit of £686. The committee recommended that the price per vehicle to he charged to other committees be 25 per day during the quarter ending December 31st.
A critic of the committee', told the Town Council that, in point of fact, the committee had not made a profit, and what was quoted as a profit had only been obtained by overcharging other committees, the net, result being a loss to the ratepayers. It was alleged that each-corporation motor was costing £3 per week in supervision, compared with a charge of 15s. per week in some of the best, garages in the country. The chairinan of the Cartage Committee was very emphatic in his declaration that a profit was being made
New Year's Tractor Trials.
According to present arrangements, tractor trials will be held in Scotland next year, on condition that the Highland and Agricultural Society is able to provide a suitable site. The last trials on an extensive scale to be held took place in 1917 under the auspices of the Highland and Agricultural Society. No trials have been held there since, but on three occasions—viz., 1919, 1920 and 1921—tests have been held in England. At the same time, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' is proceeding with its arrangements for trials in 1922, so that two events seem possible.
A Limit to Road Schemes.
Owing to the limited amount of the funds available, the Ministry of Trans. port finds it necessary definitely to restrict its liability in respect of the schemes of road improvement that are being expedited throughout the country, and should the cost exceed the estimates, no additiona) grants can be made. "
American Lorry Output.
The United States Department e! Commerce has started the publication ei production figures of both commercial vehicles and touring cars. Their report for the quarter ended September 30th shows that 37,322 commercial vehicle chassis and 474,188 touring cars were manufactured, the number of the former produced in July being 10,W1, in August 13,076, and in September 13,645. The National Automobile Chamber of 'Commerce supplies the -figures for its members and the Department of Commerce obtains the statistics from manufacturers who are not members of the N.A. C. a
Reduced Fares for Christmas Shoppers.
Special arrangements made by the Northern General Transport Co., of Chester-la-Street, for coping with passenger traffic during the Christmas shopping season include the issuing of reduced return fares between the outlying districts and large towns linked up by
their network of routes. These substantially reduced rates are operating between December 19th and 23rd, and tickets are available only for day of issue. On these dates the return fare between Durham and Gateshead, normally 2s. 8d., is reduced to 2s. 2d., and other routes are in. proportion.
V andervell Report.
The. report of the directors of C. A. Vandervell and Co., Ltd., for the year ended March 31st shows a loss of £251,472. To meet the deficiency in this year's ac.cmints the directors have withdrawn the £75,000 which was placed to reserve last year, and have also absorbed £140,499 brought forward from last year. After deducting these amounts, e sum represented by a loss of £58,282 is to be carried forward to next year's 'accounts. As the directors say in their report, the loss has been caused by the sudden national trade depression which affected every industry in the country during the latter part of 1920, and at a time when the company had large contracts in hand for electrical equipment (the majority of which had to be cancelled) arid had correspondingly placed large orders -for material; moreover, the heavy stocks which were acquired have depreciated considerably. Tire programme of the company's works production at the time was organized for an exceedingly large output, and it was impossible, immediately the cessation of orders commenced, to retrench sufficiently to save the inevitable disproportion between establishment charges and productive labour, which has so militated against the company's trading during the, year under review. ,
Packard Losses.
According to a report from Detroit, the annual report. of the Packard Motor Co. for the last year of working shows a loss of $987,366. Of this sum 089,347 is chargeable to the factory,and 598,018 to branch establishments.
Bus Working Costs.
The working expenses of the Warrington Corporation motorbuses for the six months ending September 30th amounted to 22.163d. per mile and the loan charges 1.837d., making a total expenditure .of 23.99d. per bus mile. The receipts for the six months totalled 23,426 and the expenditure £3,210. Owing to the decreased cost. of petrol, the working expenses had been reduced by £166; from 8.103d per bus mile to 6.163d. per bus mile.
Barimar,.Ltd., 10, Poland Street, London, W.1., have just issued a new folder dealing very fully with their metallurgical (patented) process for repairing engine cylinders and defective castings. A coPy will be sent to all who write for it.
Local -Proceedings.
East Ham Corporation reports the. delivery of three electric dust vans.
Calcutta Municipal Council has decided to purchase ten mileage recorders for theisteam rollers.
Leyton Urban District Council has decided to purchase two 24. ton electric vehicles for refuse collection.
Sheffield Corporation Motors Committee has authorized the manager to dispose of six motor chassis to the best advantage.
Oxford City .1Council has asked -the chief constable to submit a report on the present fares for taxicabs plying for hire in the city.
East, Ham Corporation Works Committee recommends the provision of windscreens on motor lorries for the protection of the drivers.
Blackpool Corporation Tramways Committee has decided to have a motor tower wagon purchased in 1912 overhauled at an estimaed cost of 4250.
Oxford. Watch Committee has declined to decide as to the licensing of motorcycles with sidecars as taxicabs until one of the vehicles is submitted for inspection...
Wigan Corporation Tramways Corn mittee recommends the abolition of tramways from Springs 13ridge to the Aspull terminus and the substitution of a motorbus service.
Newport (Mon.) Corporation Health Committee has decided to order as soon as possible a one-ton motor lorry with steel body, which, at a previous meeting, was decided on as being necessary.
Calcutta Municipal Council has decided to purchase a motor gully emptier as an experiment. Others will be purchased if this proves -a success. Eight or ten machines would be required to deal with the whole city.