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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficuttses or transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage ts by the roughness of the roads over which it reins. "—John Beattie Crozier.

K Types for the Midlands ?

The presence of one of the 30 h.p. K type General omnibuses in the streets of Birmingham one thiy last week occastoned a considerable amount of interest among passers-by, some of whoiia saw the K type for thee first time, and others of whom, visitors from London, were astonished to find one of their latest buses wandering to far from home.

The occasion was a demonstration of the capabilities of this vehicle for public service, organized by Easton Lloyd and Co., Ltd., the sole S.fidland agents for A.E3.11. cOmmercial vehicles„who entertained several municipal authorities and other interested gentlemen to luncheon at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham. Mr. N. L. R. Easton, managing director, presided, supported by Messrs. U. Ellis Lloyd and V. D. Thomas, respectively ditector and sales manager of this concern, and among the guestii were Messrs. A. C. Baker and McDonald, representing the Birmingham Corporation, Councillors Greet and Wale, and Mr, T. R. Whitehead, representing Coventry Corporation, Alderman J. Cope and Mt. Burgess, representing Walsall Corporation; Messrs. 0. C, Power,•traffie manager, and L. G. WI" -Shire, chief engineer, • of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.; Mr. C. Owen Silver, representing Wolver. hampton Corporation ; and Messrs. W. H. Workman, sales manager, and IT. W. Ratliffe, works manager, of the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., manufacturers of the K type chassis.

Conversation during both the luncheon and the demonstration naturally flowed round the suitability or otherwise of this type of omnibus for publicaiirvice in the provinces, on which question opinions varied. For the particular work for which the K type was primarily designed, viz., for London services, it was felt that this desigrx was eminently euitable, bet it was maintained by some of those present that for provincial work, where there are fewer bread streets and more low bridges, the singleedeeker is the Las of the future, and the 'question Will Midland numicipalities adopt the K bus?" remains for the moment unaTiswered.

Fuel for Motor Transport.

In the interim memorandum of the Fuel Research 13riard, interesting recommendations regarding fuel are made. The memorandum states, amongst . other things, that it is clear that so long as the only raw materials are imported or homegrown food stuffs, power alcohol cannot be -produced en an adequate scale, and we must look for other and cheaper sources of power.

The irector of Fuel Research has lately pointed out that coal is likely to remain the world's principal source of feel. In this country the natural source of heat and power is coal, and we have at present no alternative but to concentrate on the adaptation of its products for transport purposes.

.The memorandum states that the more volatile forms of the liquid preductseof coal, such as benzole and naphtha, ought obviously only to be used for aircraft or the lighter forms of road transport. Town gas, and cake oven gas, might be extensively used for omnibuses and passenger ears for quick traffic, if light arid safe containers could he developed, and refilling stations established on the principal roads. 'If carbonization of coal at about 600 degrees Cent, becomes common, gas of twice the calorific value of town.gas would he available, so that twice the number of thermal units could be carried in the containers.

The S.T.D. Group Grows.

• The Darracq-Sunbeam combination grows apace, the amalganiatiqn between the two companies having now been approved by the requisite numbert of Sunbeam shareholders. The group has also acquired W. and G. Da Cros, Ltd., who manufactufae the W. arid G. commercial vehiele, with the works at Acton. The share capital of the Du Cros Co. is acquired in exchange for an agreed number of Darra'cq 7 per cent. cumulative preference shares. The other concerns in the group are Clement-Talbot Co., Heenan and Froude, the engineers of Worcester and Manchester, and Jonas Woodhead an Sons, the engineers of 'Leeds.

Higher Railway Rates and Road Transport.

On Wednesday last the Rates Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Transport heard the railway companies' case for higher goods rates, and Mr. R. L.Wedgwood, Chief Goodel Manager of the North Eastern Railway, -and Chairman of the Goods Managers' Conference, gave °valence. He submitted'a budget on the basis of 97 millions to be obtained from goods traffic. From coal, coke, and patent fuel they proposed to raiseover 25 millions, and the remainder from ether classes of traffic.

Discussing the aeascers'for the scheme, Mr. Wedgwood alluded to " very active competition" in the shape ef road carriage, which, heesaid, the railway companies were feeling rather acutely. All the companies felt, he added, that there was a serious risk of losing business if classes one to five were advanced to, say, 125 per cent. The railway companies, Mr. Wedgwood said, did net advise any special c,oncessi& in the ease of agricultural traffic. Concessions granted in January, amounting to over a, million, were More or less temporary.

Mr. Wedgwood also gave it as his opinion that any attempt to apply the principle of higher rates for articles of luxury would pro-hub-1y result in that traffic being diverted -from the railways to the roads.

We understand that Mr. Leo Swain, of Deausgate, Manchester, has been ap. pointed sole sales agent for all "tyre; pneumatic and solid, which are being disposed of from the Government Depot at Slough.

Tractor Trial Entrants.

The entrants for the tractor trials to be held at Lincoln in September next are as follow :—Agricultural and General Engineers, Ltd.; Ancona Motor Cu, Ltd.; Austin Motor Co., Ltd.; The British Italian. Corporation; Peter Brotherhood, Ltd.; H. G. Burford and Co., Ltd. ; British Berne Motor Lorries; Crawley Agrimotor Co.; Chase Tractor Corporation, Ltd. FiatMotors, Ltd.; Henry .Ford end 'goo; Fairbanks MUM and Co., Ltd.; dohar Fowler sand Co. (Leeds), Ltd. Henry Garner, Ltd..; General Motors, Lter. ' • International Harvester Co. of Great Britain, Ltd.; John Laneon Manufacturing Co., Ltd. • Martin's Cultivator -Co., Ltd.; Mayerofts, Ltd.; Melchior, Armstrong and Dessau (London), Ltd.; Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd. ; J. and H. McLaren, Ltd.; Motrac Etrgineering, Ltd. ; Noyes, Stockwell and Co., Ltd.; Overtime Farm Tractor Co.-; Onanitractor Syndicate, Ltd.; The Pick Motor Co.; Ransonaes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd.; Saunderson Tractor and Implement Co., Ltd.; C. Santler and Co., Ltd.; Simpson Moseley Tractor Co.; Timesaver Tree• tor Co.; W. Weeks and Son, Ltd.; Wallace Farm Implements, ttd.

Bartle's Char-a-bancs Hood.

The following "One Hears " appeared on page 557 of our issue for July 6th " That Battle's hood is a move in the right direction, but that there is the criticism as to the desirability of lowering a wet hood on to passengers' knees and backs,"

Anyone who laaa a practical knowledge of the construction of the Bartle hood, or the working of it, will be aware that this is one of She points which does not arise, The wet aide of the hood does notcome ontwaacle, i.e., the wet aides. face together, and the dry_ eide'only is at. all elose to passamgers. The sections are rolled up and only, the dry portion is ora posed, so that there is no possibility whert the wet hood Li lowered that it will come into contact with passengers.

Against the Left-band Drive.

The London Safe4yelArst Council met last week and expressed the view-that it is undesirable in the interests of safety that left-hand driven vehicles be permitted on the Streeta of this country where the rule of the road makes it impossible for drivers of such vehicles to give proper hand signals, and requested the Government to declare the use of these vehicles to be illegal.

The Fuels Conference.

Mr. Walter Long will act as chairman of the Motor Fuels Section of the conference on October 18th, promoted by the Empire Motor Fuels Committee of the Imperial Motor Transport Council, when reports of the engineering and denaturing sub-committees will be received and various papers Will be contributed. In -the evening of that day Professor -H. B. Dixon will lecture and demovistrate certain experiments in relation to power alcohol at the It.A.C. , Buses in Australia.

Recent advices from Melbourne .{Australia) state that the authorities at Palmerston North appear to be in favour of employing motorbuses for passenger service in the town in preference to the inauguration of a tramway service. As the roads are in a good condition and .gradients are almost unknown, it is thought that motorbus traffic will in all probability better .serve the needs of the community.

The question of the use of electric vehicles or petrol vehicles has yet to be decided, brit it is thought that the former will be more serviceable by reason of the level roads and the frequent stops which will be necessary, '

Electric Horn Operator.

Brown 'Bros., Ltd., Great •Eastern Street, E.C., are marketing a neat little attachment for operating any ordinary electric horn without removing the hands from the steering wheel. The device consists of a ring situated inside the rim of the steering wheel and connected at its base to a hinged lever. Rocking the ring moves the hinged lever and makes connection behind two contacts.

The price is £3-3s. and 10s. according to finish.

Fuel Oil in British New Guinea.

Mr. J. L. O'Keefe, civil engineer, of Sydney, who, in conjunction with Professor Harding, of. Sydney University, and Mr. S. M'Donnell, visited British New Guinea to ascertain whether the supplies of raw materials 'would warrant

the manufacture there of motor spirit,•states, accerdinz to a recent report. from

Melbourne, that the investigation, had proved satilsfactory.

Mr. R. L. Treloar, of the Commonwealth Government's cil fields department, who has also visited British New :Guinea on a tour of inVestigation, said Illeat he found every indication of oil in Manua in payable quantities. Small 'quantities had been found at shallow -deptles, and if the fields were properly exploited the future of the territory ;would be assured. Government influence i"

e 1

has restrained prospectors in the past at far as.. oil was concerned.

A great deal more machinery would be required in order to ascertain with accuracy whether oil prod-uction would be Commercially profitable on a large scale. The plants at presenjt used were either too small or required repairs. Boring work could not be satisfactorily carried out by the present plant, owing to the presence of " running mud." , Oil might -be looked for anywhere along the strip of coast from Cape Possession to Valiaa, a distance of about 80 miles.

Barimar Overseas Business.

So far as is known, Barimar, Ltd., the scientific welding engineers, of 10, Poland Street, London, W. 1, is one of the first of British engineering concerns to hive& industrially territory formerly known at German East Africa. In association with Messrs. F. Tate, S. Tate, and R. Liversidge, of Nairobi, British Feet Africa, the company have arranged a chain of welding factories effectively to cover German East Africa as well as British East Africa, to be known, in future, as Kenia C.okiny, Uganda, Zanzibar, and Nyassalancl. In addition to possessing welding and machining plants, the factory. at Nairobi will also contain special apparatus for operating the Barimar 'metallurgical process for scored cylinders and defective castings.

The Camberwell Borough Council is ealling.the attention of the Ministry Transport to the inconvenience suffered by the public owing tieseat covers not being provided for the outside, of omnibuses, and asking the Ministry .,to make a regulation to enforce 'the provision of such covers.

General. Motors Corporation have purchased • the Doylestown Agricultural Works at Doylestown, Pa., and within the next two veers they Apeet to erect a million dollar Plant on this site for the manufacture of motor vehicles and farm machines. The Corporation will continue. the manufacture Of farm machinery for expert at their present plant.

During the March quarter the London County council registered 5,845 light motorcars. 1,137 heavy motorcars,and 5,106 motorcycles. whilst 26,853 driving licences were issued.

Personal Pars.

We repreduce on this page a photograph of Mr. John Fletcher, F.A.I., the new secretary of the Birkenhead Road. Transport Association. De succeeds Mr. Edward Youth, who resigned after holding the office eleven years.

Mr. J. A. McGillivray, A.M.I.A.E., who joined Straker-Squire, Ltd., as aesistant sales manager about a year ago, has now been appointed sales manager, and all thee who know this genial Scot will join with us in. congratulating him on his new post. no has had a long connection with the motor trade. He served his time with Belhaven, Ltd., after which he was six years in the drawing office of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., and then four years metorcar • manager to John Birch and Co., Ltd. After this he spent 13 months travelling abroad, during which time he visited practically all our Colonies. During the wahe was for over two years a workshop officer at G.H.Q.

Mr. C. F. Rymer .j..s the founder and managing director of C. F. Rymer, Ltd., Cunard Buildings, Liverpool', the wallknown haulage contractors, colliery. agents, and motor engineers. Mr. Rymer is a mare whose activities cover an exceptionally Wide field. A Yorks-foreman, only 37 years of age, he is chairman_ o.: director of a great number of concerns engaged in a variety of business activities so diverse that they range from motors

41 to gents' outfitting. He is the only

• independent member -Of the, Wallasey Corporation, on which body he has served for eight years. If his numerous business affairs permit he will probably seek Parliamentary honeure at the next election. A man of broad views and of ii very modern school of thought, he believes in every employee baying a stake in the business arid. in giving responsibility to young men. Mr. Rymer'a latest enterprise is the institution of char-a-banes services and a garage in Belgium.

Traffic Monopoly for Buses and Trams.

The policy of-the Ministry of Transport in regard te Metropolitan traffic is outlined in a report of the Lambeth Borough Council which recently urged for the reopening of Brixton Station, which was closed during the war. The. Ministry replied that it could not recominend the

reopening of the station, .

The town clerk states that, iti response to an inquiry for further details as to the reasons which prompted the Ministry to come to this decision, he had been granted an interview by a representative of the Ministry, who stated that it was the general opinion of the Technical Committee of the Ministry that short distance traffic, such as that_ from Brixton to the City and the West End, should be dealt with by the motor omnibus and the tramways, leaving the 'longer distance traffic to be dealt with by the railways.

It was also mentioned that if this policy were finally -aslOpted; it was posaible that the railieor stations on the main lines within is distance of five miles of the various terneini would be closed for local traffic.

Mention is also made of the fact that the Ministry had received applications for the reopening of other railway stations in London, but noneof there had been granted.

Bus Running Costs.

The accounts for the year ended March 31st of the Manchester Corporation tramways department give statistics with regard to the motor omnibuses, which ran 287,675 miles 'and carried 2,235,465 passengers. The traffic ievenuo came to £19,050, which is at the rate of 15.894d. per bus mile, and compares with 14.919d. per mile the previous year. . The expenditure came to £19,360, which works out at 16.152d. per car mile, • compared with 124.687d. the previous year.

The total working expenses were 218,108, or 15.108d. per busmile, compared with 11.637d. There were no war bonusas this year, but last year this item was 1.674d. per bus mile. Depreciation . was £1,251, this being 1.044d. per bus mile, as compared with 1.376d. for the previous year

A New -London Service Depot. It will no doubt interest a number of our readers to learn that the Mandalay Motor Co., Ltd., whose headquarters are situated at, Parkside, Coventry, are about to open a. large ._service depot in London to cover the needs of users in the South of England generally.

A-large quantity df spare parts will be stocked, and competent mechanics will be employed for repair and service 'work. Mr. Louis Brandes. who has been • with Straker-Squire, Ltd., for the past seven years, will take charge of the new depot. For the time being correspondence will be conducted from 89, Union Grove, Clapham, S.W., until the new • premises are ready for occupation.

Nottingham Suburban. Buses.

Although, much to the disappointment of the public, the Nottingham Corpora

tion is still temporizing with the problem of motorbuses, having so far established only a very attenuated service in a district which does not promise the best financial prospects for the experiment, the neighbouring suburban authority of West Bridgford is further extending its successful enterprise in that direction, having determined upon an • addition to its equipment of two new motorbuses.

In other areas contiguous to the city. there is also evidence of similar activity in the provision of means of motor transport, Nottingham still adhering to its

tram policy to the exclusion of more flexible means of communication. 'The necessity of elaborating the motorbus service to meet the needs of districts at present entirely unprovideci for, has been more than once urged upon the Corporation and, although the Tramways Committee appear slow to move, there is evidence of a determination., upon the part of many members of the Council, to accelerate developments which have been unduly delayed.

A Bus to Seat 100 Passengers.

The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co., of Akron, -Ohio. are designing a "pay-as-you-enter" six-wheeler motorbus an the pattern of the newer type of street cars in use in America, to accommodate 100 passengers.

The aim of the company in making this experiment is chiefly to broaden the field for the use of full-sized pneumatics.

An Austrian 3-Tonner.

A new Austrian commercial vehicle manufacturer has recently entered the market with a 4-3 ton lorry. The vehicle is being manufactured at the Austrian Munition Works at Steyr. The only available details whichwe have at the present time are that it is fitted with a six-cylinder engine, which is described as a 12-40 b.p. unit, with a bore and stroke of 80 mm. by 110 mm. respectively. We hope, a. little later on, to be

• able to give fuller part-Millais of this Machine.

Reviving Rubber Industry.

Several large manufacturing plants in Torreon, which have been closed down for five or six years', are to resume the manufacture of guayule rubber. All the factories are being overhauled._

The available supply of guayule shrubs from which the crude rubber is' obtained is greater now than at the time the industry was started, more than 16 years ago. This is due to the fact that the cut-over lands, especially those upon which the shrub was cut off at the roots, have produced within the last few years a crop of the brush that in more bountiful than the original growth.

The exports of the crude rubber from the Torreon district had reached a value of 60,000,000 dollars gold quartenly when internal strife caused a. general shutting down of the industry.

Vulcan Output.

During the week ending July 10th the total post-war output of chassis from the works of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., of Southport, passed the 2,000 figure, and during the past six ,weeki 600 chassis have been produced.

• In order to assist potential users the company make a practice of delivering. at least half of their output as complete vehicles ; these include tradesmen's and farmers' general-purpose lorries, tipping. wagons, 16-20 seater buses and chars-abanes. The Colonial and foreign markets are well provided for, and up to 50 per cent, of the output is now available for British Overseas trade.

The Vulcan Co. with their average output. now exceeding 100 commercial vehicles per week, claim to be the largest manufacturers of commercial vehicles amongst. British producers.

Derby Motorbus Traffic.

The growth of motor omnibus traffic in Derby has been such as to lead to the necessity of some better arrange• ments being devised than have hitherto obtained for the stationing of vehicles. The matter was brought under the notice of the Corporation at its last meeting, held one day last week, when Mr_ Ray nes called attention to the nuisance caused by -buses standing in the streets. Ile asked if it was fair that the CoUneil ' should stipulate that certain licence holders should have a particular stand and that other licence holders connected with a big company should occupy any positions they chose. The time had arrived, he suggested, when the Corporation 'must take some control of omnibus traffic., and he thought that the right line would be to build a central station and make it a condition of the licence that the holders should use the station and pay a fair rent. It was referred to the official staff to report upon what accommodation -would be necessary under such • an arrangement.

The share capital of the. recently formed Trust Franco-Bulge des Petroles is fixed at 25,000,000 francs in 50,009 shares, of 500 franca. each. The company's , headquarters are at Antwerp, and it will engage in all kind; of .commereial, financial, industrial, and transpert operations connected with the petroleum industry.

The St. Omer_ Dump.

It. -would not surprise mc very much, writes -our contributor, The InapeCtor,4' if, after all have had their say who think they have anything worth saying with regard to the St. Omer dump. qiiestion, and particularly to the sale by the Government of surplus Leyland lorries, a short statement of fact may be issued by those who are most concerned, which if it does -not exactly " confound their polities," should, at least, show hely desirable it is inall these cases of imputed bad faith, to be absolutely certain of one's facts—and all the facts—before starting in to award good and bad marks. The.wfUer happens to be in a position to state that much of this carefully-fostered criticism is SO very wide of the mark that, when the other side of the case and the reasons for this agittaiori are revealed —if, indeed, any such action is thought necessary—one or more of the principals concerned will appear distinctly foolish. Without diving deeply into the controversy, I may at least state, as a matter of fact that the.Government one stage was quite anxious to undertake transport of surplus stuff back to this country on behalf of buyers. In this particular case, it will be found that the price at which the-Government actually carried out this .part of the *ark was considerably in -excess of the -price at . -which it was undertaken as to part of it by an ordinary -civilian contractor. There does not appear to he much. ease for the chargeof preferential treatment in such circumstances. •

• Foster Finance. .

At the thirty-first annual meeting ad the shareholders of William .Faster and Co., Ltd., which was held at Lincoln one day la4t week, under, the presidency of Mr. C. W. Pennell, M,B.E., the directors' recommendations were approved, declaring a dividend of 6 per cent, and a bonne of 1.s. per share on the ordinary' shares for each of the four war years, increasing the reserve fund to £60,000, and carrying 'forward £12,226. — The Chairman observed that during the war the company paid enormous surns to the Government in taxes, and he expressed the hope that if more money had to be obtained for national purposes,

some rruire equitable means than at present existed would be found for raising it. He predicted difficult times ahead for the engineering trade, and urged the necessity of conserving all their available resources: Itarnediate prospects were none too Joey, and were indeed looked upon by Ionic as gloomy. "

Sir William Tritton (managing director) said that nine months ago he had a vista of most brilliant proapectsInit preftfl.t, uncertainties had changed all that. Owing to labour troubles and diffieulties in obtaining materials, they could not give guarantees to customers on the other side of the equator, and therefore lost orders. 'The directors' remuneration was increased for the year from £500 to £1,000, and Sir William Tritton's suggestion to start a works' benevolent fund was 'endorsed.

Motorbus Contributions.

In connection with the Sheffield Corporation Bill, the request of the West Riding and Derbyshire County Councils that the new model clauses as to payanent in respect of motorbus traffic should be made applicable to existing authorized routes as well as new. routes, has been refused by the Local Legislation Committee of the House dl Commons, whilet admitting that. the old rates called for revision. In this connection the West Riding County Council reports that a petition has been lodged in the House of Lords to seek the amendments •desired.

Willys-Overiand Earnings.,.

The net earnings of the leVillys-Overland Co. for the first four months of 1920, after deducting repairs, maintena ance of properties, and also expensee, including intereat, latit before allowances for income and excess profit taxes have been deducted, are stated, to have been 5,595,198 dellars. The net income for this period, after malting allowance for income and excess profit taxes, was in excess of 4,900,000 dollars. This is more than double the earnings for previous similarrimioda.

Current earnings, after making fat provision for preferred stock, are approximately 20 per cent upon the total outstanding and newly is-sued common stock.

Tractors in Formosa.

Agricultural motor tractors were first used on sugar plantation work in'the early sununer of 1919, writes H.M. Acting Consul at Tamsui. At present there appear to be about twenty of suck tritetern in use in 'the island. . All are of American manufacture, and range up to 75 h.p. an far as has been ascertained. They were imported through the medium a a British concern. •

Those companies which have tractors already in use seem to be well satisfied with them, and it seems probable that a good number of the other companies will follow suit.in the courseof time.

To give some idea of the opening which may exist for the sale of aaieultural treetots, it ma' be mentioned that the area under sugar-cane in Formosa is, in an average year., a-bout 250,000 acres. There are probably over 30 companies with a capital of net less than 1,000,000 yen each engaged in the sugar inehtstry. The aggregate authorized capital of these companies is over 200,000,000 yen, onehalf of which has been called up. One company has an authorized capital of 40,000,000 yen,. and three others a capital of 25,000,000 yen each. Nearly all the older-established centerns ha-re been making enormous profits daring the past few years, and the present is an excellent opportunity for pushing the' sale ef modern appliances and machinery. Competition, however, will become increasingly difficult as time goes on.

Motor Restaurants.

An interesting development in the use of the Motor vehicle is the installation 'of travelling restaurants in Denver, U.S.A.

One example is fitted. to a Republic chassis and consists of a body fitted up as a kitchen, with stove, etc., and even including a cold storage room. The vehicle travels over certain routes and serves hot and cold meals at stated hours, the meals being conveyed right up to the customers" houses.

The Brussels Motor Exhibition will he held between December 10th and 19th. The president of this year's exhibition. will be Burgomaster Max. King Albert will be the patron. The venue will be the Palais du Cinqua,ntenaire.

Derbyshire Motor Traffic.

Although the voltune of motor traffic upon Derbyshire roads is possibly not greater than upon many other main routes which 'might be named, the returns collated recently, in relation to the area of the Peak County which has New Mills for its centre, supplies some formidable figures. • A three days' census was last week taken by officials appointed by the New Mills District Council regarding traffic upon the Buxton Road, with the result that in that time it was found that no fewer than 2,114 motor-propelled vehicles passed, made up of 462 chars-4banes, 846 motorcars, 254 motor lorries, and 352 motorcycles. Of. that number, it is interesting to note 707 were out on a Sunday and 725 on a Saturday. Manchester, 'Liverpool, 'Sheffield, Nottingham, and other of the large Midland and Northern towns are sending an ever-growing stream of • chars-abanes and other vehicles into the Derbyshire hills and dales for touring purposes, it being a significant sign of the times that local authorities on all sides arc laying themselves outto make ample provision for the increased needs.

Oil Drilling in Costa Rica.

The Sinclair Oil Co., having completed a survey of their concessions in Costa Rica and Panama, have now commenced drilling operations. The Costa Rica concession covers approximately 9,000,000 acres of possible oil lands with the right to select and retain something like 1,000,000 acres.

The concession for exploiing possible oil lands in the Republic of Panama -covers ap,proximately 11,000,000 acres with the right to select and retain about 1,200,000 acres.

Officials of the company are also surveying various tracts of land in Columbia, and many oil and gas leases have been secured.

Inst. A.E. Meeting Dates. . The first meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers for the 1920-1921 session will be held on Wednesday, October 13th, when Sir Hy. Fowler, K.B.E., will give his presidential ad' dress. Subsequent meet,ngs of the Institution will be held on the second

Wednesday in each month up to May 11th.

The 'Birmingham meetings of the Institution will be held on October 28th, December 30th, February 24th, and April 28th.

The London Graduates meetings will be held on the second Thursday in each moath, and the Birmingham Graduates on the third Wednesday in each month. The first annual dinner of the Institution Will be held at the Royal Automobile Club on Wednesday, October 27th, at 7.30 p.m., when it is hoped that a number of important guests will be present.. The price of the tickets will be 17s. 6d. per head, excluding wines. The dates of the Coventry Graduates meetings are as follow :—September 28th; business meeting. November 2nd, 17th, and 30th; December 14th; January 4th -and 18th; February 1st and 15th; March 1st and 15th; April 5th, 1921.

Diesel Engines.

We have received an interesting little_ brochure on Diesel a'nd semi-Diesel engines from Prices Co., Ltd. Many Manufacturers use engines of these types in their works for the generation of power, and to these, as well as to others of our readers, the brochure should prove of considerable interest. , The company will he pleased to post copies to applicants.

Increasing Demand for Petrol.

The American Petroleum Institute reports that there is every indication of a large increase in the likely demand fur petrol during the next few years, The 'probable registration of motor vehicles in the U.S.A. on December 31st, 1921, is estimated at 12.P30,C00. There are ' already 300,000 traitors in use in the U.S.A., and the number is rapidly increasing, whilst the growing number of stationary engines constitutes a further demand upon the petroleum industry. The demand for lubricating oil is, of course, correspondingly en the increase.

We are informed that the 50,000 new ordinary shares in ohn Reiner and Co., of Cunard Buildings, LiverpooL, have all been applied for, and that letters of allotment will be posted before the end of the month. The authorized capital is now £300.000, of which cure half has been issued.

Local Proceedings.

The question of obtaining a motor fireengine is being considered by Ulverstott U.D.C.

Horsforth Council has obtained permission to borrow £600 for the purchase of a steam wagon.

Batley Corporation Works Department is considering the question of purchasing a motor wagon.

Torquay Town Council has secured

sanction to get a loan of £1,900 for the purchase of a, motor fire-engine.

The purchase of a first-aid motor fire appliance to cost £1,360 is Ander the consideration of Hove Corporation.

Halifax Corporation is recommended to spend about 210,000 in converting the Hall Street Depot into a garage and repair workshops.

Stoke-on-Trent Municipal Gas Department wants sanction to borrow 25,550 for the purchase of motor wagons and other appliances.

The proposed purchase of an electric motor wagon for E1,350 has been favourably reported upon by Manchester Public: Health Committee.

Warminster U.D.C. is supporting a proposal of the county authorities and the Joint Isolation Hospital Committee to purchase a motor ambulance for the isolation hospital.

Todmorden Borough Surveyor is preparing an 'estimate of the cost of extending the motorbus garage with a view . to application being made for a loan of about £10,000 for new buses.

The Romford Urban District Council has ordered a 30 cwt. Vulcan chassis, with bodywork, from Messrs. Metcalfes', coachbuilders and engineers, Romford, for transporting farm produce to London markets.

WolverhaniplOn Corporation has • granted a licence to the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co. to run a service of motor omnibuses between. Bushbury and central points in Wolverhampton.

Plymouth's New Buses.

Plymouth Tramways Committee, which is beginning to get delivery of its nintor omnibuses, has fixed the omnibus fares at 11 a mile, with a. minimum fare of 2r1

MODERN ROAD TRAFFIC.

The Punishment 'Which the Old Roads are Receiving.

I N his annual report, the ,Essex -county surveyor says the.maintenanbe of the main roads has been a matter of great anxiety and difficulty ;owing r to the deficiencies of railway transport forthe conveyance of granite and the very small quantity it vas poasible to secure-as compared with the requirements; whilst after the railway strike of September, 1919, when the roads were least able to stand the strain, the-main routes through the-' county were traversed day and night for nearly four months by fleets of heavy laden lorries, and almost incalculable damage. was thereby inflicted to all but paved surfaces.

The road from London to Ipswich was very heavily punished by this goods traffic, and, as a result, a very. large expenditure is required to enetirea reasonably good surface, but not one to equal that of the same road in 1913.

To restore this road alone—some 33 miles out of the 671 directly maintained by the Comity Council—an expenditure of £132,000. Will be necessary, exclusive of repair and rebuilding of damaged • bridges. There are other very important roads which have suffered severely, and. it is only in those portions of the county where this traffic has not penetrated that the road surfaces can be said to be. in reasonably good condition. The road is now carrying approximately 2,000 tons per day. The year has shown a phenomenal increase of motor omnibus routes, some roads in the Tendring Hundred having as many as six-separate services. The new Budget suggestions dealing with this subject will do something towards equalizing the heavy cost . to the ratepayers that these vehicles entail—the bulk of it being purely pleasure traffic. The strain of heavy motor lorry traffic succeeding the railway strike has been Very apparent on the old country bridges on certain main routes, and there is probably a large expenditure ahead in dealing with the dannage already done. An important iron bridge at Widford, near Chelmsford, gave :way, and a new bridge will cost about £10.000. Between Chelmsford and Brentwood three brick bridges, each about 100 years old, have 'been seriously damaged since August, 1919.

MEAT TRANSPORT.

Expediting Deliveries and Eliminating Handling Delays.

0 NE of the drawbacks to the transportation of most by road over distance& of 40 miles or so is the difficulty of excluding particles of dust and other foreign matter.

"It is a strange thing," a haulage man told us, "that no matter how well sheeted a lead may be on a long journey, when we arrive at our journey's end, we always find on the lorry more than we have actually loaded. That is why we are having covered vans."

"Ann what are the outstanding features of these vehicles?" we queried. "They are after the style of the railway refrigerator vans, with side doors and ring tops. The object is to have a fleet for all-round service, and, having •a powerful crane at our ,garage, we shall be able to do muth to eliminate delays at terminals." "For example?" "If a ship was unloading at the docks, we could send down a number of lorries with refrigerators 'aboard.' The meat amid be put in these. If it was late in the day the load would have to be put into cold storage overnight, and perhaps taken out the following morning, and again loaded on to motors for forwarding to destination.

" Now, with refrigerator . vans, they could be left on the wagons all night, thus doing away with two handlings. Or if we wanted the particular motors for some other urgent service, 'before arrangements were made for thoreception of -the sides of meat at a distant town, the body could be lifted off by crane and the motor freee. for easy particular service.

" Of course, it winter time, the atmospheric conditions are much more favourable for the preservation of meat than now, but before the summer is out we hope our plans will be in process of execution.'

POOLING TRAFFIC.

Ministry of Transport and the Liverpool Contractors' Scheme.

Pr HE Ministry of Transport is reported

to have cordially approved of the pooling scheme of "the Liverpool Motor 'Haulage Contractors Association, and at an interview which took place recently between representativesof the, Association and the Ministry, asvery high official laid down the dictum that associations should have their own traffic exchanges.

If this is the official view of the Ministry then it would appear that the existing' clearing hearses, formed in many cases under the auspices of Chambers of 'Commerce and other bodies; are fulfilling merely an ephemeral function in .the evolution of road transport, and that sooner or later they must go. It is no secret at, the present time, since -the Liverpool ContractorsAssociation launched their pooling -scheme, that ;the Clearing House attitudefshas not been very friendly towards members of the Association, who since have been depending very largely on their own resources to make good; that in the ease of returning wagons from Manchester less than 5 per. cent, have, boon light, must be regarded as an achievement worthy of record. We say this, notwithstanding the quite unwarrantable aspersions upon our impartiality by the President of the Liveipool Motor Haulage Contractors Association.

Members of the haulage trade who had invested their capital in the business have the -undeniable right to make What arrangements they choose for the transport of goods to and from given spots, return loading, etc. The Clearing House on the other hand, backed by the Liverpool .Cartowners Association and the Commercial Motor Users Association, has been first in the field, and looks upon the Haulage Contractors Association's pooling traffic scheme as directed against the Clearing House. Hence "loads are being refused to members of the former.

Emphatic complaints are heard of ratecutting. The Haulage Contractors Association vigorously denies that its members are the culprits, but if this situation continues it will not be merely a matter of assessing blame for so suicidal a policy, but of deciding who can foot the bill ; in other words, the fittest will survive.

COMMERCIAL MOTOR LOSING 00,000 A YEAR.

An Expert Opinion on Liverpool's Unprofitable Motorbuses.

THE FIGURES recently published in The Conttrcercial Motor relating to the Liverpool motor omnibus services seem to have appealed to many private concerns interested in the motor omnibus, that we approached the Liverpool tramway authorities for more specific information, which was" presented in the form of a aeries of reports by the General Manager and the City Engineer issued

a few days ago.

According to these, there were nine motor omnibus routcs. in operation during 1919. Only one report covered operating costs and when depreciation is included, not one of them showed a profit. The detailed figures are interesting : A tramways official admitted that the report was a "bitter pill," but there

it is, he added. It ie quite obvious, states the report, that the motorbuses with the present seating capacity cannot he operated remuneratively on the present scale of fares, therefore, t might be advisable for the Committee to consider the question of making the motor omnibuses deal with the long distance passengers at a special rate of fare, thus relieving the tra,mcars of this class of traffic, also that the buses should be confined to the existing tram routes.

We drew the attention of an expert associated with a company operating a fleetof over 50 motor passenger vehicles to this situation, and. asked "What's wrong with the Liverpool motor omnibus services?"

"In 'the first place," he said, "the Liverpool Cnrporation have the wrong kind of machines ; secondly, they need a man whose business it should be to manage the omnibus services separately from the tramway."