News and Comment.
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This journal has by far the largest and best circulation—i.e., total of subscribers' orders and actual sales through newsagents. Our circulation is certified and genuine: "The Commercial Motor" is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy houses.
The fifteenth article (new series) of our accounts with regard to " One Day's Work " will be found on pages 64 to 66.
The Editor acknowledges with thanks numerous letters of congratulation upon his recent election to the Committee of the Royal Automobile Club. He intends to write personally, as time permits during the next few days, to each correspondent.
Better Roads.
We are glad to observe that the Berks County Council has decided to spend £60,000 upon the strengthening of some 23 miles of its trunk roads. They are badly in need of such reconstruction.
Liquid Fuel.
The Admiralty is moving to secure reserves of liquid fuel. It has recently made a firm offer to Scottish oil companies for the purchase of five million gallons for warships, subject to storage for ,lelivery as required.
C.M.U.A.
This year's parade of the C.M.C.A., whilst it may not equal in spectacular interest the horse-van parade of Monday last, promises to be a most-important affair, and one which will be noticed extremely widely in the Press.
Wild Rubber.
The claims of Brazilian rubber, as a sobering influence upon the wild state of the rubber market, are briefly stated, by a well-informed contributor, on page RP. He takes the view that many of the Eastern plantations will fail to give the expected annual yield of rubber. owing to the unsuitable character of the land which has bee] planted. Be this as it may, it is satisfactory to consumers of rubber to be assured that Brazilian forests have not been by any means exhausted, as is sometimes asserted in this country.
Our Thin.-paper Edition.
There is an increasing demand for the thin-paper edition of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR. Supporters of this journal will recollect that we decided, following the publication of the Overseas Special. to meet the requirements of our growing overseas connection, in this manner, each week. We learn that Mr. E. F. D. Acland, M.Inst.C.E., has transferred his pra,ctice as a consulting engineer from 76, Cheapside, E.C., to 7, Princes Street, Westminster, SW., and that his new telephone number is 3617 Victoria.
" Unpu ncturabili ty."
The installation of the plant for the manufacture of the new tire-filling, " Pfleuniatie," is proceeding apace at the Southampton works of Harland and Wolff, Ltd. We are informed that a eonsiderable number of orders, totthis promising speciality, is in hand, Agents Discuss Terms for Spirit Purchases.
At the S.M.M.T., on Wednesday the 23rd inst., a conference took pinee, between representative motor-vehicle agents and delegates of the motorspirit companies. Efforts are being made to secure the re-establishment of contractual relations, and an undertaking that prices will not be " jumped about " without a minimum term of notice.
Dennis Travellers' Broughams.
Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, has just supplied another of its special design of traveller's brougham to a large firm of drapers in Manchester: wo illustrate the complete vehicle on page 76. It is designed to arry a maxinium of 15 cwt. of samples, and the inside is elaborately fitted with shelves, whilst ample means of access for external light is provided. Sankey all-steel wheels are fitted, and the chassis has a pressed-steel frame. It is a smartly-finished vehicle, and should be able, with its four-cylinder, 18 h.p. engine, to get over hilly ground expeditiously. Such machines, by reason of the savings they effect, are becoming increasingly the vogue.
Thornycroft Testimony. Messrs. George Beaumont and Sons, dyers and finishers, of Rowley Mills, Fenay Bridge, Htiddersfield, who • w ere mm able to send a photograph to us in connection with our special issue of the 2Ith February, now write: " At that time, we had no photo. of our van, but we bilve now had one taken. and enclose it. j_We reproduce this.-Eo.] The van (a Thornycroft) has run over 7,000 miles, with practically no trouble ; it has never missed a journey, and it is regularly out five days it week —sometimes six days. Even during the very had snows we experienced last winter, this was maintained. She started running at the end of August, and the average petrol consumption is one gallon per 9!, nines. This is a hilly district, and we consider it a good record." Mr. Brook Shaw notifies us that he has opened the City Central Garage, Orchard Place, Sheffield, on his own account, as a mechanical and electrical
engineer, and that he has storage accommodation for 50 vehicles.
Shoolbred's Vans: a Correction.
Adverting to the report of the disens.sion upon Mr. T. B. Browne's paper, in our issue of the 17th inst., Mr. Leyeeeter %riven asks us to correct a tmiographical error. One of his motorvane does the work of six horses, and not the work of six " horse-vans." In view of Mr. Bans ell's known regard for extreme accuracy about cost statements, we wish to give special prominence to this correction_
Motor-borne Spirit.
The Petroles de Groenyi Co. of 111, Leadenhall Street, E.C., and whose Manchester branch (under the charge
of ).lr. A. P. Coppinger) is at Market Street, has made its war to the front largely by reason of the tact that its motor spirit is distributed and delivered by road motors. This appeals to the trade, as it should do. One of the hardest-worked vehicles which belongs to the company is the Leyland four-tonner, which we illustrate here ii and with regard to whose running a valuable testimonial appeared in our issue of the 24th February.
Argyll Points.
Argylia, Ltd., of Alexandria. N.B., has been granted registration of the word '' Argyll " as a trade mark. Goographival terms are granted by the Board of Trade only under exceptional eirmumetances, and Argylls. Ltd.. was assisted in its application by a number of the leading motor mannfaeturers throughout the country.
The compaey continues to do a great deal in the way of securing good housing ai6commedation for its workers at Alexandria, and ample provision has also been made at the works for those of the nien who take their meals on the spot ; the restaurant is specially provided with coating for 400. There is a competent staff of rooks, and tha charge ice a wholesome mid-day meal fif three ccurses has been reduced to rid.
The Braintree-type chassis of Commercial Cars. Ltd., with its 20 h.p. engine, is capable of taking a total imposed load of two tons. One ii the latest to he -sold, as illustrated here with, is Inc use on the Earl of Ellesmere's estate at Worsley. and for that reason a plain wagonette body has been fitted.
New Registrations.
The Wilkinson T.A.C. Company, Ltd.. with an authorized capital of 1:.12,000 (10,00(1 in 4e1 shares and 20,000 2s. shares), with its office at b:3, Pall Mall, S.W., to carry on the business of motor manufacturers and traders, etc. Directors: C. de Sirrae Dunn, Wellington's. Kinthury, Berks; C. I.. Ellis, 84, Cambridge Gardens, London; B. Kirschbaum, Oakley Works, Southfield Road, Acton Green, W. and T. H. Randolph, 53, Pall Mall, S.W.
Motor Spirit Direct Supply Co., 'LW., with an authorized capital ef
£.5,000 in LI shares, and with its office at 171, Coburg Street, Euston, N.W., to carry on the business of producers, etc., of petroleum and petroleum products of all kinds, etc.
The Autoear (Tunbridge Wells) Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £10,000 in LI. share, by A. Double and Co., Mitre Court, Fleet Street, E.G., to carry on the business of engineers, garage proprietors, dealers in omni
buses, etc, Directors: J. Egginton, Little Colverden, Tiinbridge Wells; It. A. Marshall, A odocar Garage, Woodbury Park Road, Tuebridge 'Wells.
Gloucester C.C. and the Western Road Carrying Co.
De ring the months of January and rehruary. 1909, the General Post Office. in 1'1'1'Sn:ince of tlie policy adopted by it (r1 laying trunk wires derground tor more efficient comnomication, was laying cables along the main road between Bristol and Sharpness Point, and, in order to do this, it was of course necessary to hard cables along the main roads. Tn traversing the road from Bristol to Sharpness Point, the cables passed Ship Inn in the parish of Alreeton, through the parishes of Thornbitry and Falfield up to a point where the parish of Falfield joins the parish of Stone. This fraction of the highway in question measures a distance of under two miles. The contract for hauling these cables was tinder-taken by the Western Road Carrying Co., Ltd., of Bristol, whose well-known contribution to the commerce of Bristol and district, in facilitating haulage, is conducted by means of light locomotives. The cables were so carried in a very short. period, namely, under a month, but, to the astonishment of the company, it received a demand for the payment of £106 11e-. 3r1. [rem the Gloucester Cienity Council. for damage alleged to have been done in consequence of thi.s haulage. Having regard to the fact that the total weight carried over the portion of the road in question was only about 110 tons. the Gloucester C.C. was attempting to wring from the
company a toll of something like 1:1 per to of net-load.
There was nothing abnormal about any of the loads; indeed, every load carried fell considerably under the legalised weight, and, instead of doing harm to the roads, the wheels of the motor lorries are so well constructed, being very broad and fiat, that they tend to level or roll out the road—when the metalling has been laid in workmanlike manner, and there is sufficient of it. The Western Road Carrying Co., Ltd., resisted this demand, treating it as rather frivolous and vexatious, whereupon, in January of this year, a summons was „ issued against it demanding £107 12s. 3d. in respect thereof, and the case was directed to be tried at the Thornhury County Court, in accordanee with the Highways Act.
The defence wa.s placed in the hands of Mr. Staplee Firth, and. after " discovery " had been obtained, unl an inspection directed to he made of the Gloucester County Council's road books, etc. , the Council has given notice wholly discontinuing the action, and the same has been dismissed with costs. A singular fact in connection with this case is that, although the road between Bristol and the Ship Inn has borne a greater proportion of cable than the portion complained of, there was absolutely no complaint in reference to it; neither was there any complaint or demand of any sort or kind in reference to the road. through the parish of FaMeld, over the whole of the remainder of the highway up to Sharpness Point. which would clearly
indicate that the damage to the road on the part complained of—if any injury in fact were done by the haulage of the cables—was in consequence of the road's being allowed to fall into an abnormal condition of wear. When it was found necessary to repair and reinstate the condition of the road, somebody probably thought it would be a brilliant notion to try and make the motor users of the road responsible to repair it and to n:ake these owners pay for the road which had only been worn out by the legal and proper traffic passing over it. It was also a fart deserving of severe criticism that the Gloucester County Council endeavoured to lay a heavy hand upon one industrial company out of many hundreds of owners of industrial vehicles, including motors and traction engines, whose engines worked over the road.