WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever pints arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crosier.
Three-wheeled Taxis.
Following the introduction of the taxisidecar on to the Paris streets has come the three-wheeled taxicab, several of which have recently made their appearance in the French capital. The chassis which is being employed for these public-service vehicles is the Caffort, made by Caffort Brothers, of Paris. It was put on the British market late in
1920 as a 10 cwt. light van. Its construction is somewhat curious and unusual, and we are not sure that it is correct to call the machine a threewheeler, although a side view of the vehicle conveys this impression, the two front wheels, which are only a few inches apart, being responsible for this deception.
The disposition of the engine and gearbox, which are carried in an upward extended hollow prolongation of the frame, is responsible for the unorthodox appearance of the vehicle when it is viewed from the front. The engine, which is situated behind the gearbox, consists of two horizontallyopposed cylinders, with a bore and stroke of 80 mm. and 100 mm. respectively, and develops 8 h.p. The engine power is transmitted through an internal CODO clutch to a gearbox giving three speeds and reverse and thence the drive is taken to tile front axle by bevel gears and a vertical shaft revolving on the axis of the steering pivot; this shaft passes between the twin front wheels.
The Caffort taxicab is said to afford very comfortable travelling and to permit of a roomy body, capable of seating three people, being fitted. The fare charged for the use of these vehicles is Tess than the ordinary Paris cab, and the same as that charged on the horse taxis, which is undoubtedly due in part, to the economical petrol corentription of the vehicle.
Moroccan Roads.
The report on the trade, industry, and finance of Morocco, which has recently been issued by the Department of Overseas Trade, says that, in the French zone, -unstinted praise is due to the Protectorate Administration for the excellent and •extensive road system with which it has been endowed The diffi• culties encountered have been great, for in many cases long sections of road have been built across reeions where not a stone exists, whilst most of the stems fomsd in tile PrOteet0TatO is verysoft and friable. In view of the foregoing, of the heavy motor lorry and cart traffic, and of the fact that, the road system being of so recent a date, the road beds have not yet, had time to become stable and are still apt to sink, the general state of repair maintained has been excellent. Bad sections, naturally, exist, but this ;8 inevitable in a ceentry in the early stages of development., where the creation and maintenance of -highways are going on side by side.
At the end of 1919 the road kilometrage had leached the .Following figeres :—Main, 2,178; secondary, 422; in coin-se of construction, 350; anclee survey, 250—totato 3,20n.
C8 Many new roads arc contemplated, and to cover the cost of this construction and the maintenance of roads already in existence Fr.60,000,000 are to be set aside out of the loin, the issue of which was sanctioned in 1920.
To Ford Users.
"The Book of the Ford," of which some 70,000 copies have been sold, will shortly become. scarce, for, in its present form, it will not be reprinted, and those usersof right-hand-drive Fords should make a point of securing a copy without delay from a bookshop.
Road Improvements.
The Ministry of Transport have informed the Roads Improvement Association that directions have been given to their divisional road engineers to tsee that local authorities, in putting forward road improvement claims, should allow for such super-elevation round bends and corners as may 'be desired. Those -road 'leers who know of stretches of road where such improvements are desire:Pale should communicate with the general secretary of the Roads Improvement Association at 15, Dartmouth Street, Westminster, London, S.W. 1.
Buses for Belgium.
A few days ago the first large doubledeck motorbus arrived in Antwerp from this country. The vehicle, which is of Tilling-Stevens manufacture, was delivered to the newly-formed General Auto Bus Co., Ltd. Its arrival in Antwerp was celebrated by an official trip round the city, organized by Mr. Gerney, the British Consul-General. 'The bus, which is very similar in design to the K types running in London, is intended for the local service at Buy, in the province of Liege. Before the end of the summer the British company will also be running lone-distance suburban servires in Antwerp, in addition to lines connecting the city with it extensive dock and quay sides.
To Encourage the Apprentice.
Various schemes are now in operation throughout the industry for the better training and encouragement of apprentices, in order to insure a plentiful supply' of really well-trained men in the future, One of the most interesting is that adopted by the. Sentinel . Steam. Waggon Works at Shrewsbury. No premium apprentices are taken, and interest in the work and behaviour of all lads is taken by an apprentice supervisor, specially appointed for the purpose. Prizes are given for good work, both in the shops and at the local technical school, which the firm has helped in -various ways. The best boy of the year is known as the " star " apprentice, and has the distinction of having his name entered on a roll of honour ilf the works manager's office. The end of apprenticeship does not terminate. the firm's in terest. in the aperentice. career in after life is also watched, and he is helped whenever possible.
Durham Roads.
The estimated expenditure, according to a men-lo. issued by the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Durham . County Council, on main roads and bridges for the Durham roads for 1922 is £483,609, of which it is expected to eaceive grants amounting to £251,000. There was spent in 1914 £79,126, grants only being received then Of£3,967. At the quarterly meeting_ of the Council, it was reported that permission had been granted to the N.E.R. Co. to establish a bus service between Annfield Plain and Durham, and also that many road improvements had been approved on the Gateshead-Durham road, notably at. Fiernwellgate Moor, Kinibleswortli Colliery railway bridee, Beaney LaneelChester Done, Chesterde: Street, And Birtley.
A good opportunity now presents itself for the construction of the new road from West Ilattlepool to Easington, owing to the prevalent unemploymeet. The Scheme is being carried out be the Durham County Council, the West Hartlepool Corporation, and the Easitigton Rural District Council, in conjunct-ion with the. Ministry of Transport and the Unemployment Grants Committee. The estimate for the road' • is £271,000, and the formation is to befinanced by the County Council. Contribritions of £45,000 will be made by each of the authorities, and the Ministry of Transport are giving £100,000 and the Unemployment Grants Committee £36000.
The cost of the County Transport Bill, rejected . by Parliament, had been £8,963, and there were still a few small items to be included, but the total would, it was stated, fall short of £9,500.
Street Obstruction,
Local authorities are asked by the London Safety First Council to consider the following suggestions :—
(a) That, to prevent accidents caused particularly during foggy weather, a • greater a-tea should he provided betweett road excavations and temporary barriers placed around them, so that a driver who inadvertently had driven into the fencing might have time to pull up before reaching the opening in the carriageway (b) That, except in caseS of' openings made by tramway authorities, watchmen't s _amps where bung transverse to the direction of the traffic at the ends or sides of trenches or other openings or obstructions in all highways, should not be•more than 4 ft. apart, nor more than 4 ft. in height from the surface of the • carriageway, and that illuminated warning boards, inscribed "Beware' of Obstructions," or other suitable wording, should be utilized where possible, and that any crossings over, or through, such obstruction's should be indica,ted by specially coIouredelights. (c) That, -where roadways. of greater. than ordinary width are being or are proposed to tifY constructed, provision should be made for the erection at suitable points of an adequate number of street refuges.
A Library Motor Exchange.
According to the annual report of the Manchester Corporation Libraries Committee the institution of the Motor Exchange; has made it 'possible to display in all the district.libraries monthly lists of additiong tiyall the libraries, and lists on special subjects, in place of the lists limited to local stock as heretofore. In fact, the most important development of library work during the year was the purchase of the. motor, which makes the complete round of the district libraries, the reference library and the commercial library once a day.
Applications for books not part of the . stock or not available at the time at any particular library are handed to the chauffeur, brought to the administration dspartment, and marked with the name of the libraries in which copies are to be found. The books are obtained on the next day's round and taken to the library at which the application was made. By this means practically the Whole of the ccutents of the district libraries, excluding fiction, are placed at the 'service of every reader, no matter in what part of the city he resides. In the case of expensive books or books for whieh the demand is small, one or two copies only will suffice.
The motorvan also carries books, periodicals and supplies to all the libraries daily, thus saving postal and packing charges and the time and fares of messengers.
A Test with the Simar Rotary Tractor.
Mr. B. H. Brown, agricultural engineer, of Kenton Bank Foot, Newcastle, who is the agent for the north for the Simsmotor soil-tiller and cultivator, gave a demonstration of the work which can be accomplished by the machine, at Mr. J. G. Lowrison'sfarm, Little Ben ton, Newcastle, last week. With one operation by a rotary method the device does Ehe combined work of plough and harrow. A big asset is its simplicity, and, besides being a one-man machine, a further point in its favour is its weight, which is only 28 cwt.
The test was a particularly severe one, owing to the.hardbaked condition of the soil, resultant upon the drought. The Simar achieved a triumph by tilling to a depth of 9 ins., where an ordinary pleugh would have been unable to make headway. Its normal petrol consumption is 14 gallons per hour, and it is capable of tilling up to 12 ins. the first time over, and can do from 10 to 15 acres per day. it can also be used for hauling, or driving a threshing machine, .etc.
Back from South America.
Mr. Horace Rymer, of C. F. Rymer, Ltd., of Wallasey • and Liverpool, who has just returned from an eight weeks' tour of South America, during which time he travelled 10,000 miles in six different countries, speaks with un bthanded optimism of the prospects of the motor industry, especially European,. and more especially; British, in South American territory.
In the Argentine, commercial motor vehicles and motor coaches are few in number, he tells The Conmarcial Motor, but their scope appears to be absolutely illimitable. "To my mind," he said, "the British car manufacturer who negleats this market has ne ambition. The Ameni
can is there, but is fast losing hold of what he has got, on account of the antipathy between -the northerner and the southerner, which is now percolating into their commercial relations.
I have come back with the full determination that anything I can say and do to get the British, to penetrate into South America, X will do, and I have already approached one manufactures
with Use idea of impressing upon other manufacturers the importance of doing the foundation work in South America as soon as.possible. " The opening up of a main arterial road between Buenos Ayres and Rosario, when executed, would call for motor vehicles, and it would give the British manufacturer on unprecedented opportunity.''' Mr. Rymer, after mentioning the interest his firm were taking in the prospects which South America offered, spoke of the possibilities of sending a nucleus staff to South America to prepare for the opening of a depot.
The Bill for the abandonment of the short canal which passes through Shipley and connects Bradford with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal has been re, jected by the House of Commons Committee..
Personal Par&
Mr. H,alclernan FInn 10, Assistant to the general manager of the Timken. Detroit Axle Co., Detroit, Mich., U.S.A., returned to the States last' Saturday after spen-ding many months in this ,country cii the interests of his company. Mr. Finnie, with whom we-had aschat shortly before hisdeparture, expressed Isis. satisfaction at the-arrangements he, had made .in this country with regard to the representation o-f the American concern, eta. Whatever success Mr. Finnie has., had is, we are sure not due only to the quality of the axles reduced by his company, but also to his genial personality and business acumen. We hope that Mr. Finnie will. Soon return on another visit.
We reproduce on this page a portrait of Mr: Ralph S. Lutton, of Sterns, Ltd., who has been very 'largely responsible for the conspicuous success which has boen'attained by Sternal motor oils and Ambroleum grease, on the British market.Mr. Lutton.has recently journeyed'aCTOSS the water.to America and Canada, vrhero he hopes to-repeat his achievensantin a still wider'field, where there are undoubtedly considerable•possibilities for 'each high stanclard,,lubricants as those-produced by the company which Mr. Lutten represents.
Effect of 'Motorbus Traffic on -Roads.
In a report on the state of the 'roads and streets traversed.by the motorbuses of the Edinburgh Corporation, Mr. Findlay, deputy city road surveyor, points out that on some routes no apparent damage' has been done. ''.•Sincs the buses Started, £4,445 have*been Spent on repairs to roads on which the corporation buses run. Some a the routes in the suburban areas, where short, circular tours are run, are stated to be unsuited for motorbus traffic by reason of their narrow width and light construction.
No undue damage has been done on roads treated with tar macadam, though ,certain routes laid with water-bound 'macadam have suffered.
Mr. Findlay states that, in his view, this latter type of road material is unsuitable fat the surface of a road subjected to. bus traffic,iand that tar macadam supports heavy motor traffic better. Much damage is dont:1'11,y buses running continually ssi the same tracks, which are bound to become rutted in time. Sett paving has also suffered from bus traffic, where there is no concrete underbed and where the joints are grouted with gravel The problem of reducing the damage to roads by motorbuses • is to form the subject of special reports to be submitted in the course of the next month to Edinburgh Town Council. Among ' the points to be -dealt with are speed, tyres and street rec-onstruction.
Spare Lamp Holders.
Users of vehicles fitted with electric lighting often feel the need for carrying spare lamps, but experience some difficulty in protecting these fragile articles from breakage. For users of ()scam lamps the General Electric Co. Ltd., Magnet House, Kingsway, market two neat little cases, each of which will hold six lamps, in which they can be carried without fear of breakage. The cases are priced at 4s. and 4s. 9d. each, according to the-size of the lamps to be accommodated.
Town Transport Problems.
A Committee of the Wolverhampton Corporation, which recommends the extension of the boundaries of the district, say there is a growing tendency not only among the richer classes, but now owing in part. to quicker and cheaper transport, for the working ,classes to live awIty from the works areas.
And Wolverhampton serves the areas round the borough with tramway and motorbuses which radiate in all directions from Ile centre of the town. There is no doubt that in the near future there will befurther developments required in this important matter of local trans, port, and it is clear that the problem can be better solved if the surrounding areas are under one control
New Lancashire Roads.
The Lancashire Main Roads Bridge Committee have decided to raise a loan of £174,426 for reconstructing and wiaening the Liverpool-Manchester main road between the Liverpool city boundarY and the Present urban district boundary, They also want to borrow .C69,000 for reconstructing a new by-pass road at Orrnskirk, on account of the greatly. increased use of mechanically propelled traffic. The Ministry of Transport will bear half the cost.
The Ideal Road.
The annual report of the Paving Committee of the Manchester Corporation staWs that the question of roads composed entirely of concrete has occupied the attention of the committee, who have laid .six experimental lengths in North Street, Openshaw. These lengths were constructed in various ways and of various thicknesses of concrete, and should form a valuable guide as to the most suitable method of constructing a road of this class to carry the traffic of the city.
Unfortunately, owing to the stagnation of business, these sections of roads have net had to bear the heavy traffic that was anticipated; although so far the surfaces appear to be in excellent condition. The first cost is comparatively cheap, but. what the ultimate cost of upkeep and renewal will be as compared with other classes of pavements
cannot at ,present be stated.forms an ideal surface for motor and light traffic.
One great objection to this pavement in' a city like Manchester, with its, great volume of traffic, is the length of time a road has to be closed after the pavement is laid before it is sufficiently hardened and matured to withstand the action of the traffic.
The Old Wyche Road.
At a meeting of the Malvern District Council, held one day last week, the surveyor reported that the owner of the traction engines using the middle Wyche, Read had agreed to discontinue the use of this road for such traffic, The council is applying for powers to clese the road against. motor traffic.
Another Daily Service.
The Southport Watch Committee have given sanction to a Preston company tio run a daily service of motor coaches between Pieston and Southport. The service is due to be inaugurated shortly. On August Bank Holiday it was estimated that, 10,000 holiday makers reached town by motor coach.
Lubrication of Varna Tractors.
A very informative booklet dealing with the lubrication of farm tractors has been written by Mr. William Blackwell, A.B.A..Mech.E., A.J.Inst.E., and will be sent free to anyone applying to the W. •Blackwell Oil 'Co., Victoria Oil Works, Aston, Birmingham. It cleats with such items as continuity of operation, piston speed, the introduction of lubricant, the effects on the lubricant of different, brands of spirit., carbon _deposit, viscosity, mid the influence of heat. The lubrication of gears and worm drives is also discussed.
Manchester Cabbies and the Badge.
Tho Hackney Coach Committee of the Manchester Corporation, with whom the drivers of taxicabs and hackney carriages have recently been in conflict over the proposal to force the drivers to wear a badge, have approved a badge of a pattern suggested by Mr. Greenhough, general, secretary of the Taxi Owner-Drivers' Association, and the badges will 'be ready in about a month's time. The badges, which are to be worn by about 870 drivers in the city, will he made of white metal, and are about the size of half a crown, and' hear the Manchester coat-of-arms, with the word "Manchester "above it, and the word " Driver " below.
At a meeting of the London Safety First Council, Dr, F. J. Waldo' Coroner, City of London and Southwark, who has consistently advocated additional street refuges and more policemen on point duty at dangerous crossings, gave an . account of an experiment now being mad a in Southwark with the cognizance of the police authorities, with the object of providing better and safer facilities for crossing roadways at, certain fixed or traffic points indicated by distinctiae signs affixed to lamp columns and lettered "Cross. the Road Here." As the creation of " Safety " zones should not only minimize the risk to pedestrians, but assist, the regulation of traffic, the council, decided closely to follow the experiment, and, if successful, to recommend general adoption of the scheme.
Durham Buses.
At a meeting of the DurhamRural District Council Highways Committee a letter was read from tho Ministry of Transport in regard to the appeal of the United Services Automobile Services, Ltd., against the refusal of the Durham Rural Council to consent to the use by the company's motorbuses of the route : Durham, Shincliffe, Sherburn Hospital, Silent Bank, and Thornley, and also against the mileage charge the council sought to impose as a condition attaching, to their consent to the use by the cornpanv's buses of the route Coxhoe and Kelice. Sir Eric Geddes saw no reason to interfere with the couneirs decision as to the first-named route, which he considered reasonable and proper, but as regards the. operation of buses on the second route, he considered the condition attaching to the council's request to be unreasonable, and accordingly consented to the use of the route by motorbuses of the company without the payment of a mileage Charge. A. communication to this effect had been sent to the company. The opinion was expressed that the Ministry, of Transport had overridden the action of the ceuncil, and a member remarked that it. was scarcely worth their time in dealing with the affairg that came before them.
The County Motor Co,, of Stockton Heath, have inaugurated a daily motor omnibus service to Rickmere via Whitley and Budworth. A two-hourly service will be maintained, and the return fare " all the day " is 3s.
Local Proceedings.
Grimsby Fire Brigade Committee want a new motor ambulance. • Pocklington I.D.C. and R.D.C. propose to combine for the purpose of purchasing a fire-engine.
The purchase of an Afro motor mower at a cost of 275 is proposed by the Lancashire County Council.
Leyton Council has prepared a schema for a motor vehicle 3harging station and plant at a cost of 22,700.
Wolverhampten Down Council has decided to purchase a Foden ateam wagon and trailer at a cost of 21,357: Burnley Corporation has failed to secure Parliamentary powers to run motorbus services outside its boundaries.
Manchester Ccra•oration Health Committee has given authority for the purchase of a tractor from Messrs. Mellard, of Abergelf.
Salford Corporation Tramways Cornmittee recommend the purchase of a Leyland single-deck motor omnibus at a cost of 21,650.
Salford. Town Council has obtained the consent of the -Ministry of Health to get a loan of 21,850 for the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Dundee Cotparatic,n has new decided to seek Parliamentary powers to enable it to run motorbus services beyond the• boundaries of the city.
Manchester Corporation Markets Committee, in their annual report, record the construction of a garage for motorcars and storage arrangements for petrol.
The Parliamentary Commissioners have held an inquiry into the application of the Perth Corporation for powers to run motorbuses to districts around Perth.
Walthamstow District, Council, which has been considering the desirability of running trackless trams, has. now decided to seek Parliamentary powers to enable It to do so.
Hull Watch Committee have ern;powered a sub-committee to consider the desirability Of securing a new motor fire tender, and to purchase one if it is deemed necessary.
The Norham and Islandshires R.D.C. has appointed a deputation to confer with representatives of the Belford and Glen dale Councils on a proposal to obtain a motor fire-engine to be stationed at • Isowick for the use of the three districts.
A prosperous mining area has just been joined up in North Northum berland by Messrs. J. U. Sample, who have commenced a regular service between the seaport, Amble, and Cheving ten Drift, Broomhill and Radcliffe. Should the inauguration meet with the success which is expected, other bus ;routes are to be commenced.
• Recently the Lesvisham Guardians proposed to contract with Messrs. Tilling for a motor ambulance service, but the :Health Ministry suggested that a cheaper arrangement would be to secure the use of some of the Metropolitan Asylums Board ambulances. A committee of the Guardians Board has acCordingly ob tained a quotation, but cannot recommend acceptance of the terms of the Asylums Board.
Replying to a criticism that the Omnibus Committee 'ware buying too many buses, Mr. Warters, chairman of the Joint Tramwavs Committee of the Stockton Corporation, said they Were not con , tenaplating buying any more. Despite the industrial trouble of the past three months, the bases had made enough to meet all charges, provide for interest and redemption of capital nod put a little by for depreciation.
Cumberland Bus Routes.
The county surveyor reported at a quarterly meeting of the Cumberland County Council that the following new bus routes had been used for regular services :—
By the Whitehaven Motor Services Co., Ltd. :—(a) Maryport, Alloriby, and Silloth; (b) Silloth„ Wigton; (c) Maryport, Aspatria, Wigton, and Carlisle; (d) Maryport, Cockermouth, via Dearham ; (e) Workington, Cockermonth, and Keswick, via Bassenthwaite.
By Mr. R. Percival, Carlisle :—(a) Cumwhinton, Scotby, Weathers.); and Brampton; (b)
Gretna, Springfield, Longtown, Brampton, and Carlisle, via Crosby.
He also -said that, with regard to routes previously and still used by the Whitehaven Motor Services Co:, between Maryport, Whitehaven, and Cleator Moor, many, if not all, cif which were, in his opinion, new routes 'within the meaning of Section 20 of the Local Government (Emergency Provision) Act, 1916, by which the council's sanction should have been obtained 'before these routes were used for regular services of buses plying for .hire, no application had been received. The committee have resolved that proceedings be taken in these cases in which new routes have been opened for regular services without application being made to the council in accordance with the Act.
Petrol the Deciding Factor.
There was a loss of 24,670 on the Wigan Corporation motorbus service for the past year of working, but it is recognized that there was a gain to the tramways as a consequence of the " feeding" by the bus services. The corporation begins the new financial year with greater expectations. Petrol has materially decreased in price, and this will effect a considerable saving. Two petrol storage tanks are being erected, so that economy will be effected by the purchase of petrol in bulk.
Buses for Glasgow.
Glasgow Corporation Tramways Committee have now decided to promote a Bill for powers to run motorbuses over specified routes. The town clerk has explained that the clauses will be :—
(1) To provide for the running of omnibuses (a).anywhere in the city, and (b) without the city along roads on which the corporation has statutory powers to construct and maintain tramways, and, with the consent of the Minister of Transport and local authority of the district, along any other road in extension of or in connection with tramway or omnibus routes in operation or authorized; (2) To ask that ahe fares for omnibuses be such as may be approved by the Minister of Transport; and (3) To insert all the consequential and neceseary clauses usually granted by Parliament in connection with omnibus serviress
Ambulances for Hire.
A fine fleet of Armstrong-Siddeley sixcylindered motor ambulances is owned by Thomas Tilling, Ltd., and controlled by their hire department at 20, Victoria Street, Westminster London, S.W. 1.
The body, which is a Tilling registered design, is completely equipped with bed, • blankets, stretchers, etc. There is accommoalatiOn for one patient lying down, and seating for the attendant and two or three passengers.
The Weight of Buses.
In giving permission to the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., to establish a new omnibus route, the Paving Committee of the Manchester Corporation have stipulated that if in the opinion of the city engineer the weight of the omnibuses has the effect of causing excessive damage to the roads, no omnibus of a greater weight, when loaded, than six tons shall use the mute if the city engineer gives nctice to that effect.
'90-Mile Route Linked Up.
Consequent upon the running by the Todmorden Corporation of motorbuses beyond the borough area, it, has • now become practicable to effect a linking-up which renders it possible to travel either by bus or tram from Liverpool to Leeds. a distance of 90 miles.
Services. at Shrewsbury.
The Midland " Red " Motor Services, that enterprising Birmingham concern which is doing so much to open up the Midlands, is running special ' market buses from Shrewsbury and other places to various neighbouring towns on market days. The services are very popular, and the enterprise has been much appre
eiated. -On Mondays buses rum from Shrewsbury to Welshpool and from Welshpeol to Berriew, and also to Guilsfieid.
On Tuesdays, Service No: 115 connects Shrewsbury with Ellesmere, Service No. 115s running from Ellesmere to Welsh Hampton. On the same day another bus runs from Shrewsbury to Market Drayton, a further service connecting the latter place with Cheswardine. There are various ether services on other weekdays.
The sarne company runs various coach trips from Shrewsbury to such places as Wrekin, Llandudno, Bridenorth, and se on. The trips are advertised weekly, and coaches are also hired to private parties
Garden City for Steam Wagon Workers.
About 100 houses, out of the 400 which have been planned, have now been completed at the Sentinel garden suburb, opposite the Sentinel steam wagon works at Shrewsbury. Every house is steamheated throughout from the works' power house, and the design of all the dwellings combines artistic effect with commonsense utility. The lay-out of the suburb is particularly attractive, the buildings being ranged round a central recreation ground. A few hundred yards away a boating station is nearing completion, and boats have been built in the Sentinel works. The Sentinel Co. has also acquired on long lease the old county cricket ground in the neighbourhood, in order to increase the facilities for their workers' recreation. Nothing, seemingly, is left undone to ensure the contentment of the personnel in this enterprising works.
No Letters by Motor Coach.
The suggestion was recently made that, in order to overcome the inconvenience caused by the suspension of the Sunday delivery of letters, motor coaches should be employed for the purpose. The Postmaster-General has, however, refused to grant facilities for the conveyance of the mails in this manner. It is stated that he does not see any grounds for extending the service of letter-carrying to motor coaches either in lieu of or subsidiary to the facilities offered by the railway companies for the conveyance of letters. Mary difficulties are in the way of the establishment of such a scheme.
Midland Roads.
At a: meeting of the Warwickshire County Council a few days ago the Roads and Bridges Committee recommended thate in view of the great distress in Sutton Coldfield as a ivult of unemployment, the work of widening and impTOVing Tamworth main road be proceeded with.
Alderman Hunter said the Council had sanctioned an expenditure of £15,000 on the Nuneaton roads, £16,000 on the Birmingham and Castle Bromwich main road, about £0,000 on the Warwick and Kenilworth Road, and £8,060 on the Myton Road, and if they included the £12,000 which the 'Famworth main road would cost, there would be a total of £60,000 not included in the estimates. The recommendation was referred ,back to the committee.
S.M.M. and T. Personnel
At a recent meting of the Corninercial • Vehicle Conunittee of the S.M.M. and T. the following members were elected to the committee :—Mr R. G. Blakesley (Renault, Ltd.); Mr. D. Lovell (General Motors, Ltd.); and Mr. E. C. Theelke (De Dion-Bouton, Ltd.). Three vacancies have occurred on this committee—two representing British manufacturers and one foreign. The committee will be pleased to hear from members prepared to serve.
Tyres that Do Not Skid.
At a meeting of the London Safety First Council it was reported that for some time past the Street " Safety " Committee have been investigating the possibilities of a type of non-skidding tyre for motor vehicles, and the resurt of their deliberations showed that, whilst the type in question gives non-skidding properties, it introduces some defects when running over tramway tracks. In the circumstances further Action was deferred for the present.
Malvern's Haulage.
At a meeting of the Malvern District Council it was reported that the total average amount of haulage was 10,500 tons per annum, exclusive of special road reconstruction and other work, and the Streets Committee recommended the council to purchase a steam lorry, at an estimated cost of £1,200. The report was adopted, the surveyor being instructed to obtain tenders..