The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1905-04-26

scientific American.
During the past two or three years
the conversion of the various street
surface railroads in Great Britain to
electricity has been carried out very
extensively. But now a halt has been
called in this development. During
the past few months innumerable ex-
periments have been carried out with
motor-propelled omnibuses and the
results have, been somewhat remark
able. From these experiments it is
evident that this type of vehicle and
means of propulsion has been brought
to the requisite standard of efficiency
and reliability for this class of work.
There r several motor omnibus
services already being maintained in
various parts of the metropolis, and
rs they have been introduced in COM
petition with the electric railroads,
some interesting comparative results
have become available. From this it
Is cOnclusively demonstrated that for
all-rOund work the motor vehicle is
far more satisfactory, especially in
crowded thoroughfares. In the first
place, while its speed may not be 80
great Is compared with what the
electric vehicle running on the rail-
road can attain when the road 10
clear, yet owing to it's greater
mobility, it can thread its way in and
out Of the other traffic with greater
facility. 1t has been shown on
numerous occasions that when the two
types Of vehicles have started from
one point for another distant station,
the latter has been reached BY the
motor omnibus in the shorter time.
In one instance the motor omnibus
service Is able to maintain an average
speed Of II miles IN hour through
ordinary thoroughfares, whereas the
electric . has only been able to
average . speed ranging from Z to 3
miles per hour.
At the present moment there are
l62 motor 0mnibuses in course of
construction for the various COM
panies Of London, which number, in
the course of the next two years, is to
be increased to 1000. These vehicles
cost ON the average $1,000 apiece and
have accommodation for - pas
sengers. One Of these buses has Just
completed . 2,O0O-mile reliability test.
The vehicle is propelled by . four
cylinder motor developing "a horse
power. The average daily run vas
100 miles, the total weight Of the car
when loaded representing S tons. On
average roads . speed of 16 miles On
hour was maintained. The longest
run made without any involuntary
stop wss 971 miles, which, consider
ing the fact that no overhauling,
cleaning, or other adjusting work was
permitted upon the vehicle during the
whole time, is in every way salts
factory. The gasoline consumption
throughout the whole 1000 miles
aggregated ~ gsllons, representing
On average Of approximately seven
miles per gallon. Another important
point in regard = these vehicles ia
their economy in operation - com.
pared with their earning capacity. A
motor vehicle running 100 miles per
veek csn barn on the average from
$50 to 1850. while the working ex-
penses for the same distance and
period Aggregate only 80.
At the present moment the London
County Council are converting the
whole Of the surface railroads under
their control TO electric power. In
cne district, owing 70 the advance
Of the gasoline vehicle the scheme Of
classification, however, hes been
abandoned. Il IL estimated that "a
convert the section In question "a
electrieity over q, 00O. 900 would have
10 b expended. The existing rail-
road would have to BE- torn up,
heavier rails laid down, and ~
conduit for The accommodation Of ~
cnessut cable and collecting shoe In.
SEALED, while special vehicles would
have 81 b construceed.
InGl6ad Il e resolved 70 allow Tt
existing rails 70 remsin and 70 super.