Motor Road Transport For Commercial Purposes
(Liquid Fuel, Steam, Electricity)

STEAM WAGON AND STEAM TRACTOR 105 horses, and the high, prices charged for meclianical haulage, the question of transportation of material became somewhat acute. In one county it was agreed to purchase a steam tipping wagon and two trailers at a cost of £800. These were delivered in October, 1915. The short period tliat this wagon worked up to the end of the financial year could hardly be taken as a basis for arriving at a definite statement of cost, but after allowing for depreciation at the rate of 12| per cent., and including the whole of the working expenses, the cost of hauling the material dealt with was only 3|d. per ton per mile. It was not expected that this low rate would be maintained, and the figure of 5d. per ton per mile was estimated for the coming year. The initial experiment proved so satisfactory that another wagon and two trailers were purchased at the cost of £850. No. 1. No. 2. 1916-1917. Date purchased .... . Nov. 1915 July, 1916 Cost with two trailers . £800 £850 Working period, up to 3Ist March, 1917 . 12 months 8 months Working Costs— £ s. d. £ d. Wages ..... . 144 7 9 123 - 8 Coal ..... 80 4 1 60 9 - Oil 8 16 9 6-10 Repairs, Tyres, etc. . . 103 10 9 336 19 4 33 7 2 222 17 8 Add Depreciation at 12| per cent. . . 100 - - £436 19 4 70 16 8 ^293 14 4 No. of days worked 257 207 ,, ,, loads hauled 847 744 ,, ,, tons carried 7,513 6,602 ,, ,, miles travelled 5,080 3,357 ,, ,, ,, ,, loaded 2,540 1,678 ,, „ tons hauled per journey . 8-87 8-86 Cost per day .... • P 14 0 £1 8 4i ,, „ mile .... . 3 5-J 3 6 ,, ,, ton per mile . 4-65d. 4-75d.