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

MOTOR ROAD TRANSPORT : PAST AND PRESENT 11 as regards internal combustion engined vehicles— which af ter all, form a big majority of the total in this country—is by examining the quantity of motor spirit imported during the last few years. Below will be found a return of the imports of oil petroleum, viz., motor spirit and fuel oil, respectively, into the United Kingdom during each of the years 1906 to 1919. From these figures a rough. chart has been made of the motor spirit imports in order to show at a glance the rapid rise in consumption (see p. 10). Years Motor Spirit Gallons. Fuel Oil Gallons. 19061 26,792,687 13,819,091 19071 33,536,739 8,737,179 19081 41,807,995 15,286,321 19091 34,226,223 32,687,326 1910 55,049,210 34,363,276 1911 67,926,563 33,074,138 1912 79,590,155 48,135,845 1913 100,858,017 95,062,187 1914 119,030,155 212,675,855 1915 144,574,891 132,204,554 1916 161,410,824 22,556,004 1917 2 139,270,181 440,582,168 19182 192,959,054 842,405,536 19192 198,767,221 265,405,203 Motor v. Horse Trafiic : Relative Power of Control. While making comparisons between motor and horse traffic the relative power of control is a point for consideration. The results in this connection which are given on the next page are of tests which were carried out some time ago at Sheffield, and are instructive. 1 Includes “ Spirit other than Motor Spirit ” prior to 30th April, 1909. 2 From Ist July, 1917, the figures include consignments which at the time of importation were known to be the property of His Maj esty’s Government or the Governments of the Allies.