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

________ __________ PETROL VEHICLE RUNNING COSTS 61 In the year of the war this delivery was carried out by three vans three times a week. Many other long-distance deliveries were made weekly, and three days a week; and the firm found that on an average one motor van did the work of six horses. Some rounds would have taken eight horses, if it had been practicable to do them by horse haulage, but since there was not time enough in the day, these were not found possible. These cases refer to perishable goods that were obtained from the Fish and Covent Garden Markets, and which required delivery the same day. Average Petrol Bill. The rise in the price of fuel from 1912 to 1914 was very marked, and, naturally, affected seriously the delivery expenses. However, this rise was fairly balanced by the reduction in the price of tyres. The following figures show the average petrol bill for each van—• £ s. d. 1912—Petrol at 7d. per gallon . . . 47-4 1913— „ Is. „ ... 80 12 - 1914— „ Is. Id. ... 87 6 4 Cost of repairs— £ s. d. Three vans for eight years . . . . . 1,521 2 3 Eight vans for seven years ___________________.... 2,927 6 1 £4,448 8 4 Cost of tyres— £ s. d. Three vans for eight years . . . . . 911 15 9 Eight vans for seven years _____________________.... 2,013 8 7 ^2,925 4 4 Dividing these two totals by 80, the cost of repairs