J.B. Rosch... 23 12 35 3 32] To the Editor of the At tiffin, Lieut. Cubitt explained to the members the new system of hand-leapping and expressed the hope that on his return from home the return of efficients would be at least 43 instead of 34, thus reversing the figure:
Sergt. Campbell then proposed the health of Lieut. Cubitt, which toast was heartily responded to by the members present, and kind wishes for "bon voyage" and safe and quick return were expressed by all as Lieut. Cubitt has done good work for the Company whilst he has been in charge of it.
Lieut. Cubitt then presented to Priv. T. J. Rowland the two Cups, to be held by him until the next competition.
After tiffin the members had a little more shooting, whioh finished another enjoyable day, "Nonts-Emma Darcy News."
Sra,—The present uncertainty as to the advent of the trams in Shanghai may prove a blessing in disguise. If it gives time for a maturity of j it as to the best means of urban and suburban communication it may be that the community will be more than repaid for the delay. It is evident that the last word has not been said as to this matter, and in the present discussion of single versus double trolley—or again the under-or conduit trolley such as that in the fact of that perhaps lo len tram i might be profitably abandoned ip favour of motor busses. The following from the San Francisco " Argonaut" would seem to indicate that the question is s large one even where the trolley is established inthe field Satisfaction with the electric car has not been wholly unalloyed. Speed has been attained over the horse and cable car, operating expenses have been cut down, and better service has been the result of the adoption of electricity motive power. But, according to the 'Manufacturers' Record; we are still behind the ideal. The present trolley car has the disadvantage of overhead wires, poles, and intricate feed wires, Therefore it is doomed on busy city streets. A well-known _mochanical engineer is quoted as saying: "In the course of a few years there will not be a street-car track in New York. Five years ago there were no automobiles.
ing the past twelve months our automobile output exceeded in value all the locomotives built in America by twenty millions of dollars, and the industry is hardly out of its infancy, The trolley car ad eeught horse will go oct gether; there is no room in the crowded streets of our largest cities for either.'
"All this is worth thinking about, and the presence of the automobile in San Francisco is certainly indicative of profitable employment. How far it will ho plebeian street oar, no one would wisely predict at present. "We are clamouring for better electric service; we are crying for the abandonment of the cable system. After all, where are we to stop? San Francisco has its own needs, and while the prediction of the engineer in festive, we have our own problems. the ' Manufacturers' Record' is fully sug-
the automobile can climb the California Street hill, carry passengers safely down Hyde Street, and traverse Powell Stroot from Sutter to North Beach, we have reason to suspect the value of cable railway stocks. It is well to remember that the immense sums spent in chang. ing the New York Metropolitan system from cable to electric was not a paying investment. The automobile is more wieldy, requires nothing but a good pa ment, oan follow any road open to it, Blockades, collisions, and kindred hindrances do not hinder an automobile service. On the other hand, any one can easily picture its inconveniences, Capit-Al itself will resist a change."
There is no change necessary here to arouse the antagonism of capital. New York City has a line of motor busses on Fifth Avenue and the increasing use of them at home must carry conviction that the oxperimental stage is practically past, and the automobile in its commend it, aside from other considera. tions.
Tam, ote, 11th November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.