PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
יוןויוןויון
Reference :-
C.O. 8
885
4
the ground was too soft, causing the wheels to cut into the ground; we had to un- couple the engine and run forward for about a hundred yards and rope the truck out. This continued for about a mile-roping the truck about every two hundred yards-until we struck the old wagon road; here we were able to proceed in fast wheel for about a mile. When to the right of the Isolation Hospital we came across the first nullah, where the ground was too soft, and we had to rope 50 yards each side of the nullah.
In between each nullah there is a stretch of road varying about two hundred to five hundred yards. The second nullah we came to we had to build it up with stones as there was a big dip from the road down into the nullah; as we were roping the truck over this it ran forward a bit, allowing the rope to become slack and causing the engine to race; when the engine got the weight again it brought the rope up with a sharp tug, breaking one of the guide rollers.
At 7.30 p.m. it became too dark to proceed any further; we were then about two hundred yards from the first coffee-shop.
When we stopped we examined the water-tanks and found we had used 129 gallons of water-this being due to the engine running in slow wheel and roping. We therefore proposed returning the next day, as it was useless to go any further on the water we had, as we only had got about two miles more and then we would only have had enough water to carry us back.
The next morning there was too much wind blowing, and as we had covered the engine up the night before we did not want the sand to get at the top motion, so decided to hang on until it had settled down a bit.
We were able to make a start at 2.30 p.m., and had a very good run back, having to rope only three times, and coming nearly all the way in fast wheel, as it is practically down hill all the way back. We arrived at the engine-shed at 4.30 p.m.
4 cwts.
Coal used on outward journey, 21 cwts. ? Coal used on homeward journey, 14 cwts. Water used on outward journey, 120 gallons? Water used on homeward journey, 50 gallons 1st day under steam 3 hours--4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. 2nd day under steam 14 hours-2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oil used, 3 gallons cylinder.
170 gallons.
5
all down hill, coming all the way in fast wheel, having to rope at the four nullahs mentioned in the first report only, arriving at the Fort at 5 p.m.
First day. Water used, 180 gallons.
31
Coal used, 3 cwts.
Under steam 4 hours-3.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Second day. Water used, 80 gallons.
Coal used, 1 cwts.
Under steam 2 hours-3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Oil used altogether, including oiling trucks, 3 gallons.
I beg to point out that it will be necessary that those bad parts of the road mentioned should be repaired before any satisfactory results can be attained from the fort to the neck, and as the engine is cutting up the road worse every time it crosses it, after a few more runs on the road as it is it will become impossible_to proceed along it. and climate, the top motion becomes unbearable to touch, so that any of the bearings It may be mentioned that owing to the intense heat of the engine are liable to seize without giving the driver warning. In any ordinary climate the driver can always.tell by the touch whether his bearings are getting too hot, but here it is impossible to tell in this manner. so heated that you cannot get the injector to work, as the injector will not work Also the water in the tanks becomes when the water becomes too hot to lift, so you have only your pumps to rely on.
C. D. HARRINGTON,
2nd Corporal.
I noticed this personally. The water in the tanks was very hot indeed, and the heat of the top motion was undoubtedly unbearably hot.
Berbera,
19 July, 1909.
29991
C. D. HARRINGTON,
2nd Corporal.
Cleaning material used. 2 pints paraffin, 1 lb. waste.
No. 5.
J. L. JESSE,
Captain,
Base Supply and Transport Officer.
"
2nd Trial, 15th and 16th July, 1909. Paraded outside engine-shed at 3.30 p.m. with tanks water (310 gallons). Load consisted of one ton of water-tank tops and ton of on engine" full of break-down gear.
Started off in fast wheel and were able to keep it up for about two miles, when we came to the first nullah. After roping across this, we proceeded in fast wheel for about half a mile, till The road here will want repairing for at least 75 yards. we came to the second nullah. Here the road will also want repairing for about
20 yards. A few yards further, we reached the third nullah; the road requires repairing again for 100 yards. After this you can only proceed in second speed for quarter of a mile, when we reached the fourth nullah.
This fourth nullah, being very wide, has to be roped across in twice. The road here requires repairing for about 150 yards. After roping across this, you can go in fast wheel for about two miles, but it is hard, heavy pulling, the road gradually becoming worse, when you tinuous, up-hill, heavy grind for about two miles, when we had to stop, as it had have to drop back into second speed. Here we had a con- become too dark to proceed any further, arriving at 8 p.m.
In the morning we walked along to the neck, which was about two miles away, and we found the road was just the same as the last two miles we had done the night before, so that would mean about four miles heavy, up-hill pulling in second speed. which means consuming twice the quantity of water and coal you would use if you were travelling in fast wheel.
We started off to come back at 3 p.m. We had a very good run back, as it is
GOLD COAST.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 8 September, 1909.)
(No. 394.) MY LORD,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's circular
Government House, Accra, 20th August, 1909. despatch of the 28th of May last,* covering copies of a Parliamentary Paper contain- ing correspondence relating to mechanical transport in certain Colonies and Pro-
tectorates.
2. The only system of mechanical transport which has been introduced in the Gold Coast is that of motor lorries, used by various mercantile firms, which run between Accra and Dodowa, a distance of 26 miles. The owners of these lorries have been approached with a view to obtain the information asked for in paragraph 3 of the circular despatch under reply; but they have represented that if they complete the tables showing the approximate cost of running and the upkeep of their lorries, the published figures will only benefit those firms which have not incurred risks by making costly experiments in mechanical transport. They further represent that, even if no names should be published, the source of any information given could be readily identified by persons with a knowledge of local conditions.
The reasons adduced for withholding the required particulars from the Govern- ment do not appear to me to be altogether convincing, and I propose to make a further attempt to obtain the figures, giving to the interested parties an undertaking that the information which they may furnish will not be published without their sanction.
• No. 44 in [Cd. 4589],
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO