+
surface was generally obtained, except on some of the embankments where the traction engine had, owing to the softness of the bank, rolled trenches in the surface of the road; but if more syenite and laterite earth were added to these soft places and the rolling continued, I have no doubt that in time to come the road here would become as good as at some other points where the formation is through cuttings."
4. In the absence of a properly constituted Road Department it would, I think, be futile to introduce traction engine or motor lorry transport, and my own opinion is that even if such a Department was constituted, it would be found that both traction engine and motor lorry transport would be very expensive. In the first place the load carried per journey is small and consequently the charge for haulage must be proportionately high. Another item in the expenditure would also be considerable, namely, the cost of maintenance.
I do not know what is the cost per mile of maintaining a road in England along which transport of the kind referred to in this despatch is largely used; it is, however, admittedly very large, and as, in the absence of local rates, the general revenue of the Colony would have to bear the cost of maintenance, the direct drain upon the Treasury caused by the upkeep of the roads would go very far towards counterbalancing the indirect benefit to the Treasury resulting from the saving of head carriage.
5. As stated in paragraph 5 (c) of my despatch, No. 515, of 16th November, 1905.* concerning the necessity for organising a Road Department, I think that attention should be directed to the possibilities of transport with pack animals.
On this subject I intend writing you a separate despatch.
27757
(No. 205.)
MY LORD,
No. 3.
HONG KONG.
I have, &c.,
L. PROBYN,
Governor.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 19 August, 1909.)
Government House, Hong Kong, 17th July, 1909. In reply to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 28th of last May,† I have the honour to state that no system of mechanical transport has been, or is about to be, introduced into this Colony.
27747
I have, &c.,
F. D. LUGARD,
Governor, &c.
3
3. Having regard to the heavy expenditure already incurred in the purchase and shipment of the tractor, I would recommend that an expert on mechanical transport should be sent out to report generally on the feasibility of motor transport in this country. Without expert opinion on this point, it appears useless to proceed with costly experiments which, as far as can be judged at present, are not likely to lead to ultimate success so far as practical purposes are concerned.
I have, &c.,
H. E. S. CORDEAUX.
Enclosure in No. 4.
OFFICER COMMANDING TROOPS to the COMMISSIONER.
(No. G/135/2.)
Wadamago, 25th July, 1909.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to forward copies of the reports of the two trials of the traction engine.
The nature of these reports is so unsatisfactory as to make it extremely doubtful, to say the best of it, whether it is possible to expect any good results from this type of engine without metalling the road practically the whole way from Berbera to Wagon's Rust.
My letter, G 135, of the 10th instant, and the reports enclosed therewith, were written on the assumption that the traction engine would be able to pull its ordinary useful load without any great difficulty over the greater part of the road, and that it would only be necessary to remove obstacles and improve bad places.
These reports, however, show that even with a negligible load the engine finds great difficulty in traversing the road, and, further, that it cuts into the surface to such an extent as will make it impassable after a few trips.
This being so, it is obvious that the estimates arrived at by Lieutenant Boger (ride above-mentioned letter) were given from a false premise, and are in each case under-estimates.
Without further inspection of the route it is impossible to say to what extent the cost has been under-estimated, but it is probable that the minimum cost of making the road practicable for this type of engine would be £5,000 instead of £2,000, as at paragraph 3 (b) in letter G 135.
Under these circumstances I have not thought it worth while to spend even the £30 sanctioned by you, as this would only serve to improve the crossings of the few nullahs, and could not, as was originally hoped, make the first three sections practicable for any real trials.
It is probable that a broader wheel would enable the engine to achieve better results, but only an expert could say whether these improved results would give a reasonably efficient service.
In conclusion, I would beg most strongly to recommend that the Colonial Office be again asked to send out to this country an expert on mechanical transport to report fully on the suitability of motor traction for this country.
Meanwhile, I consider it would be a waste of money to incur any expense whatsoever in connection with road repair.
I have, &c.,
J. A. HANNYNGTON,
Lieutenant-Colonel,
No. 4.
SOMALILAND.
THE COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 19 August, 1909.)
(No. 70.) MY LORD,
Commissioner's Office, Sheikh, 31st July, 1909. IN continuation of my despatch, No. 66, of the 21st of July. I have the honour to transmit copies of a further letter from the Officer Commanding Troops, enclosing reports on two trial trips recently made by the steam tractor.
2. In view of the adverse nature of these reports, I am of opinion that it would be useless to incur any considerable expenditure on the temporary repair of the Berbera-Sheikh road without expert opinion as to the ultimate measure of success likely to be attained.
• 44532: not printed.
↑ No. 44 in [Cd. 4589],
26011: not printel.
Commanding Troops,
Somaliland Protectorate.
1st Road Trial, 9th July, 1909.
Paraded outside engine-shed at 4.30 p.m. with a load of 4 tons.
Load consist-
ing of 3 tons of water-tank tops, ton coal, breakdown gear making up the other
ton.
We started off in slow wheel and proceeded for about hundred yards, when we tried the engine in fast wheel, but found it useless, as the pulling was too heavy; we put the engine back in second speed and got about another 200 yards, where
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1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
EPER C.O.885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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