THE TRAMWAY PROPOSAL

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12808, 4 June 1914, Page 2

THE TRAMWAY PROPOSAL

TENDER FOR TRAMWAY.

His Worship the Mayor and Borough Councillors, Palmsrston North. Gentlemen, —I, Charles I'. Eden, accredited agent and engineer acting fur and on behalf of the Australasian General Engineering Company, domiciled in New Zealand, do hereby submit the following offer to construct, fully equip, efficiently maintain, and run a tramway in the Borough of Palmerston North as a private undertaking at the schedule prices attached, and under the following conditions, subject to amendments agreed to by both parties: — The tramway will be of a length of 9.1 miles, more or less, over the route as defined on plan marked "A," and signed by the above named agent, and the Town Clerk of the Borough of Palmerston North. ROLLING STOCK. The rolling stock will consist of six self-contained electric transmission cars and six trailers, to be approved by the Council and passed by the Public Works Department. SELF-CONTAINED CARS. The system of generation and transmission consists of a 60 b.h.p. petrolparaffin Djinn engine direct coupled to a 35.5 k.w. dynamo capable of carrying 20 per cent, overload for two hours, 50 per cent, for twenty minutes and 100 per cent, momentarily. This unit, which is mounted on a car, provides current for electric lighting and also power transmission to two 18 h.p. electric motors, which are mounted on a double bogie chassis. The armatures of each motor are arranged to give direct transmission of power to the rail wheels through a single positive reduction gear, which is always in mesh. The current supplied to the motors is controlled by the motorman from either end of the car by means of a barrel series-parallel controller supplemented with hand, pneumatic, and electro-magnetic brakes. Seating accommodation provides for 36 passengers, allowing comfortable standing room for 16 additional persons. A normal maximum speed of 30 miles per hour is guaranteed with full passenger accommodation filled. This speed may be proportionately increased in cases of necessity by increasing the speed of the generating plant, which under normal circumstances is maintained by means of a centrifugal crankshaft governor. TRAILERS. The trailers are- mounted on a single track chassis provided with pneumatic. brakes controlled from the locomotive cars by the motorman. The cars are 'lighted electrically by current supplied from the locomotive car. Seating accommodation provides for 20 passengers, allowing comfortable standing room for 12 additional persons.

PERMANENT WAY. 9.1 miles of track with all necessary loops and crossings. The loops are estimated to represent one-twentieth of the total length of track, and are in addition to the said length of 9.1 miles. The tendered price includes all labour, supervision, supply, construction, .and grading for the track complete ready for working. Formation of foundation is averaged at 6in thifck to be laid down on a specification drawn to the approval of the Borough Engineer; jarrah sleepers Bin x 9in x 4%in, spaced at 2ft 4in centres; rails 751bs per yard, erected with regulation approved fish plates, spikes, and tie bars; gauge 4ft 8y 2 in. The whole of the work to be subject also to the approval of the Publie Works Department. The tender price for the track complete is £34,200. CAR SHED AND WORKSHOPS. Built of steel framing and iron covering, at an estimated cost of £I2OO, to be so erected as to permit of easy extension. Vouchers showing exact cost to be submitted to the Council, and the tender varied according to actual cost. WORKSHOPS.

The price of £I2OO includes workshops, which are to be constructed as part of the car shed and under the same conditions. The machinery of the workshops is estimated at £BOO, and the company 'will also undertake to supply vouchers showing the exact cost, the tender to be varied accordingly. The price will include double centre wheel lathe, §in capstan and screw cutting lathe, standard cutting machine, engine to provide the necessary power, the whole of the machinery to be approved by the Borough Engineer and to be of such capacity as to carry out all requirements. PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT.

The company is prepared to undertake the contract under the following alternative provisions and tender: — 1. The Council may take over the contract on completion at the tender price. 2. The company is prepared to carry out the contract and run the same as u private undertaking with the provision that the Council shall have the option of taking over the undertaking after the expiration of 7 years, 14 years, or 21 years, on payment of terms, which shall consist of the full contract price less 4 per centum depreciation per annum, during which the undertaking has been in operation under the company's control. The date shall be computed from the time the whole length of track is open for running. The company shall be under obligation to present to the Council an audited balance sheet annually, audited by two auditors, of which, the Council shall appoint one. The time for completion of contract shall be one year after the contract is signed, and a commencement shall be made by the company within six months of the contract being signed. o. The company will deposit with the Council on signing the contract 5 per centum of the whole estimated .ost of £48,200, and before signing the contract will give a guarantee approved by the Council that the contract will be undertaken on the terms herein set forth. 4. Shelter Sheds: In addition to the estimate of the cost as set out in this offer, the company will erect six or nine shelter sheds at places decided upon by the Council, and the actual cost of same will be added to the contract price, the size of the said shelters to be iixed by the Council. 5. The company will also undertake to keep the track, rolling stock, machinery. and other equipment in first - class order during the whole period it has charge of the running. Any dispute arising between the parties in this respect to be referred to the arbitrament of two City Council tramway engineers in New Zealand, one to

be selected by each party. The findings to be as set out in the Arbitration Act. 7. The company will allow theCoun- ; cil to carry out any part of the laying down of the track on the condition that the Council employ its own men under the supervision of the Borough Engineer, who will be responsible to the company's supervising engineer. Under this provision the Borough Council will be responsible for the payment of wages of the men thej employ, in return for which the tender price will be reduced by a figure which represents the company's estimate of the cost of the work which the Council proposes to undertake. This liguie will be ascertained and approved by both sides, and signed as part of the conditions of contract prior to the commencement of contract. S. The company shall not have the right to sell its option to construct the tramway, and if it requires to sell between the terms set out in this offer, the Council must have the first refusal offered. In this case three months will be allowed the Council to take up an option of purchase, and three additional months in which to find the purchase money agreed upon. 9. The Council to provide the land for the erection of a barn and workshops on the Fitzherbert street tramway frontage, or other approved place. 10. The company will agree to make extensions where approved by both parties at a cost of £3583 per mile, without grading but including loops, or a lesser or greater length in proportion. The company will not make any extension without the consent of the Council, and if any are made by order of the Council without the company's approval the Council shall guarantee the loss if the extension is run to the Council's requirement. The cost of the added extensions shall be addfcd to the first contract, and the depreciation calculated accordingly. 11. Council shall have the right to run a motor service in untrammed ) streets not running parallel to the tramway to act as feeders, subject to the routes being approved by the company. 12. The company will undertake to supply uniforms to the employees on the tramway while in charge of the running, the uniforms to be subject to the approval of the Council. 13. The whole of this offer is subject to the ratepayers agreeing to the Council delegating its powers under "The Tramway Act, 1908," and subject also to a proper legal agreement being drawn the Borough Solicitor <Hnd signed by both parties; also to the guarantee being available on or before the Kith day of June, 1914. 14. The time-table shall be based on the schedule as stated in these conditions, and the fares, routes, and time-table shall at all times be subject to the Council's approval, 15. The schedule of prices, interest, depreciation, management, etc., are set out as follows: — SUGGESTED SERVICE AND FARES. 59 chains, Railway Station to Duke street (via Square and Broad street), Id. 02 chains, Duke street to Terrace street (via Broad street), Id. 48 chains, Broad street to Hospital (via Terrace street), Id. 53 chains, Railway Station to Greystreet (via Square and Rangitikei street), Id. „ , 62 chains, Grey street to Faseal street (via Rangitikei and Featherston streets), Id. 72 chains, Railway Station to Ferguson street (via Square and Fitzherbert street), Id. 86 chains, Ferguson street to bridge, Id--96 chains, Fitzherbert street (Ferguson street to Fitzroy street), Id. 80 chains, Ferguson street to Botanical road. Id. _ _ r . 54 chains, Broad street and Mam street to Napier road railway crossing, Id. Railway Station to Showground (via Short.street or Square and Cuba street), Id. Opera House extension to be included in the above. MINIMUM SERVICES.

7 o 'clock to 9.30, 15 minutes. 9.30 to 11.30 o'clock, 30 minutes. 11.30 to 2 o'clock, 15 minutes. 2 to 4 o'clock, 30 minutes. 4 to 8 o 'clock, 15 minutes. 8 to 9 o 'clock, 30 minutes. 9 to 11 o'clock, 15 minutes. 9.1 miles of track, with loops and crossings, £34,200; barn and workshops, £1,200; workshop machinery, £800; rolling stock, £12,000; total, £48,200. 5 per cent interest on £48,200 £2.410; 4 per cent* depreciation, £1,92*; total, £4,338. Daily interest and depreciation for 6 cars, £ll 17s 9d; daily depreciation on contract per car, £1 19s Bd. Management and maintenance staff per day:—Manager, 17s; 2 inspectors at 145," £1 8s; clerk, 10s; carshed foreman, 12s: cleaner, 9s; 2 track men at 9s, 18s; total, £4 14s. Management and maintenance charges per car per day, 15s Sd. Guaranteed oil and fuel consumption at 5-8 pt. per b.h.p. per hour, 5-8 x 40>-l x 16-8 -- 50 gallons for 10 hours at continuous full load; 50 gallons fuel at Is per gallon, £2 10s per day per car. CAR MILE REVENUE REQUIRED. Based on 5 cars running at 120 miles per day each:—Managing and maintenance cost, 15s 8d; oil and fuel, £2 10s; 2 motormen at 10s, £1; 2 conductors at 9s, 18s; depreciation, £1 19s 8d; cost for one car, £7 3s 4d; cost of 5 cars; £35 16s Bd. Five cars at 120 miles per day, 000 miles; car mile cost at 5 cars 10 hours per day, 14s 3d.