The Straker Steam Wagon.

Progress, 1 November 1905, Page 12

The Straker Steam Wagon.

The progress made during the last few years in the Old World has not been long in extending itself to these shores, and from the success attained by the Straker 5-ton tipping wagon, imported at the beginning of the year by the Auckland City Council, it is evident that this mode of traction for cartage of road metal and heavy goods will be adopted by all progressive councils, contractors and carriers in the near future. A machine that is successful in negotiating the very steep grades in and around Auckland cannot fail to be successful in any other part of the colony, and the following report on the working of the Auckland Straker will prove of interest. The amount carried per day has varied somewhat according to distance, but as an instance this wagon has taken 6 loads of 5 yards each to Ponsonby, z\ miles each way, and 6 loads of 5 yards each to Cox's Creek, about 3^ miles each way. The cost of running, taking the average during the three months, works out at 2d. per ton per mile, reckoned on the following basis of weekly expenses . — i s. d. Fuel consumption . . 150 Lubricating oil . . 60 Wages . . . . . . 300 Repairs, so far, have only been of a very trifling nature, but would be amply carried out at 10/per week . . . . . . 10 o Depreciation @ 15% .. 220 Interest on Capital @ 5% 14 o

7 17 o From the aLovc figures it will be seen that this wagon, costing under £8 per week, including all working expenses, depreciation and interest, is doing the work of six two-horse carts, the cost of which would be £6 per day or £36 per week ; so that a saving is made of per week, or over per year. In other words the wagon will be paid for and a sa\mg of made in the first year's working. The chief features of the Straker machine are its water-tube boiler with its 474 tubes, enabling steam to be made very rapidly ; and the wcnderful pair of 45-h p. compound engines with their patent reversing gear ; but the whole of the mechanism in this machine is up-to-date, and is carried out in a workmanlike manner.

Th? " Journal du Petrole " states that water only quickens the flame of petroleum or of gasoline.