Cycles, Motor-vehicles and Tubes 493 



by keeping the statistics up to date, collecting information, 

 and studying the problem of London traffic in all its changing 

 aspects." In the reports issued by this Branch will be found 

 a mine of interesting data on London traffic conditions, 

 supplementing the abundant information in the reports of 

 the Royal Commission itself. 



It is to be hoped that the sequel to these continued investi- 

 gations will be the eventual creation of some such central 

 authority as the London Traffic Board recommended. Whether 

 this should be done by calling into existence for London an 

 entirely new body, such as the Public Service Commission 

 which controls all transportation questions and facilities in 

 New York City, or whether the simpler method of enlarging 

 the powers of the present Railway and Canal Commission 

 should be adopted, by preference, are matters of detail which 

 the future must be left to decide ; but the advantages that 

 would result from a greater degree of co-ordination in the 

 organising and regulating of London transport conditions 

 are incontestable. 



As showing the extent of the patronage which the electric 

 railways of London, whether tube railways or otherwise, are 

 now receiving, I might quote from the Board of Trade " Rail- 

 way Returns " the following figures, giving the number of 

 passengers (exclusive of holders of season and periodical 

 tickets) carried in 1910 : 



COMPANY OR LINE. NUMBER OF PASSENGERS. 



Central London .... 40,660,856 



City and South London . . . 23,501,947 



Great Northern and City . . . 9,380,378 



Waterloo and City .... 3,724,277 



London Electric .... 95,647,197 



Metropolitan 82,728,776 



Metropolitan District . . . 64,627,829 



Whitechapel and Bow . . . 19,886,273 



