402 REPORT — 1901. 



and the investigation will no doubt occupy some time. The results of the 

 census recently made in the United Kingdom will have a direct bearing 

 upon it. The Committee does not think it would be advantageous to 

 publish in the present preliminary report any of the particulars as yet 

 obtained, either with relation to the United Kingdom or to foreign 

 countries. 



The Committee therefore asks to be reapppointed in order that it 

 may pursue the investigation. 



The Resistance of Road Vehicles to Traction. — Report of the Committee, 

 consisting 0/ Sir Alexander Binnie {Chairman)., Professor Hele- 

 Shaw {Secretary), Mr. Aitken, Mr. T. C. Aveling, Mr. J. Brown, 

 Professr Hudson Beare, Mr. W. W. Beaumont, Colonel 

 Crompton, Mr. A. Mallock, Sir David Salomons, Mr. A. E. 

 Sennett, Mr. E. Shrapnell Smith, Mr. J. I. Thornycroft. 

 (Draiun up by the Secretary.) 



At the first meeting of the Committee it was decided — 



1. That an experimental car and dynamometer were necessary for 

 performing the experiments on road traction. 



2. That members of the Committee should be invited to state their 

 views in writing concerning the mode in which the experiments should 

 be carried out. 



3. That ultimately, with a view of obtaining results on different 

 types of roads, trials should be conducted at three centres where facilities 

 could be obtained — namely, Aldershot, Cupar in Fifeshire, and Liver- 

 pool. 



4. That a summary of all work hitherto done in the investigation of 

 road resistance should be prepared by the Secretary. 



At the same meeting Mr. J. Brown, of Belfast, offered to alter the 

 viagraph, which is the self-recording instrument of his own invention, in 

 order to make it specially suitable for carrying out the experiments, and 

 to place it at the disposal of the Committee. Other members of the Com- 

 mittee, amongst them Mr. Aitken and Colonel Crompton, undertook to 

 carry out experiments with the special facilities at their command. 



At a subsequent meeting the suggestions contributed by various 

 members of the Committee were fully discussed, and it was decided that 

 in order to undertake experimental researches in a thorough and complete 

 manner it would be necessary to raise a sum of about 1,000/. The 

 Committee felt that, in view of the great development of mechanical 

 traction upon roads, the scope of the report should not merely be limited 

 to experiments on tractive resistance, but should deal with the effects of 

 vehicles upon road surface of various kinds, and should involve experi- 

 ments, not only with two different kinds of tyres, but with varying loads 

 and speeds and with different types of vehicles. 



An investigation would be undertaken concerning the relative effect 

 upon the I'oads of various forms of mechanical traction and the best types 

 of road for this purpose. They might therefore look with confidence to 

 substantial pecuniary support from makers and users of traction engines 

 and manufacturers of motor vehicles. The Committee might also reason- 

 ably expect substantial pecuniary support from various County Councils 



