TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 773 



at the time of minimum flow. Various suggestions as to the cause of this 

 phenomenon have been made, but I am unable to giveany satisfactory explanation. 

 It occurs in winter as well as in summer, and may take place daily throughout the 

 year, though it cannot be observed except during dry periods. It may well be 

 that a similar phenomenon occurs in other rivers, but has escaped observation 

 owing to the absence of recording gauges. 



The following Papers were read :— 



1. King Edward VII. Bridge over the River Thames hetiveen Brentford 

 and Kev). By Cutiibert A. Breketon, M.Inst.C.E. 



2. Illustrations of Graphical Analysis, By 3. Harrison. 



FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. 

 The following Papers and Report were read :— 



1. The Eqitijmient of the Manchester MimicijMl Technical Institute, 



By J. H. Eeynolds. 



2. Report of the Committee on the Resistance of Road Vehicles 

 to Traction. — See Reports, p. 36.5. 



3. Improvements in Locomobile Design. By T. Clarkson, 

 Assoc.M.Inst.C.E. 



4. The Problem of Modern Street Traffic. By Lieut.-Col. Crompton, C.B. 



The author points out that this is the question of the day, that the roadways 

 in large cities are increasingly congested in spite of relief being gi-^en by shallow 

 and deep underground railways, by great extensions of tramways, and by much 

 costly widening and straightening of winding streets. Heroic proposals are made 

 to cut wide thoroughfares through London — in fact to Haussmannise London. A 

 Royal Commission is sitting to investigate the whole question of the communica- 

 tions of London. 



The paper does not discuss these larger schemes, but draws attention to the 

 great extent by which trathc regulation would ameliorate matters. 



The author suggests the formation in every large town of a traffic depart- 

 ment, possibly under the control of the head of the police. This traffic department 

 should be empowered to make rules for regulation of traffic and for diverting the 

 heavy traffic out of main thoroughfares into side streets ; and would be the e.\pert 

 authority to deal with all tralhc, rail and trade, proposals coming before 

 Parliament or the county councils. 



Chief cause of the congestion of traffic is the mixed nature and varying speeds 

 at which it is carried. Fast and slow traffic ought to proceed in difierent streets. 



The proposed traffic department would, in the case of London, require 

 increased powers being given to the police ; hence the careful consideration and 

 sanction of Parliament ; and this will take time. Some of our large towns have 

 already obtained in their private Bills considerable powers for dealing with street 



