464 ; SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—G. 
ments in detail and material—with consequent possible increase in weight and 
speed of trains—than in the introduction of any radically new principle; in 
principle the steam Jocomotive is unchanged since its introduction. The one 
radical change has been the introduction of electric traction; the application 
of this new system of transport has’ been very limited in Great Britain, but 
extensive in America. The cost of electric power delivered for use in loco- 
motives is practically as great as that of coal delivered for the same purpose, 
except where coal is very dear and water-power available, a fact which retards 
development of the system. In conclusion, it is evident that the general use of 
steam locomotives will persist for many years to come, but that there is a great 
future for electric traction for suburban trafiic and busy main-lines in Great 
Britain and elsewhere. 
6. Major-General Sir Serron Brancker, K.C.B.—Air Transport. 
Development of British Empire transport system one of to-day’s outstanding 
problems. The world’s history a history of transport development. Empire 
adminstration and Empire trade dependent on communications. Solution of 
problems of maintenance of Empire bonds depends on efficiency and rapidity 
of its communications. Air transport, properly handled and steadily developed, 
an antidote to some of these difficulties and may prove to be the most important 
factor in preservation of the Empire. 
Air transport has the same problems and the same basic factors as other 
means of transport; but the exact rules which govern established means of 
transport must be modified in dealing with the new element. 
Financial failure of air transport in the past. Lack of State encouragement 
sufficient to attract solid capital and solid business organisations. Delay in 
provision of State financial support towards development; subsequent lack of 
fixed policy or guarantee of security of tenure. 
Operational success considerable. Government considering definite long- 
dated policy. 
Certain facts established. Bad visibility the only deterrent to completely — 
reliable operation of air transport. Air transport safe with highly efficient 
administration. British operating services proved that that administration can 
be achieved. No fatalities to passengers in services of last two years. 
Services to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, experiments by which these 
facts have been proved. These routes too short to show material time-saving. 
Extensions to Manchester, Cologne, and Berlin give very material saving in © 
time, and more constant traffic should be obtained. Present international situa- 
tion a temporary handicap. 
Cost per ton-mile with existing equipment achieving a speed of 100 miles © 
per hour varies from 3s. 6d. to 5s. 
Making due allowance for possible head-winds, 100 miles an hour the | 
economic speed for cross-Channel air transport. 
With substantial traffic available, cost per passenger-mile at 50 per cent. | 
load is 84d.; maximum fare to be expected is 6d. With established traftic — 
increase in load factor can be anticipated; technical development will reduce | 
running costs. 4 
Value of newspaper, mail, and goods traffic on long routes ; with short routes 
ground delays in handling render time-saving in transit of little value. 
Bad visibility and high costs the present weak points in air transport. 
ES 
Wireless a corrective of bad visibility. Dependable communication with 
machines in the air achieved. Pilots kept informed of meteorological conditions 
along the route and at terminals. By means of direction-finding stations pilots” 
given, on request, their exact position. Perfection of this system will entirely 
eliminate danger of pilots losing themselves and enable them to select clear | 
landing-grounds. In addition, definite progress being made towards greater 
stability in aircraft. Probable early elimination of loss of control of machines 
in fog or cloud. Possible future ability to land in fog, though even without 
this no reason why air transport should not become as reliable as other forms 
of transport in bad visibility. 
Heavy traffic will reduce high costs considerably; insurance costs already 
falling, and with maintenance of efficiency will fall still lower. New aircraft 
being developed which will carry greater paying load per horse-power and he 
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