SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—F, G. 339 
3. Mr. W. Maucuan.—The Classification of Roads. 
Origin of idea, 1899. First census, 1903-4. 
Basis.—A systematic continuous census of traffic as carried out by author, 1905- 
1912, over typical British roads. Methods ensuring accuracy, equity, and scientific 
results—Planning, co-ordination, local knowledge, essential proof, identification of 
motor units by index letters, &c., supreme necessity of permanent record of 
(a) Traffic intensity, from minute to minute ; 
(6) Nature ; (c) Relative speeds, 
in addition to total tonnage. 
Vehicles classified on ‘Speed Limit’ basis; i.e. (1) Heavy traction; (2) Com- 
mercial motor; (3) Car and general, 5, 12, and 20 m.p.h. respectively. Co-efticients 
1905-1925. Eliminating abnormal factors or vitiating errors. Periodic traffic— 
ebbs, flows. Complemental checks. Post-war modifications. Filming the traffic. 
Vibration-recorders. Conclusions—Three classes ; First-aid grantsfor proved excep- 
tional traffic; Alternatives for checking excessive speeds and overloading ; The 
first and last essential—proof of accuracy. 
Tuesday, September 1. 
4, Mr. W. Tertey Strernenson.—The Present Position of British 
Railways. ; 
5. Mr. Atrrep ScHorieLp.—The Economics of the Modern Port. 
Dealing with the ways in which the modern port has developed, from the economic 
standpoint, and questions of policy with regard to the immediate future. 
The port and its positional relationship towards its background and the world 
in general. Development and specialisation of ports, their planning for passenger 
work, for general freight and for special freight. The interdependence of port facilities 
_ and the class of boat calling. 
: Ownership, its classification and effects. Capitalisation and returns. The port 
_ represents an enormous fixation of capital which is employed in catering for a traffic 
_ which can easily be diverted. 
Immediate problems facing the ports ; relationship to internal transport systems ; 
_ problems arising out of the introduction of road transport. General summary. 
| 6. Mr. K. G. Feneton.—The Development of Mechanical Road Transport 
and its Economic Significance. 
During recent years and especially since the War there has been a great and 
_ rapid development of mechanical road transport. Statistics of the growth in the 
number of vehicles are given and the figures are examined and analysed under 
various headings :—Motor Cars and Cycles, Commercial Goods Vehicles, Motor ’Buses, 
Motor Coaches, &c. The seasonal use of vehicles is illustrated, while some com- 
_ parisons are made with other countries. 
The causes of the rapid post-War development are enumerated and examined in 
relation to the economic advantages and limitations of road vehicles for various 
purposes. Questions of the organisation of road transport are briefly dealt with, 
in so far as they relate to the development and economic significance of road trans- 
port (e.g., Problems of Return Loads, Rate-cutting, Monopoly, Private and Municipal 
fleets, co-ordination between road and rail, &c.). 
In the second part of the paper an attempt is made to indicate the economic 
importance and significance of these recent developments of road transport. Road 
transport has a great advantage in its flexibility ; it can provide ‘ door-to-door ”’ 
Services ; over-head costs (when compared with those of other types of inland trans- 
port) are relatively small in proportion to running costs, and where necessary a 
service can be inaugurated with but a small capital outlay. 
The importance of road transport facilities is considered in relation to (1) pro- 
blems of housing, slum clearances, distribution of population, &c.; (2) possible effects 
on the distribution, localisation and scale of industry; (3) agriculture and rural 
life; (4) transport facilities in undeveloped countries. Finally, some of the more 
important financial and economic problems relating to road construction and repair 
are briefly discussed. 
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