RETURN OF THE HORSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1927, 9 December 1913, Page 7

RETURN OF THE HORSE.

HOQF-BEATS IX SYDNEY'S STltlilOi'S. '"Tlio horse, nftcr a brief period of partial disappearance from tlio streets of Sydney, is returning. Many reasons fiavo been advanced for 'the reappearance of. the horse. Discussing the situation with a reporter <>i' tlm Sydney "Daily Telegraph" recently a well-known city business man account oil for it in an apparently logical maimer. "Before thy advent of the motor-ear, as you know," he said, "the Sydnev streets teemed with vehicular traffic. Horses of all descri})tions, from the high-stepping cob to t!io variety, known as ihe hat-varfe, paced up ami down with cargoes connected with tbo business and commercial life of tlio city. Ilupo buses, drawn by spirited tennis, hurried people to and from their daily toil., never being put out of action, by anything eMnparable to punctured tires or defective sparking; pings, and so on throughout tlio long day the city traffic was earned on. f Icofe hue]; <m tlio wonderfully equipped service of th.fi Sydney Tramway mid Omnibus Company, and wonder how it was t hat siwh a fine combination was ever allowed to drop out—why it was that the company did'not- go further afield, arid assist in the development of tlio rapidly-extend-ing suburbs. Tlit* cause of it ail appeared to be that suecossjre. Governments, grappling as best tiiev could with the demands for quick transit, saw that tile public, clamour could oiilv be appeased by tho tapnilifi of certain districts hv elcctrie trams. Obviously there had to be further extensions, a.ud_ihc horso disappeared from many localities. "But as the city irrew, the volume of other vehicular traffic progressed with it, and the place vacated by the omnibus was filled by tlio lorry and carrier's van. We were roao'lmig a stage of acute congestion w.heii' the introduction of i!*> tr-olor-ear ami lnrrv temporarily ■ cased the pressure. Merchantmen and carryiujr 'linns dispensed with teams, and took up the newer form of traction, and for some time it appeared that the horsO was doomed to extinction. Net so, however; the problem of the- petrol supply. t.i'lo constant worry of tiro renewal, and the thousand and one mechanical troubles that beset tho owner of 'tlm ■silent vehicles' have riot been without their lessens and tn-dav a' man has only In slime: alcmiT York Street. Kent Street, iitid Clamtec Street. t« jmtee for him* self the etas of haulago that is irointr to win out iii Sydirev streets_in the lons run. Compared with horse-feed, tho iip j lseflo of a far does, not always make pleasant reading. Admittedly with everyday improvements that are noted, the day inav'iiot. lvo far distant when. 111 point- of cheapness, tlio motor will. entirely run tbo lwrso off; but it is not vet." " With a rsmidly-Ef'owins eitv. and nn increasing volume of trade, it is a ni.iller for speenlation as to how the trrnsit. of lienv* goods will bo carried on in IV uenr futuro, if tho horso cotilinncs t ) find his way'back. So far as iiw ennvevaneu of passengers is concerned, ti-.r laSkab Wtd th« urivalo rar, however ivj« mora than holding their own.