Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-25
MOTOR WAGON AT k6TO SHOW
Vehicles for Commercial Use Will Be
on Display.
OMAHA's DEMAND IS GROWING
Trucks COminE Into General Use
Here-MOre Than $4,000 in OPe-
ration In United states
Development Ahead.

heNeA0NmtMN NMNAhs
The Omaha Auto show is to give special
prominence TO the commercial vehicle. The
entire basement Of the Auditorium is to be
occupied by the exhibits Of trucks for com
mercial purposes.
Preparations for the display Of CONNER
cal vehicles at the Omaha show are now
in progress. The year since the last show
has seen general increase in the use OF
the auto truck in Omaha and in the terri
tory which Omaha supplies with cars.
The forthcoming show will be a revela-
ton that will amaze thousands OF visitors
il will be an exposition of an industry in
which. according to the best available in
formation, more than 800 builders OF COM
plete machines and experimental construc-
tors are now engaged; an industry that is
already we'll developed and established on
a solid foundation, yet which is only at the
beginning Of a growth the magnitude OF
which nobody fully realizes.
In New York City alone there are in
regular use $500 motor trucks, delivery
wagons and other forms of industrial vehi-
cies. and In Chicago the number has grown
from forty-five to 900 in three years, ac-
cording to good information. 1t is estimated
that throughout the country there are from
10000 TO 5000 power work vehicles In regu-
lar use At an assumed average cost of
$780, these represent a total valuation Of
from s6O,OO0OOO to S75,OOoOOo. II the cost of
garages for housing these machines is
taken into account, the total investment
reaches into figures Of considerable magni-
tude.
To RevOIutiOnIEe transportation.
Viewed in its fundamental aspects. the
commercial motor vehicle represents a de-
veopment in transportation the effects of
which will be revolutionizing. It provides
the connecting link between the factory
and railroad or steamship, and between
the store and place of residence or bust
ness Of the customer. II acceerates move
ment in the streets. avoids traffic delays.
economies space in the stable or garage,
at the loading platform and in the streets,
Already It occupies a place in our activities
that never has been filled before, because
It performs tasks that are hopelessly
beyond the capabilities of horseflesh such
as the dash to a fire with pumping appara-
tus or chemical tanks at a speed Of thirty
to forty miles an hour or a sixty-mile trip
over country roads with load of house
hold furniture in a day. 1t enables the
great retail houses to make deliveries the
same day or within twenty-four hours of
purchase at distances of twenty or more
miles from the store. 1t does the work Of
three wagons and three or six horses in
the same time and at less cost. It is clean
and sanitary does not suffer from heat or
cold, slip and fall on icy streets, nor con-
tract contagious diseases and become a
total loss.
1t is natural to think OF the motor wagon
as vehicle only. 1t is more; it is vehi-
Gle and portable power plant; It can do
everything that the horse drawn wagon
can do and can perform other important
functions as we'll, The power developed in
the engine or released by the battery
through the motor can be applied to oper-
ating power winches for loading and UNI
loading heavy pieces Of machinery, boxes
and crates of manufactured articles, TAX
ing on and putting off removable bodies
that can be placed ready loaded upon the
chassis OF the machine; for pumping water
to extinguish fires and for pumping water
out of manholes; for drawing telephone and
electric light cables through underground
conduits; for operating suction pumps for
vacuum cleaning and various other pur-
poses. The power can also be utilized in
machines for street celaning, blowing and
cultivating farm land and in road making
machinery and road rollers. In short, the
applications are innumerable.
Business Mans Opportunity.
The forthcoming show offers an excel
lent opportunity for the business man to
get posted upon just what these machines
are accomplishing. how they have been
improved in recent years and how they are
helping their users to build up trade and
decrease expense and trouble. At the show
where the various makes are gathered to-
gether under one roof, each can be COM
pared readily with the others and the
visitor can meet and discuss his own
transportation problem with the heads of
factories, sales managers and other prin-
cipaIs in the business who have made
careful study of all phases Of hauling and
delivery work with relation to the motor
wagon.
There will be something to appeal to
everyone at the show. The commercial
vehicle is going to become a real factor in
the lives of every inhabitant Of the country
eventually. from the head Of the great
manufacturing plant and the big retail
merchant to the wage Garner who will
ride in motor omnibuses in the city. and
from the farmer who plows his fields with
motor traction engines and receives his
mail by motor postal cart to the mine
owner and great lumber companies that
haul the natural products of the land on
motor trains over trackless roads TO ship
ming points