Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-01
MOTOR TRUCKS ARE
GROWING IN FAVOR
Power Wagons Rapidly Replac-
ing Horses in Larger Cities
of the Nation
SPEED is IMPORTANT FACTOR
Extending Range of City'S Ser
vices CompeIs Use of Me-
chaniCaI Agencies
SPEED is IMPORTANT FACTOR
BY MAX H. GRABowsKY

The logical method of transportation
in the commercial world is the power
wagon.
For trucking and delivering it is
purely a mechanical proposition. 1t is
a machine. Like all other machines
# can be built 10 do a given amount of
work in a definite time at a certain
cost under any known condition.
The cost of transportation can be
determined just as logically as the cost
of operating any piece of machinery.
1t is merely question of measuring
the work required-and measuring the
cost, and placing the one against the
other. In other words, the owner pays
only for measured service.
The inadeQuacy of the horse in trans
pOrtation is beginning to become evi-
dent to all, as it has been apparent to
a few. Whatever differences may have
existed in favor of horse flesh between
the cost of delivery work by motor
trucks and horse-draWn wagons al
ready has been wiped out by the con-
stantly increasing cost of feeding and
stabling horses and the decreasing cost
of maintenance of power wagons.
Motor trucks are being used in in
creasing numbers throughout the en-
tire United States; in fact, all foreign
countries as well, particularly by busi-
ness firms handling large quantities
of goods.
The range of city delivery service has
gradually become extended until the
horse has been found incapable of COW
ering the necessary distances within a
day, and is practically unfit for service
on the following day, whenever eX-
tended routes are attempted.
With motor trucks these routes can
be easily covered with dispatch, MAX
ing possible an earlier delivery of goods
in districts which previously did not
receive deliveries until the following
day.
Quick deliveries are always appre-
ciated and assuredly work to advan-
tage of the concern which is able to
guarantee such service.
In the case Of police. fire, hospital
and other official uses, the speed of the
automobile is a very great advantage
The best proof of this is the fact that
a large number are being purcha sed
and used all over the United States
by municipalities and individual Of
ficials.
If merchants in all lines made a prac-
tice of keeping separate accounts of the
cost of their delivery system, they
would become much easier converts to
the substitution of self-propelled We
hicles for their horse service. They
must COuCeue Illdl SldDle equipment
must be maintained whether business
is active or dull, hence the motor
truck represents a great economy.
1t is not only a fact that the power
wagon has its motor horse within it
self that makes it a space saver in
the streets as well as stable. By rea-
son of its circulation, only one-half
the time for a given amount of work,
or expressing the same facts in other
words, each power wagon replaces two
to four ordinary horse and wagon COM
binations. The power wagon does not
get tired in the afternoon, as does the
horse dragging its load more sluggishly
when the street traffic is at its height.
1t has been proved THAI a power
wagon kept in constant service will
cut down delivery cost of merchants
from 90 per cent upward.
Accessibility, practicability, economy
are vital points absolutely essential to
produce a car that is commercially
correct. These points were uppermOst
in my mind and carried out when I de-
signed and built the Grabowsky.
Among the many original features are
the removable power plany, which
slides in and out like a drawer MAX
ing inspection and adjustment easy at
all times.
This one invention alone mas been
universally pronounced by experts as
revolutionary in automoblle construc-
ton Hardened steel bushings, placed
in every working part, prolong the life
of the car indefinitely.