Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-10-20
MOTOR TRUCKS In USE
FOR TRANSPORTATION

The San Francisco Examiner Of
october 6 has highly interesting
account of a test of auto trucks, car
rying freight from San Francisco to
san Jose. The Examiner article will
prove OF unusual interest here in
view Of the fact that Josephine coun-
" is now planning an auto truck
road to connect with the sea.
Inc San Francisco paper gives the
following:
BY Stuart Gayness.
AS a demonstration of the adapta-
bility and advantages of motor
trucks as a means Of transportation
for merchandise through the country,
the first days trial of the Examin-
er's reliability contest proved one of
the most important events held in the
west.
Covering practically 100 miles
over The average country roads, the
large number of contestants in the
two days test made rema; kable
showing and proved beyond question
that Rotor driven vehicles are quick
er, chealer and more sa. s:hotory
than any other means of freight
transportation.
Motor trucks carrying from 500
pounds to five tons made the trip
from this city to San Jose and re-
turn in fast time, the five-ton trucks
averaging over IL miles an hour
while the lighter class of vehicles
ran over the course at the rate of 20
miles an hour. In fact, the speed of
the trucks, including all sizes and
styles, was one of the surprises OF
the trip.
Quicker Than Railroad.
The possibilities of motor trucks
In delivering merchandise from cities
to interior points was proven when
the contestants In the trip yester-
day carried their full loads and made
the distance between Oakland and
San Jose at 20 miles an hour. This
is quicker than railroad or express,
and with the other advantages of not
having to reload or reship, this meth
cd Of delivering merchandise will
undoubtedly have rapid growth
with the merchants around the bay
With few penalizations as a re-
suit Of the first days trip, the trucks
returned to San Francisco early In
the afternoon. The returning ma.
chimes made fast time up from San
Jose, Notwithstanding the rough
roads between San Mateo and this
city. The penalizations were all of
minor character, such as broker
spring hanger, broken gas line, stop
ping outside of control to take on wa
ter or repairing leaks in gasoline
tanks.
Fuel Consumption Law.
All of the trucks showed a remark
ably low consumption Of fuel for thC
test, thereby demonstrating that Ions
distance hauling can be done a
small expense. The Speedwell four
ton truck, driven by II. J Gordon
made the entire trip with an average
of seven miles to the gallon of gaso
line. The small Brush delivery wag
on made the distance on three ant
one-half gallons Of gasoline, Th'
Brush also made the ran around tn
bay in five hours and 10 minutes.
L. v Lynch, distributor of tn
speedwell trucks, is enthusiastic ov
er the performance Of his truck,
new machine which had not been i
service previous to the contest.
William Simmon, driver OF Whit
truck, had the honor Of making tn
fastest trip from Oakland to San jose
covering the distance in hour an
SO minutes. The time made by Sin
mon, with his truck heavily loaded
was better than the time made b
Oakland and San Jose.
Test Severe One.
The schedule for all classes OF III
trucks proved fast enough to max
the trip an unusually severe on
and the result Of the time mad