Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-12-26
blish Storage Warehouses.
Motor Truck DEVELOPMENT.

when the automobile first made it's
appearance in practical form, it was
generally believed that its use would
be largely confined to pleasure and re-
creation. However, the industry has
grown beyond the most sanguine ex-
pectations Of the first few small manu-
facturers; more and more practical
uses for the auto have been found by
enterprising makers, and now it ap-
pears that the automobile industry is
to record its greatest growth and
achievements in the designing and man.
ufacturing of motor trucks and delivery
wagons for commercial, industrial and
municipal purposes.
Fifty thousand motor trucks and de-
livery wagons is believed to be con
servative estimate of the number now
in use in the United States. Carefully
compiled reports made at the beginning
OF the year showed that there were then,
in round figures, close to 10000, and
state and city registrations of motor
vehicles compared with those of year
before proved that the number of these
vehicles is doubling annually.
Estimates of the probable production
for the coming year vary widely, be-
cause many motor car manufacturers
can regulate their output to correspond
with demand Based on the rate of in
crease in the past, the output should
reach about $4,000. Rapid as has been
the yearly increase in the number of
pleasure automobiles, the percentage Of
increase in trucks and delivery wagons
has been almost twice as great There
are more makers of commercial cars in
A mpriaa fhon &.
turers of pleasure vehicles, the list COM
prising more than 800 names. Fully
third of these will display their new
models at the national automobile shows
In New York and Chicago from Janu-
airy 20 to rs, and February 10 to Is, re,
spectively.
Motor vehicles are used for industrial,
commercial, municipal and federal pur-
poses by more than $50 distinct lines of
business. More than 1000 are operated
in New York, and more than 1000 are
registered in Chicago.
The total average cost of operation
and maintenance of gasoline machines
ranges from about $3.50 per day for a
one-ton truck, to $3.50 day for ten
ton truck. The average for electric We
hicles is approximately two-thirds of
these figures, but their mileage is pro
portionately less. IT costs little more
than $3.50 day to keep and use one.
horse outfit, and $3.50 a day for two.
horse team; but horse or team can
not average more than Is miles a Cav.
against so miles for fveton motor
truck, to 100 or more for one-ton
truck.
The actual cost per ton mile of haul
ing with horses in the city is from IA to
Is cents with a double team, and from
20 to 35 cents with single horse. The
cost per ton-mile with motor trucks. all
items of overhead expense included is
from about cents for a five-ton truck
to II 1-3 cents for a one-ton truck. In
department store work, with electric We
hlcles, the cost of delivery varies from
about cents to 10 cents per package.
The lower cost of doing work with
power wagons is, however. only one of
the principal advantages realized from
their use. Their increased speed and
mileage capabilities enable store to
reach out into new territory too far to
be served by horse delivery, and to gain
new customers by the quicker service.
They also are more dependable and reg
nlar than horses in bad winter weather,
and during the midsummer season. All
large users testify to this.
Most of the truck makers have added
entirely new models to their lines for
the coming year, and have embodied i'm
provements that increase the efficiency.
economy, durability, dependability and
convenience, and improve the appear
ance, of the power wagon. No bust
hn b,% H.
ing money on his hauling or delivery SER
wee. or that he is posted on motor
trucks until he has seen and compared
the latest models.