The Washington times., 1912-07-13
SMALL MERCANTILE
CONCERNS CAN USE
THE MOTOR TRUCK
Almost Every Type of Mer-
chant Can Use Car to
His Profit.

~ 10 NOT SIMPLY the large business
concerns which can proftably use
motor trucks. Abundant evidence OF this
is seen In the experiences of small
houses which are expanding their busi-
ness and covering new territory by the
purchase Of power trucks and the turn
Ing of their drivers into chauffeurs D.,
How rapidly the small progressive
merchants are adopting motor delivery
ana transportation is shown by the in
creasing number of cars which our
company is selling to such men," said
Z. Walter Hoover, sales manager of
the Motor Truck Company, agents for
the Hatfield truck and Ford delivery
wagons. "on our list of users there are
now scores of business concerns of
moderate resources, laundries. groceries.
bakeries. butchers and the Hke-whose
purchase Of one car has resulted in
immediate business growth. In many
cases, as these men state, this growth
has exceeded their highest expectations.
Now Is In Reach.
THE motor truck used to be consid-
cred sout of the reach of the small
| merchants. 1T Is all right for the big
fellows to install trucks these men
| said. They have to do things on a big
scale. They have large plants they get
skilled men to care for their cars, they
reduced rates, and profit all along the
| line by the cost reductions that are
possible to transactions In volume.
them to have trucks. 1 can't do that
and besides / don't have much more
| than enough work to keep two horses
| and a team busy. I don't need a truck.
| couldn't keep II busy
There seems pisusibility and business
| discretion in this argument until II Is
| analyzed and examined. Then II will
| be found that like nearly every propo-
Is based on unsound reasoning. The
business man who resigns himself to a
| small volume of business and Is not
concerned in installing facilities for
handling an increase is never likely to
get the increase. He Is foredestinsd
I to stand still Some more enterprising
rival, who is on the alert to grasp op-
portunities and who is unwilling to limit
his field Of action to the small radius
| permitted by horse and wagon, is go
ing to get out and land the business.
Forced To the Motor.
The city merchant not equipped with
the commercial vehicle is now finding
himself compelled either to abandon
the effort to do big business in the sub
urbs. or to expend a sum of money on
horses that consumes his gain and
makes his venture Improbable.
| This conditions of affairs is forcing
knows no fatigue. and is impervious to
the dangers of slippery streets in win
ter or hot sun in summer.
| One fact too seldom considered by
the man who is weighing the cost OF
| motor trucks with that of horses Is that
the truck costs money only while 1t is
working The horse costs always. II
must be fed and maintained at all
times, in dull seasons as we'll as busy
| ones. AS II ages its usefulness constant
ly lessons, whether II Is being worked
4 hard or kept in absolute idleness. The
| reverse Is true OF the truck. 1t is only
| subject to wear and tear when actually
doing the work for which 1t was pur-
| chased.
Left in garage for months during a
season of poor business. 1t is not suf-
fering the slightest depreciation. il
motor Is as good as ever, its tires are
not being consumed, there is no loss
Many business men are deferred from
buying motor trucks by the fear thai
their wagon drivers cannot learn to oe
chaufteurs. There is no more intelli'
gence required to operate and take care
of a car than to take proper care OF g
horse. 1t Is our experience that the
average teamster can readily be edu
Gated to operate a car. New York hal
more power vehicles than any city II
J the country. A great percentage Of tn,
} chauffeurs are men who drove horse,
before the truck began to take its com
manding place. In the congested street!
of the metropolis chauffeurs deal with
conditions more difficult than anywher,
else.
Must Have Intelligence.
"Of course. there are degrees of skill
One man is going to get better results
than another. and 1t is essential tina
before the truck be intrusted to the
hands OF the former driver of tn
horse-druwn vehicle he be properl,
drilled In some vital truths regardin.
his obligation to properly care for tn,
machine But give us a wagon drive
of average intelligence and in a shor
/ time We can make OF him an efficien
and economical driver OF moto
truck"