New-York tribune., 1912-01-21
NEEDS OF MOTOR TRUCKS
Touring Club of America Recog.
nizeS Commercial Field.
FORMS NEW DEPARTMENT
Good Roads Topic for Earnest
Consideration in the Opinion
of Many Motorists.

Following the report OF State Superin
tendent OF Public Works Charles Z. Tre-
man, to the effect that immediate actor
is demanded to adapt public bridges and
highways throughout the state TO th'
growing needs of the commercial vehicle
comes the announcement that the board o.
governors OF the Touring Club Of America
AT a meeting last Wednesday, establishet
commercial vehicle department which
will be conducted on broad lines for the
benefit OF manufacturers as we'll as users
OF motor trucks.
This Is directly in line With the policy oi
tho Touring Club as outlined at the Ameri'
can Road Congress when the following
recommendations were promulgated for th'
first time:
Re II further resolved. That In view oil
the rapid development OF commercial motor
trucks for intercity use, the pubic authorl,
ties charged with the duty or building aho
maintaining bridges should be required
periodically To inspect all bridges undsi
their Jurisdiction and post conspicuousiy
thereon the wheel lOad they are capaDlt
Of sustaining; and
BE II further resolved. That in view Of the
unprecedented growth OF interstate anc
interCity motor traffic for commercial pur
poses, a systematic and adequate placard'
ing Of roads by sign boards giving direc'
tions as TO towns and distances should be
required by law. and such laws strictly IN
forced.
owing 10 the greatly increased use OF the
motor vehicle for commercial purposes th'
question has been frequently asked at the
automobile shows in New York as TO what
legislation. IL any. should he sought by
the manufacturers and users Of such We
hicles
II was the consensus Of opinion OF the
most prominent authorities that the motor
vehicle laws OF the various states would
be adequate for the present. but the belief
was expressed by many manufacturers OF
commercial vehicles that good roads were
OF the greatest interest 10 them, as the
extensive use of motor trucks on the coun'
try highways requires the most energetic
attention Of the state and county highway
authorities
The Touring CluB was commended by tho
motor truck makers for its activities in the
good roads work. and especially for thu
bringing together Of the federal state and
local highway authorities in an effort &c
standardize the principal ihoroughfares
and connect the main trunk lines between
the several states.
As an evidence OF the fsrreaching In
fuencc Of the Touring CLUBS recommends
ton the following extract Is quoted from
the annual report just filed with the Leg
islaturc at AlbSy by Charles Z. fireman
Superintendent of Public Works
Modern traffc IL affecting canal bridge:
and il is pointed out that a majority ol
the bridges over the canals. OF which there
are several thousand. were built forty oi
more years ago Aside from being weak
ened BY age. none was intended 10 care iui
modern traffic and few, II any. were IN,
tended 10 bear q load much In excess OF
threo tons, With the construction ot IN
iInproyed highways there has followed tn'
introduction of modern highway ana strcel
vehicles BESIDES the automobile touring
car, there has come Into use the fnoto,
truck. and the tendency has been toNaro
a gradual increase IN tonnage cspaclty ol
all street and road vehicles. The naJority
OF these structures have passed INC pom,
where n is possible so 10 strengthen them
as 10 make them capable OF withdrawing
modern tratfic.
The Touring Club has during the pas
year compiled notes and furnished ROAD
information for a number OF test runs oi
motor trucks. as we'll as contests held IN
various sections OF the country. ana WIN
Ste score OF branches established in the
leading cities will be in pre-eminent po-
sition 10 furnish the latest road reports
for the use of owners and operators OF
motor trucks -,
The Touring Clubs committee whieh VIII
have the direction of the comiherclat We
hicle department. Will welcome any sos
gestions for developing the work OF the &c,
partment looking toward the betterineht o'
conditions for the operation OF motor
trucks on the public thoroughiares
throughout the country.