The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-07

tEasoline) respectively. The cost per
mile by horse is likewise between
the other two costs. In the delivery
of coal, which Is uloved In large lots
and to single place, with LOADS of
five tons, the horse wagon tthree
horses. one rising very third day
does only ebout half as much work
az either of the motor trucks. The
cost perm lie runs in the way as with
the lighter delivery, viz, 55 cents, a.
cents and SIS cents, while the cost per
delivery ts $3.st with horses, against
$3.50 and sS.07.
But II some special service require
ment is introduced, for example. a
parcel delivery requiring two minutes
per call instead of one. there is an
increase in the standing time, reduc-
tion OF rho mileage per day. while the
cost OF delivery Is raised. The
amount OF this raise viii be surpris-
ing to every one for it seems almost
"a negligible matter, but the fact is
that with the electric vehicle the in
crease is "a per cent against 80 per
cent with the gaseiene truck and -
per cent with the horse drawn wagon.
Such facts as these show the impor
lance Of the Investigation, for the real
relations between the delivery and the
other costs have not hitherto been
known. Another outcome, one that is
most important to the business man
is the evidence of lack of uniform
ity in accounts. Much stress may
naturally he laid on operating eN-
penses, and yet the estimates may
omit essential features. 1t was found.
for example. in one case that the driv-
er's wages were not included in the
teaming costs: it is quite customary
Z" make no charge for garage. In
surance and taxes are usually omitted.
while depreciation, administration and
interest are sometimes not included.
Saving at Freight Yards.
Some of the details thar have been
worked out by the students of the in
stitute for this work in connection
with this investigation are interest
Ing. One of The theses presented at
commencement had reference to an
investigation Of the traffic conditions
in the Fftchburg division freight yard
II was q study to determine whether
conditions are favorable. There is
time consumed in entering the yard,
backing, unloading or Unloading and
wai1ing. The investigation was car
ried on under all kinds OF weather and
business conditions. and point out as
one item that the delays within the
freight yard amount to only one per
a showing is Indicative of excellent
administration of the yard, and ii may
he said that other parties, one OF
which was In each yard, find In gem
eral the same condition. The inves-
tigation according to the young man
who read the thesis. Herbert Louis
Woehling, of East Orange. \. j., shows
that motor trucks are time-savers In
congesred places Ike freight yards and
he suggests the ultimate supremacy
of them over the horse for such work.
one Of the items In this research
was the time required for backing, r.
process very necessary IN freight yard
work. IT was found that Il one-horse
wagon requires one and one half
times as long to back as the motor
truck, the two-horse wagon, twice as
long and the four-horse hitch two and
one-thirs times as long. In adition
the horses occupy valuable space and
the motors can squirm better through
a congested passage. There are stu
dents now following the wagons seek
ing the causes of certain DELAYS. The
work is 10 determine the reason. which
may be, for example, waiting at a
freight house for q door.
The real test of work Of this char
acter is the approval with which ii
meets at the hands of those COM
petant to Judge its qualities. The
| Edison company has renewed its era =
tuity for the current year OF research
and others have become interested
| furnishing additional funds. Further
/ than this 1t Is interesting 10 learn that
| Edison believes in the work. and in
the letter addressed to Professor Pen
der accompanying his gift, he writes:
Allow me to say that am pleased
to have the privilege of assisting in
/ the work that has been taken M by
7 the Massachusetts Institute OF Tech
nology TO enable our merchants 70 Oh
/ tain unbiased data as to the merits
| of automobile trucks Of various kinds.
therefore beg TO hand v9u herewith
my check to the order of the Massa =
! chusetts Institute of Technology as my
! contribution towards tho expenses al
| this investigation. Yours very truly
! (Signed) THOMAS A. EDISON.