New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-11
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY
Bay State Motor Truck Inter.
ests Face Another Fight.
REGULATION BILL FEARED
Legislature Will Be Asked to
Limit Both Speed and
Weight of Vehicles.

with the converting OF the dassschu.
sets Legislature this me tn motor
trucking interests will have fight on
their hands, much the same as during
the last session, TO prevent the passage
Of legislation most inimicsl to the prog
ress Of that section of the industry. II
is intended to introduce bill 10 rcyu.
late motor trucking, and as the proy-
sons are much the same as were con-
tanned in the fruitless effort Of last
year the motor interests realize that
hard fight must be made. The sponsors
of the bill desire not only low limit 10
the speed at which these vehicles may
be driven, but also would limit the
weight.
That the new industry OF Transports
ton OF goods over the highways by
power propelled vehicles will have an
even harder time TO maintain it's pres
ont status than il had last session is
likely, for the highway commission will
be backed up in its claims by officials
of many communities. who have become
alarmed at the rapid growth In tho use
Of motor trucks and at the effect these
trucks are having on their roads and
bridges.
Within year the number OF motor
trucks and delivery wagons registered
IN Massachusetts has increased almost
100 per cent, and from Boston and other
OF the larger centres of population
l., L..
operation TO many outside points. Reg
ular trips are being made over certain
highway routes. and IL is claimed that
these routes are showing a very percep-
tible wear, due to the traffic OF thess
heavy vehicles. II IS asserted. more
over, that in some cases bridges have
been broken down and In other instances
much strained by the motor truck traffc.
In view Of these facts and also because
motor trucking is extending so thai
daily services arc likely 10 be in opera,
ton shortly between Boston and Provi;
dence. Boston and Lowell end over sim,
liar long distances. 1t is asserted that
the traffic must be regulated or the roads
and bridges will be destroyed.
The proposal Of the highway commits.
sion will take the form OF the amended
bill that was before the Legislature last
year. The original proposal was TO set
A limit OF six tons weight. including
that OF the vehicle and a speed limit u
eight miles an hour Six tons is the
present legal limit under state law and
the city of Boston traffic rules. though
IL is constantly violated by both motor
and horse drawn vehicles and - prsc-
tically a dead letter. These limits were
fought vigorously. there were confer.
ences and hearings. and finally bill
was drawn with a limit Of twelve tons
weight. including that OF the vehicle,
that could be transported without
special permit. The speed limits were
set at fifteen miles an hour for trucks
OF four tons weight. twelve miles an
hour for trucks OF six tons weight and
over and six miles an hour for TRUCKS
OF six tons and over IL on metal tires.
In each case the weight of the vehicle
was included. There was also limit
of the weight permitted per inch width
of tire This is substantially the bill
that wilt be submitted 70 the incoming
Legislature.