The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-22
The Auto Truck Is Replacing
the Faithful Horse.
Topeka Wholesale and Retail
Houses Buy Motor Vehicles.
IS SAVING IN SALARIES
Fewer Men Required to Do
Work Than Formerly.
Notes of General Interest to
Aut0mObilists

replaced by the motor truck for
transportation purposes in Topeka
EVERY month sees the purchase Of new
motor trucks by local wholesale and
retail establishments. While it will
De many a long year in the capital
horse is entirely usurped by motor
driven vehicles, still the truck is even
now an important factor in the han
ding of local business.
me Ice man, the coal man, the job
Der and manufacturer. and the grocer
IN topeka are now using motor
vehicles. The old horse is still on the
!ob but the notor-propelled devices,
It Is being demonstrated, are capable
or doing the work Of several horses.
1t has been maintained by many
VINO discuss the question Of high cost
OF living that the adoption Of the
motor truck as q means Of TRANSPORT
ing goods Is having the tendency to
1t Does the Work.
A Topeka grocer, who now depends
upon four motor trucks and two single
horse light delivery wagons for the
delivery OF goods to housewives in To-
peka, admitted that one motor truck
would De an expensive proposition,
out maintained that in case that sew
eral trucks are used and a regular re-
pair man employed money can be
saved.
This grocer said today: 1--WE can
do as much work with one truck as
we can with three wagons. While I
will admit that the cost Of the upkeep
OF motor truck is greater than that
OF morse and delivery wagon, still
we make a saving. The big saving is
IN the salaries of men. One man on
q truck Will do the work Of three on
wagons, and besides a truck is much
more satisfactory than a wagon. We
use three trucks constantly. One truck
Is usually undergoing overhauling
while the others are in service
Plan for Small Merchants.
1t is admitted that there is often
great waste in delivery
For example, a merchant who has
to send his delivery wagon to a SUBJ
urb to deliver three or four small
packages is compelled to pay the cost
of the team which may amount to Sc
or - per day; whereas the value Of the
goods may not be more than So or 81;
the delivery. which it is necessary for
him to make in order to retain the
custom, must be figured in the selling
price OF some other commodity If he
expects to eQualfze things. A number
of the smaller merchants whose COM
bined delivery work with motor trucks
should require only three or four could
partially solve distribution expense
with greater profit to each individually
by each paying a pro rata share of the
operating cost OF the truck instead of
each individually maintaining a small
wagon at an inordinate expense, COM
pared with the value Of the goods de-
livered. Again, the annoyance and
worry occasioned by the maintenance
Of a small amount Of horse equipment
would be entirely eliminated.
Golden Belt Route.
The worst spot on the entire Golden
Belt Route from Kansas City to Colo
RADIO, is said to be in a corner of JEFF
ferson county. 1t is q bad mud hole
brought to bear towards improving the
at this point no steps
have been taken by the county COM
of Jefferson county. 1t is
likely that ]. Will Kelley, secretary
Of the Topeka Commercial club, and
George w. Stansfield of the Kansas
State Automobile association will go
to OskaloOsa soon to attend a meeting
Of the commissioners with the object
Of endeavoring to convince them Of the
of repairing the road.
There is a chance that Lawrence
will be cut of from the map of the
Golden Belt Route. In fact, C. M.
Harger, president Of the association,
has warned the automobile men of
Lawrence that there is such a pos
He suggested that it would
be wise to put the road in the vicinity
Of Lawrence in a more satisfactory
condition. BY cutting out Lawrence
and running the road to Kansas City
along the north side Of the river sew
eral miles could be cut OF.
There has been more demand this
year than ever before by Topekans
for the Blue Book, which is probably
the most accurate guide book for au-
IN the country. Auto
touring. in fact, is becoming more
popular among Topekans.
DR.. Wilson of Nortonville drove
to Lebo. and returned to
Wednesday. He is a well
known auto enthusiast.
Terry Stafford of Kansas City was
In Topeka this week.
The county expects to improve the |
road to Granville, but before work
will start the commissioners are wait |
Ing to ascertain whether or not the
Union Pacific will do anything to-
wards protecting the present road II |
not a new route may be takenrthe |
road east Of the Lyman school house |
may be used.
The members Of the Topeka Motor |
club are still talking about their big |
tall rally. and 1t is probable that q
late for the event will soon be set
INNER THE MI AWARE !