New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-01
Majority Held to Schedule,
Despite Delays to
Other Traffic.
MOTOR VEHICLES IN
GENERAL DID WELL
lev Foundation of Drifts Made
Demonstration of Efficiency
Remarkable One.

BY all odds the hardest test that COM
mercial motor vehicles have ever under
gone has been in the last two weeks, and
they have come through with a remarka-
BILE demonstration OF efficiency. More
snow fell In the recent series Of storms
than in any other period of equal length
since the motor truck came into common
use, and, falling upon foundation o.
solid ice in some places, almost unprece-
denied conditions were produced.
In the large cities and their suburbs
a great quantity of snow and ice piled up
in 'roadways from streetcar tracks, and
altogether the conditions have been about
AZ bad for traffic as could be imagined.
Nevertheless, motor trucks have done
their work regularly and have been
stopped only by conditions that tied up
all other road traffic and that materially
upset railroad schedules.
The great difficulty encountered by cars
and trucks has been me impossibiity OF
securing traction on the street and road
surfaces That has been practically the
only cause Of staling. Without chains
and clamps ordinarily effective in giving
traction and preventing skidding, IL has
been practically impossible TO operate.
All sorts of devices have been used, such
as tying chains around the wheels, wind
ing them with heavy rope and attaching
heavy clamps. Another feature of the
hard going has been the difficulty of get
ting in and out Of the valleys in me high
ways where the car tracks have been
cleaned off, leaving piles of snow on both
sides
Horses have been as badly or worse
off than motor trucks. on all heavy
rigs teams have been doubled and some
teamsters have not taken out their
heavy vehicles at all. The horse has had
as much trouble as the motors in secur-
ing traction. In the storm last week
many drivers of horses abandoned their
wagons in the streets and rode home on
their horses backs.
As a rule, however. except in the thick
OF the storm, the motor trucks have
made their regular trips and have made
them much nearer TO schedule than
horse-d drawn vehicles, and while the hard
going has racked the motor vehicles
more or less, It has not been W rise for
them than have the slippery pavements
on the horses.
The tsxicabs, called upon TO do extra
service on account Of the uncertainty OF
other means OF transportation, have
given a good account Of themselves. one
Of the largest companies in New YORK
having been able TO maintain about 20 per
cent OF It's normal service, even under
the worst conditions
The taxicab drivers. as a rule, found II
necessary TO run their vehicles with non
skid chains. on all four wheels, in order
TO get in and out OF car tracks, and 10
negotiate the soft going along the resi-
dental streets.
The electric trucks. which operate most
~ In downtown streets, have been con-
spicuous. and it has been noticeable that
some Of the large trucks operated by
breweries. coal and express companies, as
well as by various merchants. have been
regularly at work. and apparently max
ing their schedule trips without much
trouble.