St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-02-09
as a means for Transporting food from

as a means for transporting food from
the farm to the consumer.
Cheaper Than Horses.
But is the motor truck a feasible
agency? Will it reduce the cost of
local haulage? A comparison of the
cost of operating the electric truck
with the cost of operation involved in
the use of the horse drawn vehicle will
prove of interest. We have already
noted the results of the investigation
of The Mayors Market Commission of
New York city, namely, that the aver
age transportation expense for the
horse drawn truck is % cents per ton
mile. We have also noted the aver
age Of IL cents per 100 pounds for
horse haulage to the local station as
certained by the federal investigation
in 1906, an expense for haulage which
was confirmed by the replies to our
QUESTIONABLE to Vermont producers. A
recent investigation was conducted by
coal dealer in Boston who was one
of the largest users of horses in the
city, the costs of operation being di-
vided over a stable of 125 horses. The
accuracy of the results is guaranteed
by well-known firm of certified pub
lie accountants who carefully eXamin-
ed the books of the company over
period of years. The cost of horse
haulage of five tons fifteen miles per
day was found to be 1874 cents per
ton mile. This cost of operation in
Guided the various items entering into
horse maintenance and the daily wage
of driver, but did not include the de-
probation of the vehicle. On the
other hand, the cost of operating
five ton electric truck loaded to its
capacity was considered. The cost of
operation, based on the truck doing
approximately $3.50 of the mileage
possible to make in a day, was shown
to be S12.55 per day or 1O.4 cents per
ton mile This cost of operation in
cluded the wage of the driver as we'll
as all fixed charges, such as deprecia-
ton, interest. insurance, and garage
charges. Such results as obtained by
the Boston firm are substantiated by
the report of w. P. Kennedy, the
well-known traffic engineer and sta
tistician, at the Philadelphia Conven-
ton of the Electric Vehicle Associa-
ton of America in 1914, giving the
cost of operation of the five ton truck
as s12.25 per day. The use of the
trailer still further enhances the eff
f1ciency of the motor truck as an
agency for transportation purposes.
The comparisons cited above are suf-
ficient to indicate the greater superior
| ity Of the motor truck over horse
haulage as a means of local distribu-
ton.
Advantages of the Motor Truck.
Through the use of the motor truck
the produce could be loaded at the
farmers gate or at the convenient
point, already provided for, and then
taken Immediately to the section of
the nearby city where needed. The
home market under such a system of
haulage is to be found anywhere with
in a radius of fifty miles. AS in the
case of the trolley freight, the motor
truck will enable the consumer to re-
ceive better food at lower prices.
| Through the elimination of many of
the numerous landings inherent in
our present system, and through the
quicker trip to market, the produce
will reach the consumer in a less
broken, less deteriorated condition.
Moreover, by reason of it's practically
unrestricted radius of action, greater
speed and superior ability for travel
ing over hard roads, the motor truck
holds forth attractive possibilities for
the development of isolated farm
lands. To districts without railroad
facilities, and those whose very re-
moteness from local markets or ship
ping points precludes all chance for
horse haulage at a profit, our motor
truck offers the ultimate solution. By
reducing the time and cost of primary
food distribution it removes the chief
obstacle to the exploitation Of our nom
productive land which is otherwise
suitable for agricultural purposes. The
abandoned farms of Vermont, once
located in f1ourishing rural commun-
tiles but now isolated through lack of
railroad facilities, bear mute testimony
to the need of such an agency for de-
veloping the natural resources of an
agricultural state.
Financing The Motor Truck.
Granted. then. that the introduction
of the motor truck seems feasible, and
that it will reduce the cost of food
haulage, we are now confronted with
the investment problem. The average
farmer will not be able to carry the
increased investment, it is true, but
fortunately we have the available al
tentative. The cooperative associa-
ton, already in existence among the
producers, will effect the necessary
purchases. selling the service to the
members at a price which need not
exceed the actual cost of operation
fixed, running, maintenance and over
head charges. Experience has shown
that under such conditions the econ
omy is usually much greater than in
the case of individual ownership, for
the equipment may be operated at
higher efficiency.