Arizona republican., 1916-07-16
THE MOTOR TRUCK IN ARIZONA
 (BY WiIbert G. McSridel


 used by Young Bros. while operating at the Mammoth Collins mine at ShultZ, Arizona. One was equipped with an oil-tank holding 1875 gal and was used for the transportation of tops. The other was fitted with a stake body and used to carry ,machin- cry, wood, rails, pipe and all classes Of miscellaneous supplies The bodies were made of oak with maple floor ing and were attached to the frame of the chassis by U-bolts, to avoid drilling the main members of the frame.
 Most of the hauling was done from Tucson, distance of 471s miles. During the first three months. part of the road was in bad condition and the tire cost was excessive. After this part was repaired, the road was in fair condition, but never good. There were no excessive grades or bad sand but wagonruts too narrow for the truck wheels and Of a different gage caused heavy tire loss; while chuck holes. sharp curves, and stones, both imbedded and loose, were objection able features. During wet weather the trucks could not get sufficient traction to climb some of the hills and were likely to stick in the mud. so that nc attempt was made to run them unless they were on the road when the rair started. This lost time amounted tC about per cent of the total. but whenever possible, it was utilized ir making minor repairs.
 The price of gasoline was from T. to 21c per gal Rubber tires were used throughout Drivers were paiC S4.5O to. s per shift, and return tril to Tucson was counted as two shift. even when made in one day. Driver, were provided with a room in Tucsor and were paid for all time lost due {, causes beyond their control Truck were loaded one way only.
 ! Speedometers were placed on botl ! trucks, but the excessive vibration soon caused them to fail For thi reason, and because no account wa taken of the distance covered in pick ing up a miscellaneous load or in oth CT minor ways, the mileage given i under the actual distance traveled { Some of the weights had to be esti mated, but care was taken to have tn number of ton-miles low rather thal high, to avoid under estimating tn costs. The cost of hauling from Tue son to the mines was SIP per ton wit the trucks. while the best possibl team price was Sl5. Teams made on return trip week, while the true regularly made one in two days an could always. and many times did d
 t in one day The loss of time due { wet weather would be about half a much with teams as with trucks.
 The table of detailed costs given be low. covered the period from Angus
 21, 1913. to August 15. 1914, the onl
 time in which the trucks were contir uously employed. From August 1
 1914, to March 30, 1916, the trucI
 were used intermittently. but the ifs ures for this period have been exclude as not being representative. If il
 cluded, they would lower the cost D,
 ton mile. Just prior to the close
 the period covered by the figures, Il
 trucks were overhauled and put
 good condition. new rear wheels we !. put on and new tires substituted. TT cost of all this was charged to ope ation. Allowances for extra tires hand would reduce the cost per tol mile approximately Ac.. leaving a n cost of about 25c With loads on t return trip this cost per ton-m ? would be lowered at least 40 per cei . . Operating Data
 . Total distance travelled by trucks. .. ................... 23, 900 mil II Total work done by trucks. ....... " ........-...-..... 42,700 ton mil Average distance covered per gallon
 of gasoline -.............. 4.5 mil Average distance per gallon of lub- ricating oil ...............12 128 mil Average speed, loaded, miles per , hour .............7 miles per ho v Average speed. light ............. v ................ 7.S miles per ho U Details of Cost
 )f Wages of drivers .................