Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-10-08
MOTOR TRANSPORT
SERVICE PORTLAND
TO WEST SALEM
Opening Of New Era Of Trans
pOrtatiOn Marked By Run
To Yamhil County

Portland, Or. Oct. S.-A new era in
transportation in Oregon is to be inaug-
urated soon by the establishment of a
motor truck lint between Portland and
MeMinnville with a branch between
Dayton and West Salem. Unless some
thing unforeseen occurs announcement of
the details Of the new service will be
made within few days. A number of
motor trucks of from one to five ton
capacity are to be put on the route and
they will be operated on regular sehe
dule with a tariff within the present
railway and express rates. This latest
phase of highway development is in
line with the growth of motor truck
transportation which is being stimulat-
ed under the stress of war conditions
to relieve railway congestion and faelll-
tate food production.
The decision to begin this service is
the first tangible result of the work be-
ing done by the state highways trans
port committee under the leadership of
its chairman, Amos S. Benson. This or
ganization is a part of the National
Council of Defense.
Good Roads Decide Location.
In the selection of the Portland Nc
Minnville route two important consider
ations controlled They were road con-
ditions and volume of traffic. The re-
cent completion by the state highway
department of the pavement on the Rex
Tigard road to Newberg afforded "a
miles of paved highway to serve as the
main trunk. From Newberg south the
road is surfaced with rock and can be
used the year around. This condition in
sures stability Of operation.
As to the volume of traffic prell
minary survey showed that in the dis
trict to be served it would not be diff
cult to secure return loads of country
produce which would make the under
taking a profitable one from the opera
tors standpoint if the service is utiliz-
ed by the producers.
Another favorable condition is that in
a great part Of the country affected the
lack of railway transportation has here
tofore operated unfavorably against de-
velopment. At some points it costs as
much to get freight from the railway
as it does from Portland to the point
of loading and unloading.
Delay is Overcome.
Besides there is the delay in shipping
and delivery which is overcome by mo-
tor trucks. When the suggestion of es-
tablishing the service was made it met
with hearty response from shippers on
the district who realized that it would
fill long felt want.
The promises of traffic have been SO
large that firm Of motor truck operat
ors has been encouraged to put on
line of trucks. A canvass of the volume
Of business to be expected is now being
made preparatory to formal announ'
cement Of rates and schedules. After
the service is installed and in successful
operation it is planned to add other
branch lines.
| One difficulty to be overcome in es'
tablishing the service is to find better
road inside the limits of Portland. At
present there is restriction against the
/ use of Terwilliger boulevard for freight
traffic. II this embargo were removed
! it would not be necessary for Multno-
nah county to incur large expense in
the improvement Of the Slayin road
which under present conditions is not
adapted to. the purposes Of large trunk
road.
Good Road is Built.
It is thought that in view Of the great
public benefit to be derived the restric
tion will be waived and an effort to Sc
cure this is now being made. To i'm
prove the Slavin road would involve an
expense of $4,000 to 100000 and it il
argued that this is unnecessary at this
time when there is available a splendid
road built at public expense.
When the Observation-Disclosures mo
tor truck route IS established the mex
effort of the highways transport com
mittee will be directed towards the put
ting in of another route between Port
Hand and Salem on the east side of thu