The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-26
MOTOR MAIL Line
Cross Country Operation Has
Been Great Success.
Postmaster General Tells of
Work of Last Year.
USE ALL THE OLD TRUCKS
Seventy Lines Now Are in
Operation in L. S.
Means Network of Good
Roads in Country.
USE ALL THE OLD TRUCKS

Washington, Oct. 26.-Cross- country
operation of mail carrying motor
trucks, tried out by the postoffice de-
partment on an experimental but
nevertheless big scale, during the last
year, has been a great success. James
/. BIakeslee, fourth assistant postmaster
general has found that one truck
route between Philadelphia and Wash
ington, cutting chiefly thru territory
without direct rail connection and
costing $500 month to operate, has
in eight months developed a revenue
of $4,000 monthly. Another route,
into Washington, where IS parcels
day were moved during the first
month. now shows one ton of traffic
each way each "A hours.
Seventy lines now operate over the
country. all but one east of the Miss
issippi, and there are visions of a sys-
tenn which will furnish $360,000,0O0
annually in revenue for road con-
struction or other purposes.
Why, General Pershing has 5000
trucks damaged or ruined over on the
other side said Mr.. Blakeslee telling
of the growth of the system. II don't
care what condition they are in. We
want them all. and can fix up and put
every one of them to work. What's
even more important, he's got some
boys over there shy u hand. or an
arm. or a leg, and we can use them
they can do. Congress gave us $780,
600 to work with, and if we had the
earnings of the lines themselves, we,
could expand almost Indefinitely. AS
it is, 100000 will be requested by
the division for next year. and I think
it will be appropriated. People realize
what we are doing.
Operating at night is the most
profitable. and we have but two ma
chimes doing that. out of New York.
The typical route is about $50 miles
long $50 miles out and 80 miles back.
Almost always the constant opera
ton of the lines produces a return
load, the universal character of the
mail service allowing almost anything
to be taken. The mail trucks go, come
rain. storm. or anything. and so the
traffic develops. Rates are also pretty
high. the lowest beng about $50 d ton
That is what makes the surplus reve-
nues.
of course. wen have to have con-
crete roads. but the business can pro-
duce money to build them. There are
some economies in distribution of pro-
duce that are simply amazing. 1t has
added an entirely new factor to trans
continental transportation, and we
shall just begin finding it out when
more extensive operation goes into eff
feet during the next two years"
Just why Mr.. Blakeslee sees it that
commodity price list. Milk retails now
in Washington at Il cents a quart.
Milk is coming in on mail trucks direct
to consumers for 10 cents a quart
Naturally the trucks are being weighed
down with fivegallon cans as con-
Sumers learn of the possibility. The
trucks tap milk producing territory
that outside the usual hauling lines,
and off the rail arteries.
wv here'll the roads come from to
run 1900 trucks" as asks, We'll,
there are $4,000 rural mail and star
routes being operated in the United
States now. Sometimes l think every
one of thCm would make a truck line.
Food is being handled ten times on its
way to "A consumer. We can cut that
to five.
Watching these figures, since De-
cember, when we started, has given me
a new sort of inspiration We shall
he moving the mails and mails will
include a whole unexpected variety
of things in new modes before the gen.
GRAFTON finishes. Airplanes for the
Thousand mile distances trains for the
900 mile, and trucks for the $50. That's
bout the schedule