The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-11-29
TRUCK MEN SEE
LARGER SERVICE
Will Serve to Stimulate a Gem
munity Spirit and Have Far
Reaching Influence.

NJ E. Noblet, secretary OF the
Hoosier State Automobile Associa
tom, believes the Rural Motor Express
and Return Loads program will serve
to stimulate a community spirit that
will have far reaching influence. Mr.
Nobiett declares the three great eco
nomic advantages = increased food
production, conservation of labor and
relief of the railroads. are sufficient
justification for the extension of the
I enterprise. But he sees. also. through
the more general use of the motor
truck, welding into closer relation
ship and better understanding. the
| country producer and the city con-
sumer; the facilitation of the rural
mail delivery, the increased interest
in and support of good roads move
ments, and finally and most impor-
tant of all, direct contribution to
the national forces engrossed with
the problem of winning the war.
Richmond and other Indiana cities.
outside of indianapolis, have wit.
messed the development of the useful.
ness of the motor truck as a common
carrier. Individual truck owners had
found much encouragement in estab-
fishing routes over which they made
regular trips, delivering merchandise
from the Richmond wholesale houses
to the small town dealers within a
radius of thirty miles, and bringing
back produce and other tonnage from
the small towns and farms. Passen.
ger traffic also was profitable. The
possibilities of the system appealed
to wealthy corporation, which estab-
hshed more than a dozen high
powered, large CAPACITY trucks, which,
until the war upset local conditions
and depleted man-power necessary
Tor the operation of the system, was
one OF the most valuable assets the
community possessed.
During the severely cold winter
months the trucks assisted in clear
ing the roads for ordinary traffic, and
especially for the rural mail carriers.
Only on one or two days, when, dur
ing the spring thaws, did the unim-
proved roads make truck travel i'm. |
possible, was it necessary to suspend |
the schedules. The result has been
that these soft roads have been i'm
proved with gravel and it has been
said with truth, that the Wayne
county highways average above those
of any other county in the state The
motor truck is to be credited with
much of the incentive for this evi-
dence of the necessity of high stan
dard of road maintenance.
The economic value of the Rural
Meteor Express and Return Load
Bureaus are not confined to the pub
lie which enjoys quick, efficient serv.
ice therefrom. The truck driver also
is an enthusiast on the subject of the
possibilities of the system. c. L. Macy
of Mooresville, Indiana, who has been
driving motor truck to Indianapolis
daily. speaks authoritatively as a rep
resentative of the men upon whom di
rectly rests the responsibility as {
representative OF the men upon whom
directly rests the responsibility for
he success OF the plan.
Mr.. Macy was one of the original
boosters of the Return Load Bureaus.
lie realized the wastage of a return
rip with an empty truck. He knew
lis possibilities in relieving the estab-,
ha k,. |
len of the short-haul freight, and was
quick to enroll with the Return-Loa
Bureau OF the Chamber OF Commerce
1t Indianapolis. He now adds to his
'evenue and efficiency, with a very
title additional expenditure of energy [
,r motive power.
This Return-Load idea Is the =,
'oods.' said Mr.. Macy. Why, should I
not haul load back? 1t doesn't 1
AXE much more time and only lit.
lie more work and ii does lot more I
,ood. Is
The people are being educated out 6
ur way TO this Return-Load IDEA and G
he difficulty Of getting the return q
Dad is passing away all the time.
"Of course we can afford to haul {
heaper with loads both ways. That's t
lain. Why. we can nearly cut IL In
quite. c
I'VE truck men are doing a big job v
nd IL will be bigger as the months go Z
y. Nobody suspected a year ago q
hat we'd be hauling what we are v
ow. But the possibilities OF IL are a
reat. 1t amounts TO this that most d
I the short-haul hauling will be done =
Y the motor truck" /: