The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-07-19

ricultural sections into Baltimore
Md, and Washington, D. G. On these
routes thirty trucks were found in
operation; the total capacity of these
trucks was seventy-three tons; the
mileage traversed daily was 1874
miles; the average length of the
routes was about fifty miles for the
round trip. Most of these routes are
operated by truck owners living al
I the outer terminal, making daily
round trips into the marketing
centre. Many of these routes are
operated by farmers who first
learned the advantages of motor
truck transportation by using trucks
for their individual needs.
These lines have been developed
on sane, practical basis without
any special promotion or encourage
ment from any state or nation Or
ganization. The trucks start at a
small town, gather the produce of
farmers and merchants along the
road to the city, deliver it at the
| market, secure a return load from
city merchants, including orders by
farmers and return to the country
terminal, delivering the orders along
the route. These lines have de-
veloped chiefly on the road of the
state road system where the condi-
ton of the roads facilitate the use
of trucks. Many farmers living short
distances away from the rural ex-
press route bring their milk and pro-
duce to point on this route with
horse-drawn buggies and wagons and
these constitute feeders to the lines.
The preliminary survey for the
state of California has been made,
showing an extensive use of motor
trucks for passengers, freight and
express hauling thruout that state.
Over 1876 separate lines were found;
some traversing routes as long as
125 miles on daily trips. Large
quantities of farm produce are
hauled, and charges are made &C
cording to published rates. The ex-
cellent highways of California made
it possible for these lines to develop
rapidly.
The detailed survey among pat
rons of number of these routes
discovers the fact that there are
three great economic advantages in
this method Of transportation:
/. Food production is stimulated
since the regular outlet to market en-
courages many farmers to expand
production which they would not be
justified in doing If they were obliged
to transport their own produce to
market.
2. Shortage of labor Is greatly
Offset from the fact that the system
leaves the farmer on the farm and
his time is not consumed in trips to
8. There is immediate improve
ment in the efficiency of the farm
since supplies, machinery, and re-
pairs can be secured promptly from
city distributors Of fertilizers and
farm machinery.
From the national standpoint
these routes aid in several ways:
1. They relieve the railroads of
local freight which permits carload
lots of materials and foodstuffs from
distant points to enter the terminals.
q. They help to avoid the neces-
,ity for local freight embargoes.
The need for the system of carry
ing to market without requiring men
and teams is generally recognized by
farmers and where production of the !
Individual farmers has justified the |
purchase of a motor truck, the adop-
ion has been very rapid during. the |
past few years. On many farms,
however, the quantity Of production
s not sufficient to justify the invest
nent in truck by the individual
armer as he must maintain his
cams for farm power. The use
# the rural express with its greater
peed enables the farmer to operate
he sam or an increased acreage with
ever horses, making more land
valuable for food production which
vas previously needed to grow grain
nd hay for teams. In many in
tances, the introduction of rural
xpress has enabled farmers to en-
age in the production Of milk which
equires daily marketing.
The rural express greatly aids the
ountry merchants in carrying more
omplete stocks of goods; in filling
pecial orders promptly, and in
voiding temporary shortage Of
taples due to delayed shipments or
on the railroad. In many
instances the country merchants
ave reported that their business has
cen greatly improved because of
he daily delivery service from Z.
,holesale centres.
Expansion to a National System
The success of existing lines of
ural express is convincing evidence
nat the expansion of the system is
n immediate necessity, both for its =,
alue in meeting the present emery
ncy and as q means of permanently
rural transportation. (,
What has already developed becomes