Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-09
MAY INSTALL
TRUCK SERVICE
JobBERS OF CITY INTERESTED IN
PROPOSED TRANSPoRTA-
TON COMPANY.
TRIAL TRIPS MADE TO
SURROUNDING POINTS
curtailn,ent Of Freight Service on
Railroads Brings Jobbers Against
Emergency Of Finding Some Other
Way to Give Serviee-cost Does Not
Exceed Freight Rates.

II enough local jobbers prove to be
interested. 1t Is quite likely that before
long a motor express truck service will
be installed out of this city to sur
rounding towns. Demonstrations to
show what can be accomplished by
motor trucks are now being made, and
trial trips have proved satisfactory.
The ,,urtailment OF freight service
for merchandise under federal control
Of railroads, has brought jobbers face
some other way of delivering goods 70
towns In their immediate trade terri
cory. Other iowa cities ALREADY have
adopted the plan, Des Moines serving
with the trucks much trade territory
formerly dependent upon railroads
Mason City and Oskaioosa have both
organized companies to do the truck
ing.
Cost Not Above Freight Charge.
IN the trial trips just made it has
been found that the trade was pleased
with the innovation. and that the de-
liveries were made at practically the
same expense that would be incurred
were the goods sent by freight.
Railroad Sailing orders" have cut
down freight service. AS an example
the Northwestern, until the orders were
issued accepted local freight ship
ments here six days a week for Tama.
Now the sailing days" for Tama are
three week, or every other day. which
means that local jobbers can not ship
by freight to Tama excepting on these
days.
The freight rates have advanced
more than double. The rate to Le-
Grand, for instance, used to be Z cents
per cwt. Now the minimum rate is
Is cents. To this must be added prob
ably about cents at the receiving end
for carriage.
May Form Company.
Attic the local jobbers have not made
any agreement as yet, they are in
vestigating the plan, which is to take
stock In company which would be in
charge Of some one experienced in
;rucking. The demonstrations that
are being made are to determine the
cost Of service. the time that can be
made, and to prepare for the consid-
Grafton of the jobbers complete figures
showing the advantages of the use Of
motor trucks for nearsy trade.
The International Harvester Com
pany Of America is conducting the de-
monstrations. and already have made
trips to Melbourne. Rhodes and Bax-
ter, Green Mountain. Conrad. Beaman.
Gladbrook, and Written: Montour,
Tama and Toledo: and Radcliffe, Hub
bard and Lawn Hill. Thursday after
noon d trip was made to Belle PLANE.
the longest one yet ATTEMPTED. a dis
lance Of forty five miles.
The Let's Fletcher Company. which
does a big jobbins business, Is greatly
pleased over the results thus far shown.
and Manager W. T. Smith said today
that his company was willing to take
stock in company IL 1t were formed.
Mr.. Smith thinks that with the CO.
operation OF retailers in smaller towns.
and farmers along routes served, reg
turn business to Marshalltdwn could
be made part Of the transportation
companyss business, and also to it
might be added local trucking. Mr..
Smith says that the fact that his trade
appears go much pleased with the ef-
fort made to serve 1t promptly, ap-
peals TO him as one Of the many sea-
sons why a motor express truck service
would be good investment on. the
part ioe the jobbers,