Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-23
ELECTRIC TRACTORS
HANDLE LARGE JOB
Two Hundred Carloads of Material
Moved 1878 Feet In Four Days
At Minimum Cost.
CRy A JACKSON MARsliALL),

tBy A JACKSON MARsiiALL).
Two hundred carloads of supplies
10 be transported distance of 1875
feet from one government house
10 another How could 1t be ac-
complished In the shortest lime and
at the least cost
This was the problem confronting
the army quartcrmaster department
in Chicago. The railroad was avail
able, but delay in transportation
was probable because or car short.
age ana the time required to gather
equipment. Delay was out OF the
question. for great quantities OF
material were coming in every day
and room had to be made for II.
BESIDES, the cost of transporting
such quantity OF material by rail
so short a distance would be exhor-
bitant. Every possible means OF
aCcor plishing the work was care
fully considered end the electric in
dustrial tractor was finally decided
upon as the most practical and cf-
ticient method.
Big Moving Job.
The goods TO be transported were
stored IN \ warehouse and we're TO
be carried 67s feet through this biuld-
building. across a LOCO tram and
distl ihuted to their proper storage
placed In the main warehouse. The
approaches to the warehouses and
tram liz built Of PKG inch pine planks
and is Just wide enough for two.
electric Industrial tractors and trail
ors to pass without difficulty. The
approaches to the warehouses are
on 2 por cent grades. and as the
work was done at n time when snow
was abundant, and the temperature
was below zero, slippery surfaces
were Just a few Of TIE difficulties
encountered, and overcome.
Tho tracks ttrail@'sl were loaded
in the warehouse whore the electric
tractors were hooked onto the train
varying from two TO six trailers,
and proceeded through the building
to, 9nd across tho tram, up 2 per
cent grade on a sharp double turn,
into the main warehouse where the
trailers were dropped at elevators
or doorwsys for final unloading.
The elcCtric tractor was then
hooked onto n train Of empty trail
ers. or, as was the case most OF
lUN lllllts Il AIdll lbhdtb nlNia H'N
tcrial for other warehou ouses. The
operation. 1t will be seen. was con
unuous, the electric tractor always
being kept busy, and, as result
Of the high efficiency obtained, the
job was completed in the remark
ahly short period Of four days.
At tho time the various transpor-
tation methods were being conNd~
cred. It was figured that the total cost
truck by railroad would be -,
and ~ there were two hundred car
loads to be moved, the total cost,
exclusive Of loading and unloading,
would be about $500.
Tho total cost of transporting TINS
material by electric tractors and
traiiers, including every item OF eH-
pcnsc. was Sl776i, thereby effect
ing a saving cf SG22.36.
in addition. the electric tractors
and trailers picked Up material ac
tho sources and deposited same at
final destination, thus eliminating
two extra landings, and eftcctlng a
propOrl!onate saving.
The electric tractors employer
rade by Chicago concern, were
the standard equipment as used by
companies and rail
roads ali over the county which
.lre also extensN ely used In many
ammunition plants where they arc
Uperated Is women. thus releasing
men for wartime duties