Evening star., 1918-02-24
Gives Complete Chart.

map which gives complete chart of
the rural motor service in Maryland.
This map shows such auto truck routes
carrying food running from Washing
ton to the following points: Travilah,
Germantown, Latonsville, Redland and
Ashton. These lines operate over dis
tances aggregating ninety-three miles
of road, utilize seven trucks, and the
trucks total daily mileage Of 286
miles.
In comparison with this there already
are fourteen such routes out of Balti-
more, radiating to Frederick, West
minister and Dublin, a town northeast Of
Belair. and truckers aggregate mile
age of 1872 miles daily.
The first problem involved, it was ex-
planned, is to encourage the establish
ment of such routes over state roads
already in good repair. In Maryland
there are approximately 1900 miles Of
such roads. only 800 of which are ira
versed by trucks.
As part of its study the highway
transport committee sent out question
truck service. The answers. the COM
mittee believes. prove the extreme
value of these truck lines.
Nearly all the farmers urge better
roads Many state they would go out
of the dairy and vegetable business if
the auto truck service were not avail
able to help market their produce. Con-
versely. it is believed that many farm
portation would take up these and
other necessary phases of food produc-
ton were there available facilities for
reaching city markets.
Not only do the trucks haul food to
Washington. but they do an extensive
business. the survey shows, in carrying
goods from Washington merchants to
the farmers. Likewise they do cross
hauling in addition to their regular
route service.
Brings 400 Gallons Of Milk.
One man who operates such a serv-
ice to Olney and thence both to Red
land and Ashland. has among his Gus
| toners farmers, dairymen, cattle and
to Washington about 400 gallons of
milk and cream a day. Recently he
hauled 827 bushels Of wheat to Rock
vile. Nd. He hauled 200 barrels of
corn from the field directly to Washing
ton in seven days. His hauls also in
cluded eggs. poultry, hogs, calves, feed,
potatoes (300 bushels recently to one
customer) and fruit. and on return
and merchandise in large quantities to
farmers.
A report from one farmer near Balti-
more shows that in addition to regular
route service one operator of a truck
service handled for him 100 live hogs
eco live sheep and 500 bushels of wheat
carried to Baltimore. and brought back
to the farm from Ellicott City 100 tons
of fertilizer. S0ytons of lime. SIS tons OF
building sand and 70 tons Of coal
How much Of factor good roads are
in this service is shown in the frequent
| answers to a question respecting the
dependability of the carrier, which
state that Would be better il roads
were better" Good. in consideration Of
the bumps" etc.
More Time to Farming.
In addition to the actual carriage O.
food Mr.. Chaplin makes the point that
such a system of rural express service
releases men to give more time to work
of actual farming, and also releases
land for the production of wheat which
otherwise would be used for the pro
duction of oats. as a means Of feeding
horses for carrying purposes.
A typical statement of conditions
which MARYLAND farmers face is con-
tanned in this statement on one Of the
questionnaires:
The road over which they (the
trucks) travel is disgrace to the coun-
~ and state. The trucks A0w Aee-run-