The Washington times., 1918-02-18
Motor Trucks and Freight Deliv=
ery-By Government
Owned Railroads
Undelivered Freight Is As Silly As Would b
Undelivered Mail

We do things because We have always done them
stupidity and we go on NOT doing things because have
done them.
What is the trouble with the railroads in this country
CONGESTION AT TERMINALS-where freight arrives.
Bad they are, the railroads could do double their
present work if the loads could be TAKEN AWAY they
arrive.
But thousand freight cars arrive at certain terminal
station fully loaded And there they stay day after day.
sometimes week after week, WAITING TO BE UN-
When cars made up of different shipments arrive the
freight Is unoaded into freight stations that become
gested waiting for the various individuals to take the freight
away.
This condition exists for various reasons Private ind
Vdual have controlled the railroads. and the public do the
worrying.
Private individuals controlling railroads were selshy
and as regards railroad stockholders CORRUPTLY inter
ested IN express companies
They wanted the merchants to express companies
Therefore, express matter DELIVERED and freight
allowed to lie waiting for the CALL after hav
ing been moved as slowly as possible
The Government ought to own the railroads. and the
Government ought to DELIVER FREIGHT.
Freight delivery today, thanks to motor trucks and
trailers motor pulling dozen loaded wagons a sim
pie engineering problem, like the railroad problem
1t is not question of horses and grooms leather har
ness dirty stables but question of having light quick
moving hauling machines at the railroad terminals DIS
TRIBUTE freight as fast as it comes in.
Government as a matter of common sense, delv-
MAIL. Even the farmer five miles from the posofce,
has his letter brought out and handed to him.
What kind of posoffce system should we have the
in the big city and each individual left to down and
get his letter?
You would have mail piled up in tens of thousands of
bags uncaed for and bowling mob outside the postofce
The Government thinking of public service and not of
private profit, DELIVERS mail, delivers parcel post.
The Government, when it owns the railroads, it
shoudand WILL in spite of everybody that opposes it
will deLpeT freight defpe mail and parcel post
The Government apparatus, trailers and trucks that
deliver freight WILL in winter time clear the roads of snow
the way TO the freight terminal then haul the freight
away from the terminal
There will then be freight used storage
houses The merchant that has freight shipped to him will
have delivered at his door, and it will be his business to
look after it when it arrives just is the business of
householder to receive and look after the mail that is de-
lvered
For every huge locomotive hauling freight there will
be certain number of automobile trucks with appropriate
tralers. The freight will be handled scientifically and
sanely
The present system is worthy of the dark ages stupid
and of dateas ninety per cent of the entire railroad
system, under private ownership.
1t is like piracy than railroading, and it is about
time for it die Every available welmade motor truck
built and ready should be taken by the Government and
put DELIVERING freight
This suggestion Government delivery of freight
which is sound from Harold B. Larzelere business
of Philadelphia.