El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-22
BIC QUESTION IN AMERICA IS
INCREASED PRODUCTS
Increased Production Without Delivering Motor
Trucks Question Deliveries Concentrated Disi
tibuion; Farmers Cooperative System.



2 Of commerce. through the Nations
Motor Truck committee. has sent out
Z an appeal showing the need of rura
motor express lines, pointing out the
Z necessity for more and quicker trans
pOrtatiou TO aid increased food pro-
ducti0n-
The railroads are apparently not
I equipped 10 carry all food and other
+ supplies az the same time Naturally
/ farmers hesitate to produce to ca
7 pacity. fearing their produce cannot
4 be marketed About 20 percent of
: farm help has been lost by the draft
E and other causes. making It impOsst-
4 HE for farmers TO haul crops 70 mar
{ ket and work on the farm at the same
time
The remedy lies in rural motor
truck express lines. Farmers,
truck gardeners and dafryrIen
have found that motor trucks in
sure daily transportation to mar
ket. enabling them 10 devote all
Of their time to their farms. In
creased production. and compen-
satiOn for loss OF labor results.
The congestion Of the railroads has
In some sections uecessitated deIiv-
cry of livestock to the stOckyards by
motor truck During the year. there
were hauled over highways for a "a
Qlu5 OF 80 miles TO Cincinnati, over
1900 hogs. over 2S5. goo sheep. over
26-500 calves and over 1880 head Of
cattle, 80 percent of which were driv-
en- in on the hOoL and so percent in
motor trucks
In the west and south. growers have
employed motor trucks for shipping
strawberries and early summer fruits
and vegetables TO market or to ware
houses. Even such delicate fruits as
peaches, plums and grapes are now
being shipped out Of the fruit pro-
81 Zee
by motor trucks. The harder
fruits such as oranges, grape fruit
apples. pears, etc. are I'm some sec
tons being almost entirely shipped
by this method.
such examples prove that the motor
truck can be utilized TO feed com
muuitE. that il is not necessary. be-
cause food is of a perishable nature.
% make the railroads shoulder this
work
I understand that that was one of
the main objects back of the govern
ing mail over the r. Z. ID. routes via
motor trucks Tt was not so much
with q view OF giving better mail SER
vice but rather TO increase the facili-
ties Of the parcel post in delivering
food products, milk, fruits. vegeta-
bles, etc, from producer to consumer. Z
This initial attempt to put the mo-
tor truck on Americas bread line"
is in my opinion. but the beginning
OF a network Of express routes. en-
ploVi1g motor trucks for the eZclu- Z
sive transportation of food prducts I
and breadstuffs-
Centralized Food Dfstributfon.
Uninterrupted distribution. of food Z
is one which the nation must solve. I
not only for immediate relief. but
after the war as we'll 7 would not 4
be surprised il such solution was /
found I'm a centralized plan whereby
points would be located I
TO facilitate the distribution Of per-
.shable and mi-perishable food pro-
ducts. eliminating The short haul on
the railroads
This would enable the railroads TO /
run through trains from growing and
points direct TO these
distribution centers, from whence mo-
tor trucks would complete the work
IF delivery TO consignees. This would
gave time for the railroads, as they
would have no stops, and but one
CadlnE and unloading. The growers
and manufacturers would have but
1ne point TO ship to, and the con-
'ignees would have but one point 70
ook TO for their goods.
I'm my opinion, this would assure
delivery Of goods irrespective Of what
transportation problems might arise
D the future
uch a plan was proven by an InTestt-
ration OF milk distribution in upper
leW York state Under the old sys-
en- the wagons Travelled 2509 miles,
inder the new system. 900 miles The
Investment in transportation equip ,
nent under the old system was Sos
00- the new s30T50. The daily cost
u distribution under the old system
vas $1,000. the estimated cost under
he new $500 The yearly cost under
he old system was $4,000. under
he new so. 200. The report asserts
hat the old distribution method was ,
very Wasteful." and that the cOncen-
rated method OF distribution insured
leaner, better and cheaper milk.
A Community Plan.
There are several plans whereby ]
omm unity can insure its own food ]
upplies from delays. One way is for Z
u FOOD merchants in each community {
the grocer, baker, meat market. Z
ruit and vegetable dealer. confec- {
Toner, creamery, etc, TO form a CO. &
perative motor truck transportation +
ompany 10 collect and transprt TO y
heir different places Of business all / U
Jod products and breadstuffs. a
lne number OF trucks necessary TO {
AIRY out this plan would depend on a
he number Of dealers and the area {
ecessary TO cover. There would pri-
'arily have TO be two different E
lutes which this transportation com s
any would have 10 operate over The "
rst route would be that OF the far r
ers, diaries and livestock growers, il
ON whence the city derives its sup %
.y or fresh vegetables. fruits. milk. q
sgS. poultry and meats. The loca- [
on or each source Of supply on this @
1ute should be listed and arranged Il