New-York tribune., 1918-10-20
U.S.MailExpanding
lnterurban Auto
Truck Routes

The establishment Of ;n.erurbs,
truck routes for the transportation y.
mail is going rapidly forward e.s. '.
the mississippi, under the direcs;o, ',
the Postofice Department.
scores Of routes have been ls;d
and are being installed as rapidly ~
possible. Contrary to general o,,.:.
the establishment Of these routes !,
not wartime measure designed n -
lieve railway congestion. bu. is 49,.
Of the permanent. policy Of tho D..
Office Department.
In the very important. ra.,o
bringing the farm into touch with A.
city, the auto truck routes viii,
purpose that viii be appreciated ~. H.
every city dwe!,er Who wants sre.S
eggs and vegetables brough. 10 ~, S,s
coor direct from the :arm. tn .ss s
tarmer, also, the project is Of y~aas as
interest opening up as it does ms,tst
for his produce. A''A AeS
the producer: Ship eggs. butter r,;,i' 10
uit. dressed roui
Try, etc, from your door b. parcel boz.
output; eliminate excessive bsSan& $3.50
and reduce damage" '"e
The departments r.essaoo .o :. T..
consumer IS: Parcel pos. trucI. Icy
liver produce and fruit direct from, *.
farm to vour door. Heated cars s.s ..s
furnished in the winter, where nssa' @'s
sary. and iced containers durino -.
summer" NC
speed and economy Of operation ~
the trucks are contributed to by th.;.
equipment with United States Nohs..
cord pneumatic tires. These tires msts
IL possible for the trucks TO MAKE f,,t
time and reduce gasolene coasumn.;os
and wear on the engines. l., addSt;or
they make it possible for the trncs. ,s.'.' =,
carry delicate freight. such as e0s,
'@hich would fa-e badly Il hauled efs, ss.
country roads on solid tires. The 10.
! partnlent keeps careful recoy3 ~ ~
lie OF each tire and will be ab,e in !
year or two to furnish conlp,ate sts.;s
tics as to the cost per mile of each
tire. "a e"cn
To the automobilists the aensr.
ments plans have an especial intsre..
tor, as an important part Of the prn;sr,
the postoifice authorities are seeiins
permission from Congress TO evness
large sums from the profits OF the III.
! certak'ng in building firs;-class higt|
ways over the 1900 miles OF road thsi
trucks viii traverse when the system
ls com2'ete east OF the M;ss.ss ipni.
l, has been found that the trucss
can De counted OF to earn an average
81 at least $4,000 year each. and the
Iossofhce Department has requested
Congress to authorize it TO exnend q,
per cent OF the gross earnings FOR the
construction and maintenance Of the
highways on which the service il or
nay be established.
In advocating the e,:penaituYe O;
substantial part Of its receipts from
auto trucks for road upkeep. he de-
psrtrlen. without dodbt considers itself
lnoer mornl obligation to the states
10 reimburse them Tor the wear and
tea or the roads. The use Of the high.
ways by government-owned equipment
without compensation IS considered
neither equitable nor just. The in
provement Of the roads, while OF ben-
eiit TO the states, will further increase
the possibilities o. profit to the govern
men.
The highways which the department
plans to construct are OF so permanent
a type that the cost OF maintenance will
be slight. Il IS planned TO construct
1t cost OF about $4,000 I mile cor
crete or brick paved road not less than
sixteen feet vide, not less than nine
inches top depth, with heavy grou.ed
T;nder-foundation, thoroughly under.
drained for the entire distance. No
other type OF road construction will
Withstand the exigences Of modern
usage without abnormal after c1peuss
FOR upkeep.
The department points ou. ths. a
Judiclous programme. carefully worAsl
out, will be extremely valuable as q No.
tional policy for the employment c!
thousands OF returning victorious ye.'
erans who will thoroughly apprecisi
the value OF permanea. highways IS
exemplitied in France and who can W.
derstand the military value Of sucl
roads as it is planned to construct