Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03
USE MOTOR TRUCKS TO
SOLVE TRAFFIC PROBLEM
Ii Is Believed Many Communities
VIII Find Plan Their Only
Way Ont.
CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS MADE
Cooperation Among Merchants and
Business Men in Establishing and
Feeding Such Lines Will Insure
Their Success.

Comprehensive plans arc being de-
velopcd IN many certers affected by
freight congestion for the breaking OF
the transportation deadlock by means
Of a systematic and cooperative use
ot the motor trucks owned in such CEN
tors.
The cost OF not doing business is
getting on the nerves OF a great many
cuisines men and concerns. and ii is
not unlikely that in all parts OF the
country. in which the railroads may
stiIl hc unable to furnish adequate
transportation. motor truck lines Will
soon be found handling freight in
zones extending from ten to seventy
five miles.
Those who have studied the trans
portation situation declare that motor
truck lines may he established center
ing. in practically every community
whose industrial and business arms are
not palSied by lack OF transportation.
or by the delays in transportation SER
vice and that the situation will at once
be thereby improved and eventually. at
no distant date, the entire local traf-
fic problem will have been solved.
This step can be taken for themselves
by the business men OF each communi-
fly, and does not require government
aid. intervention or direction.
CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS
FOR STARTING LINES
Concrete suggestions made preiimi-
nary to the instituting OF such lines
ARE. first, that a survey be made OF
ali incoming and outgoing freight with
in zones of ten, twenty-five, fifty or
sevcnty-fivc miles: that all merchants
IN each community unite in shipping
all goods to these zones by truck lines
and that all business originating in
these zones he shipped over the motor
-.
available in each community hc made
aud that the best traffic managers ot
the various large concerne in each city
he formed into committee to lay out
u detailed plan to suit local conditions
and 10 determine upon the rates 10 he
charged
III the territory served by the motor
lines it IS suggested that n sufficient
number OF receiving platforms or ware.
houses shall he arranged for. 10 which
wagons and smaller motor trucks ma!
re used 10 deliver 10 or transfer from
The goods handled by tho Through
trucks Active publicity campairns ar,
urged for the insuring OF loads in hotr
directions on all of the lines cstah.
lished
TRICKS OK SCHEDULE
NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA
Trucks OF five-ton capacity arc now
running 1ot miles each way between
New York and Philadelphia on reg.
,lar schedule. The charge on that rur
Is 81 n hundred pounds set down il
either city. hut with no delivery AT on,
end or pickup on the other. Tn,
truck owner is making a profit ut thai
rate. The average charge for trucks
hired out by truck contractors in such
work is between 90 cents and 81 a mil,
for hauls UP 10 100 miles with tivc-tor
trucks.
III such communities as arc at n
standstiil or whore transportation Is
understandable there is no doubt. in the
ninds OF automobile experts and al
business men generally, that relief may
he procured ny means OF 4 resort 10
tho motor truck lines. In some com
nuniics in Virginia. which have re