The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-23
Truck Express
Great "Tap Root"
OF U. S. Transportation

THE great tap root of Americas
transportation SYSTEM"
Thus Harvey S. Firestone character
iZes motor truck express, the new way
in transportation, and the objective Of
the famous ''ship-by- truck" movement
which has been heralded from coast to
coast as the most notable forward step
taken in many years in the interest Of
developing our eountry's prosperity.
The great war taught us a lesson in
transportation that will not soon be
forgotten" said Mr.. Firestone ina re-
cent interview. 1.-THE railway situation
was so desperate that freight embar-
goes were necessary. The congestion in
freight yards and terminals was APP
palling.
1T was next to impossible for ship
ments to get through. Even war plants
holdlng priorities were handicapped
greatly, As for the ordinary lines of
business, they were crippled almost to
the point Of extinction.
The motor truck to the reseuei
Dozens OF haulage companies we're or
ganlzed almost over night, and ship
ments by motor truck, over distances
tSAASAASINu AitipuG1AblCs bNGdAiiC
a regular occurrence.
up TO that time the motor truck
had been regarded as essentially a
medium of short hauls. in cities. But
now, under the strain of necessity, it
leaped full fledged into the limelight of
pubic attention as a new and effective
method of freight transportation. The
railway situation was materially re-
lieved.
FINALLY the armistice was signed and
the transportation situation cleared up
gradually.
Before the war the possibility Of the
motor truck competing with the rail
roads had never occurred to truck own
ers, but when they found that they
could operate truck lines successfully
between cities of considerable dis
tanees, carrying both freight and ex-
press. and at a profit, they began to
see a great light.
See New Angle.
'"The railroads also got a new angle
on the situation. They knew that theil
revenue from short hauls was all but Of
proportion to that derived from long
hauls. AS a matter of fact, they had
been operating at a loss on the short
hauls. So as time passed they well
coined the truck companies more anC
more cordially as feeders for their lines
The motor truck companies are that
and more. They are tapping sources o.
bringing in new and better products t
market, more quickly and more eco
nomically.
THE truck can penetrate into thu
very centers Of production. Now tina
there is an effective motor transporta
ton to the centers Of distribution, fooC
products Will come in from the FARM
and orchards, minerals will be shipped
in from the mountain Businesses, tim
Der will be available from forests hith
erto ~unreached."
Far-sighted business men every
where have been watching the situation
as 1t developed. Harvey S. Firestone
ardent advocate of good roads and keel
student of national affairs, was one o
the first to see the handwriting On tn,
wall.
The ship by-truck" movement, faith
cred by Mr.. Firestone, was the first &C
tive step in the interests of moto
truck express. Its influence In behal
OF the new way OF transportation ha
been incalculable.
Through 1t, thousands of communi
ties have taken up the idea and tn
slogan-"ship-by become
byword for national progress. In ever
state of the Union the "ship-by-truck
movement has been taken up with en-
Ship by-truck" is identified wit
many phases OF the reconstructio
period through which we are now pass
ing highway improvement, the back
M farm" movement, Uncle Sans pla
for parceling out farms for returne
} soldiers, efficient delivery of perishabl
farm products, elimination of lost mo
ton on what the railroads call 'shoI
hauls"-leaving the railroads free t
handle long distance freight more ef
: transportation generally.
Efficient motor transport must de
pend a good deal upon good highway
This year will undoubtedly witness tn
greatest expenditure for good roads |
the nations history, probably aggre
900. One state alone has appropriate
$50, 900, 900 for this purpose.