The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-20
URGE MOTOR TRUCK
TO CUT FOOD COSTS
Members Of Reconstruction
Commission Make Report
to Gov. Smith.
BIG SAVING rs OUTLINED
States Good Roads Asset for
Quick Delivery Of Perish
able Articles.

The committee on food production Of
the New York Reconstruction Commits
sion has Just submitted to Gov. Smith
report In which It recommends the
operation OF rural motor truck systems,
preferably owned by cooperative asso-
Citations. for delivering perishable foods
The Reconstruction Commission recon-
mends further that a temporary non
salaried State highways transport COM
rnittee be appointed as an agency for
the promotion and direction of this
movement
The possibilities OF improving the ia
cilities for marketing of farm products
In this State through the establishment
OF rural motor truck express routes are
at this time worthy OF particular atten-
ton on the part of the government Of
New York State" the report says. ut
ie the opinion OF tho Reconstruction
Commission that the encouragement and
aid of the rural motor truck express
movement is In measure public duty
and will result in distinct benefit to
the farmer and to the city consumer
THE farmer cannot profltably produce
perishable foodstuffs unless he can get
them promptly to market. The owner
of large truck farm or poultry farm
near a city may be able to afford to
purchase and operate one or more motor
trucks Of his own to get his produce -
market. even though the truck Is used
only few months of the year.
The small farmer, however, has to
20 to an expense Of time and labor TO
get his foodstuffs to market that in
many Instances takes away the profit
from the sale. BY a lack of easy and
reliable means of sending small quanti-
ties OF produce TO market he is dis
couraged from producing anything that
he cannot sell In large quantities and
OF peSishable produce he may have above
his own needs. His attention must be
given to two fields II he Is to secure
production that will pay.
shippers Turn to Motors.
'rExigencies of the war, together with
bad weather Of the winter Of 1s17-1S.
placed such q strain upon the railroads,
resulting in congestion, delay and embar-
goes, that shippers all over the country
turned to the use of motor trucks. Motor
truck routes between Industrial centres
and shipping points grew up all over the
United States in comparatively few
months; but of much more significance
was the general interest taken through
out tho country in the development Of
motor truck routes from rural sections to
cities for the purpose Of bringing food
stufrs to the consuming centres more di-
rectly and cheapIy."
The report shows by concrete examples
the effectiveness Of the motor truck ex-
press as II has been demonstrated in
various sections OF the United States.
One instance cites the delivery within
twelve hours at New York OF motor
truck coming from Lancaster. Pa, with
$4,000 eggs and 1000 day old chicks with
he loss of four chicks and nine eggs.
whereas an order of the same size sent
by train was four days reaching Jersey
City. another day before the consignee
was notified OF its arrival. plus a delay
caused by the consignees having to send
his own truck for the shipment. When 1t
finally reached its destination half the
chicks were dead and thousands of eggs
were broken.
In period Of ten months. the report
continues, motor trucks carried from
Council Bluffs to Omaha 1s.49S head OF
cattle, 15s,019 head OF hogs, and 37,130
sheep direct from the shipper to the
buyer.
More than 500 motor truck lines are in
successful operation IN the United States
Twenty-Five motor truck lines now op-
The entire State Of Iowa has been divid-
ed into districts and each district has
been mapped out In motor truck routes.
In New York State route was started
from Gilderland to Albany. Last year II
delivered 100000 quarts OF milk. The
rural motor express 10 operating between
Poughkeepsie and New York.
In reply to a questionable sent to
leading farmers the New York State
Reconstruction Commission has re-
ceived hearty Endorsement OF the rural
motor truck idea In every county OF
the State, especially Wyoming. Alles
gany, Albany Rensselaer,. and the fruit
end vegetable regions, such as Delaware.
Sullivan, Dutchess and Putnam. New
York State Is especially we'll equipped
for the development OF this system be-
cause OF its excellent roads.
II is estimated that under fair con-
ditions foodstuffs can be delivered by
motor truck at three-fifths the cost OF
delivery by train. but the report points
out that no two routes are enough alike
to warrant a definite statement of av-
erage cost. at least until something APP
preaching a standardized cost system
has been generally established by the
lines now In operation.
Advantages of the system.
The committee summarizes the ad-
vantages OF rural motor express as fol-
lows:
/. Giving a market outlet 10 food
supplies hitherto unavailable because OF
the distance between producer and the
market and lack of transportation.
g. Transportation OF produce to the
consumer more quickly and in better
condition than Is possible under pres
emit methods.
8. Maintaining OF men and horses on
tho farms. thus saving time spent in
driving to market.
I. Elimination OF unnecessary handling
and special packing OF produce In
volved in shipping by rail.
s. Establishment OF more direct con-
nections between farmer and market.
Q. Encouragement OF diversity IN
farming as a result OF widening the
marketing areas
7. Substituting for the disinterested
impersonality and limited liability of
railroad shipping on short hauls an
agency that personally collects and de-
livers produce. performing marketing
as well as transportation functions.
g. Serving as feeder to the rail-