New-York tribune., 1919-08-17

trating the ultimate possibility of
revolutionizing step in the develop
ment of transportation. And they
translate that ultimate possibility into
dollars saved for producer and con
sumer. They see the freight totals
of the world Increased, the worlds
markets grown fuller, and thereby
greater comfort, greater happiness for
the people.
These transportation men argue that
it has been clearly demonstrated for
several years now that the railroads
cannot completely meet the demands
of traffic. They see no future hope Of
relief through the railroads them
selves. 1t is physically impossible for
railroad rolling stock and terminal
facilities to meet the fuctuating re-
There comes the season for knowing
crops" That job alone, which demands
speed, would tax the capacity of the
railroads for several months practical
ly to the exclusion of all other bust
ness. Then comes the season when
coal must be moved in vast quantities
and quickly.
And thus it goes, transportation men
point out. The railroads work most of
the year on thousands of little jobs
under the handicap of big jobs. They
point out that trucks can move in large
or small fleets according to demand;
that they are not restricted to central
terminals for loading or unloading, but
can overcome congestion by moving
freely from one to another of the final
destinations of their loads.
There is also a certain class of freight
that because it demands special speed
In handling or special care can best be
handled on long as we'll as short hauls
by motor truck Livestock is in this
classification.
Already some livestock raisers have
realized the value of the motor truck
in the handling of their shipments. Gin
cinnati, indianapolis, Louisville and
Kansas City markets are receiving an
increasing proportion of their hogs by
motor truck. During 1918, in eight
months, 72,SS7 hogs were hauled at
Kansas City, an increase of 1,505 over
the same period in 1917. At Denver the
haulage of sheep increased more than
223 per cent, and approximately 13 per
cent in cattle and 12 per cent in hogs.
In a single day at St. Joseph. Mo-, 100
trucks brought in 400 hogs, 200 cattle
and a large number Of sheep.
Trailers practically double the value
of the truck, with but slight increase
in cost of operation. Recently one
truck, running from Dallas to Farmers
vile. Tex, hauled four tralers. 1t
carried 70 head of sheep, II head of
stecrs-net weight, 29,o00 pounds-a
distance of ninety miles. OF this dis
tance twenty-nlne miles were over
black soil reads.
Even if the practicability of the
commercial motor truck is still in the
first stages of demonstration, its great
value as a feeder of the railway sys-
TENS and for bridging the gaps between
farm and nearby market has been
clearly demonstrated, commercial men
and farmers who have tried it are pro-
claiming. There is a network of motor
truck freight and express routes from
practically all local markets through
out the United States to-day
New operators are coming into the
field daily as new possibilities unfold
themselves. Vast quantities of cream,
butter and eggs that would have
wasted on the farm are being marketed
by the trucks. which carry to the
farmer his requirements IN furniture.
binder twine, groceries and thousand
and one of the everyday necessities of
life on the farm.
In this territory the interests of
truck operators and shippers are
watched over by. branch Of the ma
tionwide organization Of the Fire
stone Ship by-Truck Bureau. with
headquarters at Akron, Ohio. The bu-
reau acts as a clearing house of infor-
nation, bringing operator and shipper
together Mr.. Sykes, who directs the
branch, has offices at 1871 Broadway.
"At present we are centring our
energies on the return problem" said
Mr. Sykes. Owe are determined to sys-
temize the motor truck express bust
ness in this territory so that no truck
need make one-half of its round trip
empty"