The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-09
BY ALFRED REEVES,

General Manager National Automobile
Chamber Of Commerce.
More miles Of travel by automobiles
In use ana greater appreciation OF the
transportation they supply has come
with the war. With 100000 motor
cars ana trucks available and plans for
all lines Of business being based on
the use of motor vehicles, failure 70
use them in every possible way would
lessen our efficiency as a nation. Only
the eptlmists OF 10 years %, when
the motor car was used largely for
outings, dared predict that it would be
so vitality necessary in American BUSH
ness as 1t is today. Scientific engineer
ing, greater production and economical
manufacturing have brought the car
down to the point where its use has
become as general as the telephone and
telegraph.
The merchant who delivers other
than by motor truck now Is the ex-
ception, while/ the recent difficulties
of the railways have required a greater
use Of passenger cars, especially in
those sections where distances are
great and train service Is infrequent.
In connection with the war, very
few Industries are of any greater ser
vice than the one which makes pas
senger cars and trucks and which Is
responsible for so many other things
like tanks" tractors, trucks and air-
planes that are used in modern war
fare. A great number of cars are be-
ing used not alone for transporting
PASSENGERS, but for transporting merA
As requested by the railroads war
board, committing by automobile and
going to and from the office in cities
by motor cars will cut down railroad
and street car traffic, reducing coal
consumption and helping clear the
steam roads for greater freight moves
ment. The $4,000 900 automobiles in use
in America have a combined seating
capacity greater than all the railre0A
n street cars together.
1t is going to be difficult Sop ehe
United States army to get all she
governments have combed tho West
and Southwest for Bod animals. One
and one-half million horses 0n0 mules
have been exported since the war be-
gan. With the need for increase0 ptQS
duction Of cereals and other farm peoe-
in the fields. Every automobile used
by a farmer enables him to cultivate
more land with his horses end every
motor truck or delivery wagon used
by Q manufacturer or merchant takes
the place Of from two to half q duaen
or more horses. Every horse Displaced
means five acres moHe land that oAn
be devoted to raising human feod-
stuffs.
Universal use Of motor cars by doc
tors will enable those who remain
at home to take car oR the patient1
% those who go to Europe, in army
and Red Cross work. There Is a great
shortage of doctorD on most OF the
= fighting fronts. With an automobile 4
doctor cal cover many times the ter
Hitory possible with a horse ana buggy
or by street car and rallroae,
travelling statesmen visiting the
smaller cities and towns now use au-
tomohilaF. By doing 50 one salesman
a do the work of several depending
on railroad transportation, with lonG
waits to make train connections. This
releases men for other service and
helps relieve passenger traffic.
Keeping communication open il
doubly essential in wartime. The mo.
tor vehicle is an important factor Il
this work. Telephone and telegraph
operators, linemen and repair crew.
equipped with automobiles and motoi
trucks do many times the work posi-
bic with any other means. Motor
erecting poles and stringihg wires. Re.
pair trucks cover longer distances anC
enable broken wires and poles to b'
repaired and communication reopenet
in a fraction of the time required wher
horse drawn wagons are used,
The postoffioe department is estab.
fishing postal service by motor trqel
and New York and Hartford, Conn
With extension of this service between
other cities much OF the burden o
hauling parcel post matter will b.
taken off the overtaxed railroads.
owners of motor trucks can perform
a service of\benefit to themselves ant
or Importance to the co1htry's trans
~portatioYi system by fitting ifnproviset