South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-31
LONG DISTANCE
HAULS BY TRUCK
PROVE PRACTICAL
Motor Transport Convoy
Opening New Field for
These Rail Feeders.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

WASHINGTON. u. G.. Aug 3d.
The worth and practicabiity Of
long-distdnce freight hauls by motor
truck are being demonstrated as
never before BY the motor transport
corps convoy OF huge trucks on its
coast 10 coast trip
In government circles. as well as
quite generally IN transportation
circles. the trip IS held TO be as sig
nifcant and as historic an event in
it's way as was the first transaCan-
tic flight IL illustrates the ultimate
possibility OF revolutionizing step
IN the Development OF transportation.
and the translation OF that ultimate
possibility into dollars saved for
producer and consumer. Experts
see among the far-reaching results
OF this tour the freight totals OF
America increased. the markets
grown fuller. and thereby greater
comfort, greater happiness and
greater living possibilities for the
people
Railroads Inadequate
Transportation men argue that II
has been fully and clearly demon
strated for several years now that
the railroads cannot completely meet
the demands OF traffic. They see no
future hope of relief through the
railroads themselves. It is physical
" impossible for railroad rolling
stock and terminal facilities to meet
the huctuating requirements OF de-
mand and supply. There comes the
season for moving the crops" That
Job alone, which demands speed,
would tax the capacity OF the rail-
roads for several months practically
10 the exclusion OF all other bust
ness. Then comes the season when
coal must be moved In vast quaint
ties and quickly.
And thus It goes. transportation
men point out The railroads work
most OF the year on thousands OF lit
tie jobs under the handicap OF big
jobs.
They point out that trucks can
move in large or small fleets accord
ing 20 demand; that they are not
restricted TO central terminals for
loading or unloading. but can over
come congestion by moving freely
from one 10 another OF the final
destinations OF their loads
Good For Livestock.
There is also a certain class Of
freight which, because IT demands
special speed in handling or special
care. can best be handled on long as
well as short hauls by motor truck.
Livestock is n this classification.
Already some live stock raisers
have realized the value OF the motor
truck IN the handling Of their ship
ments Cincinnati, Indianapolis.
Louisville and Kansas City markets
re receiving an increasing proper
tion Of their hogs by motor trucks.
During 1918. in eight months. IT,
Ss7 hogs were hauled at Kansas
city. an increase or 21.5O5 over the
same period in 1917 At Denver the
haulage of sheep Increased more
than 223 percent and approximate
" Is percent in cattle and II per-
cent in hogs. In a single day at st.
Joseph. Mo, 100 trucks brought IN
1.40O 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. Re
Gently one truck, running from Dali
las 20 Farmersville, Tex. hauled
four traiIers. II carried 20 head Of
sheep and II head OF steers-net
weight %, SEQ pounds distance OF
90 miles. or this distance % miles
were over black soil roads.
Feeds Rail System.
Even n the practiCa bility OF the
commercial motor truck is still in
the first stages OF demonstration, It's
great value as feeder OF the rail-
wav systems and for bridging the
gaps between farm and nearby
market has been clearly demon
strated. There Is a network or mo-
tor truck freight and express from
practically all local markets
Throughout 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 farms are
being marketed by the trucks which
carry 20 the farmer his requirements
in furniture binder Irvine, groceries
and "a thousand and one OF the
every day necessities Of life on the
farm
Tn this territory the interests Of
the truck operators and the ship
pers are watched over by a branch
~ me nationwide organization OF a
ship -by-truCk bureau. with head
quarters 40 Akron o. The bureau
acts as clearing house OF irforma-
ttor bringing operators and shippers
together.
NEW GENERAL MANAGER
FOR BETHLEHEM MOTORS