Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-02-28
The Motor Truck Should Pay For
Road Damages, Thinks Chair
man Zouck.

| Wy NCOLSc W. OEdndtll, chairman OF the
National Motor Truck Committee. at the
Chicago Convention of the American Asso-
citation of State Highway officials and
Highway Industries Association
am glad to note that Mr. Graham ad-
mits that his client, the truck. has been a
destroyer of highways. However, he pleads
for consideration because of the fact that
the truck has been great boon to civiliza-
ton. This reminds one of the story Of the
boy who killed his father and mother and
then plead to the court for mercy. due to
the fact that there were extenuating cir
cumstances. and that he was an orphan
with great prospects of being of future
service to his country.
We all know that the truck is here to
stay and we hope that as much can be said
for highways. Everybodys object should
be to reduce the damage the truck does
and to enlarge its avenues of usefulness.
The greatest of all discoveries is fire, but
II is more destructive than useful except
when under control and regulated. The
control Of the truck is the proposition which
now confronts every highway department
in this country.
Mr.. Graham's client, the truck, is backed
by capital. influence and brains. There is
no business which excels that of the truck
in its command of ability. foresight and
energy. The owners of trucks do not hest
tate to place upon the roads. without con-
sulting anyone, traffic which the roads
were never constructed for or intended to
stand. For instance, immense vans and
large trucks are run pell-mell and reck-
lessly over the roads without regard to the
other traffic. as everyone who has used our
highways has experienced. This Is being
allowed simply because no concerted &C.
ton has been taken by the highway'0ffi-
cials to counterfeit the aggressiveness Of
the hackers of this method of transporta-
ton. We have truck and freight lines
running from one end of the State to the
other in competition with railroads. but II
railroad companies should decide that
freight can be better handled by the use
of trucks on our highways. and adopt that
method, great howl would be made by
the public that the railroads should pay an
adequate compensation for the use Of these
roads and that the trucks should be regu-
lated.
The destruction caused by these trucks
will soon show that it would have been
better and much cheaper for Maryland to
have constructed narrow gauge railroads
along some of the main highways and
allowed them to be used free of charge
than to permit these heavy trucks, which
are now using our roads, to destroy them.
as they are now doing. The public will
not long permit this method Of transpor-
tation when normal times return. due to
the fact that it is being carried at a great
loss to the State, and. in turn, it will be
found that it is not economical to the par
ties it serves. AS an example, freight
car and a five-ton truck cost about the
same-the one requires one man to operate
it and carries five tons and charges about
20 cents per ton-mile for the freight hauled.
and demands that the State furnish the
right of-way and build and maintain its
roadbed; the other. freight car, carries
fifty tons or more, ten Of which. on an
average, are operated by one man. for
which charge of only one or two cents
per ton-mile is made, and it purchases its
own right-of-way and maintains its road
bed.
Anyone can see at glance that eco
nomic conditions will sooner or later force
the heavy trucks for long hauls out Of use
to points which can be served by railroads.
but by that time the roads will have been
greatly damaged. If anyone will think the
matter out. it will be readily seen that it is
wonder il is necessary to call the attention
of the public to this condition, but as stated
above, the ability and foresight and the
propaganda of the parties interested in
this method Of transportation have been,
and are now, forcing these conditions upon
the taxpayers.
At the present time hauling company
is operating a number of trucks between
Philadelphia and Baltimore. distance Of
100 miles, and charges 81 for 100 pounds
of freight in less than truckloads, or $50 a
ton. and special rates for freight in full
truckloads, although it is approximately 10
cents per ton-mile. Railroads are doing
this hauling 2 cents per ton-mile and less
When this company commenced to operate,
it complained against the charges imposed
by this State and it appealed to the High
ways Transport Committee at Washington,
protesting against our license charges. We
were asked to appear before that Com
mittee. which we did. and. to our surprise
and amazement, 1t insisted that the own
ers of trucks be allowed to use our roads
free of charge in order that Ito use its
stereotyped expression) I'VE might help to
win the war, but this Committee did not
know or care. apparently. what the haul
ing companies taxed the public. The Chair
man of this same Committee was so sure
that he was right in his judgment that he
appealed to the Governor and desired tC
appear before the Legislature to convince
its members Of the justice Of his reasoning
The Highways Transport Committee Il
composed Of men Of large business affair
who have made good in their vacations
and have been Of great service to thii
country. and the above instances are sim
ply given to show how one-sided all Of US
can be when we become enthusiastic on g
certain side Of proposition.
The argument Of the parties advocating
the free use Of highways by trucks is that
the general taxpayer should keep up these
roads. They overlook the fact that there
are many miles Of roads to be maintained
by the general taxpayer. and that the only
I l. a. .L..1 40 hall,