Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-04-20
COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES OF LOCAL
 MARKETS LIMITED ONLY BY GOOD ROADS
City That Does Not Have Home Market Diameter Of 200 Miles Is Not Approximating Its Commer
 cial Possibilities Business Tagging.

state whose experiences had shown i ,hem the wonderful possibilities of transportation, raised their voices in a great clamor for depend able commercial highways. Legisla- ;ors were given definitely to under- stand that they would not be welcom- ed home unless they had cast their 1 vote for a substantial highways | oill.
 "A bit of the history of the return ] loads movement, as conducted by the Indianapolis chamber of commerce, will indicate to what proportions the ultimately will serve so- ciety.
 The national council of defense had seen that as force making for the increase of national assets, the motor truck and highways must be used more and more.
 "In Indiana this movement met with the full sympathy of the state council of defense and the Indiana polls chamber of commerce, which early in 1918 established return loads bureau, interested not only in furthering the increased use of the motor truck as carrier, but seeing that the motor truck was used to it's full capacity. The logic of this is manifest. There is practically the same wear and tear in a return trip empty for the truck as if it were loaded, practically the same cost of operation and upkeep.
 "The damage to the road by the empty truck is the same, or nearly so, as by the loaded truck. And as much man power is required for the empty truck on the return trip as if that truck were loaded. Thus it is that the motor truck and the men who handle them must, for the sake of pure economy, be made to work full time, instead of half time.
 Indianapolis and Indiana are ideal for the development of the motor truck to the highest efficiency in hauling. The geographical center of the state, with line of cities in every direction sending loads into Indiana polls daily, it seems the manifest duty to utilize those outgoing trucks and to encourage larger loads coming into Indianapolis. This for the good of all.
 Farmers are sending their pro- duce into Indianapolis by motor truck. Over every thoroughfare entering Indianapolis these trucks came daily, and when they did not carry back loads it was because the truck men or their patrons did not see the pro- fits that would accrue to them, per- haps in quicker service, in the use of these motor truck. on the return loads.
 Benefits Wholesaler and Retailer.
 "For the Indianapolis wholesaler these trucks offer a wonderful ser vice. The motor truck solves many al problem of the shipping clerk and the traffic manager. The haul to the freight depot and the reloading is eliminated, and merchandise con- signed for some point in Indiana, via motor truck is delivered at the door of the retailer. And the merchandise comes ill better condition than by rail.
 "And the retailer benefits, too, for he is in daily touch with the city. His supplies can be ordered as he wants them. Stocks of goods can be kept without large capital invest mcnt. The excitement that used to come with the rush order is elimin- ated, for the rush order of the past becomes the. usual thing with the speed of the motor truck.
 1.-The motor truck is doing much for the farmer. The great markets of the world are open to him more and more, because the motor truck brings him into the shadow of the city market. The farmer makes more profit by selling on the exact day he wants to sell. It enlarges his markets too, for the city. stands ready to con- sume or to ship all his products and do it without quibble. Thus, with the increased markets, the farmer sees the benefits of increased pro- duction and larger acreage.
 Result, the city man pays less for his stuff from the country-for his fruits, meats, vegetables, butter, and eggS-but the farmer, because of increased production has made more money.
 And the man of the city, far from the farm and the country, liv- ing from the produce of the farm and country, gets better milk-better food SSitSio any J~oSSduot tuC IlUIUI CIuCk is hauling his foodstuffs over the highways to the big city markets.
 "The motor truck inevitably en- larges and betters the social scheme. The visualization of it's utility has been the best argument for better roads and better care of them, for only on good roads can the motor truck do the work--Winter and sum- mcr-eXpected of it.
 investigation as to what the h. l dlanapolis chamber of commerce bur eau IS doing shows some real work, some real enthusiasm, with the prop CT insight into the future and build Ing accordingly. A committee from the wholesale trade division of the Indianapolis chamber of commerce, and the Indiana Automobile Trade association direct the work of the re- turn loads bureau. In an attempt to ascertain the volume of tonnage h.,y InI