Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-03
SERVICE !.
DEPARTMENT OF
ARMY TO STAY
Transport Systen Facilitat.
ed BY New Departures;
Gas and Tires Saved.

While Il u difficult to understand
how there car possibly be permanent
requirements for the large numbers Of
vehicles the army 10 known to pos
sess, a vague idea Of what ID involved
may be gained BY the explanation
that az . result Of the experiences Of
the war there has been organised. or
Is in process Of organization, q COM
plete transportation system pertaining
to the army alone.
In point Of organisation and Serv-
'iceability this system is, comparable
to a great railroad organization. Fur
'thermofe, there II 40 question that 1t
will be = permanent feature, though
whether under the auspices of the
present motor transport corps or un-
der q new grand division Of trans
p%ortation has not been determined.
Array Motor ServicA
The former auspices would give
Highways transport for tho army in
dependent OF all other transport
means, while the latter would con-
solidate all transport means under q
single master organization. There are
arguments In favor Of both schemes,
~ appears.
AS explaining the utilitySof the pas
0enger car which there has been 20
general al understanding would be
dispensed with in large measure, the
so-called army motor service IL suf-
ficient. This service 10 practically q
taxicab and bus system. replacing, for
many uses. the old order Of things
whereby personal carr were assigned
to large numbers Of officers.
Now a majority of the a of
business, sand only when on official
business, are given transportation
warrants. good for one passage to des-
tinltion on the day n date indi-
Gated. These warrants are honored
by the driver Of any army "a avail
able at the point OF departure. For
many purposes buses have been in
stalled and have been found a source
Of great economy in gasoline and
tirea
The system in question, first in
stalled in the District of Columbia.
where all but SO cars assigned to de-
partment heads and heads Of corps
were thrown into the traffic pool, has
shown q saving in the expense Of op-
Grating the cars and an increase in
service rendered. There are Is gov
ernment taxi stations. During No
vember, in the district alone, 1889
trips were made, covering a total dis
lance Of 1O6.6O8 miles. Every de-
pAA III SASANS 41lS1uOSu uIIO0I
the war department shared in the
service given by the motor equipment.
Enlisted Men to Be Drivers.
Prior to November 1 the average
number of cars in operation per day
was 267 passenger cars and two
buses. Since November 1 the av-
erage number of ears has been 141,
and Of buses II. Before November
I the average number of passengers
carried in cars was $50. Since No
vember 1 the average number Of pas.
sengers carried in cars was 2,a5o per
day, and in buses 100.
The taxi system has been 90 sue.
caesful in the District Of Columbia
that 10 is to be inaugurated at once
in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago,
o. Louis, and Atlanta.
Eventually all cars will be driven by
enlisted men, thereby reducing the
wate account and insuring better care
Of the equipment. The number Of
garages for army vehicles has beer
reduced by the new, system from six.
teen to eight.