Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-10
TRUCK WEIGHT
IS BIG PROBLEM
Until 1t Is Settled Construc-
ton May Be Somewhat
Retarded


reached on what legislation is to be
passed regulating the size and weight
of motor trucks in Pennsylvania, can
any steps be taken by the State High
way Department towards the build
ing or reconstruction of permanent
trunk line highways. The whole
question confronting the road en-
gineers is "how much weight must
we make the roads to carry"
The present law carries maxi
mum weight regulation of $4,000
pounds. but the truck associations
of the State are endeavoring to have
this weight regulation increased to
$4,000 or 10000 pounds. Not one of
the various interests that are anX-
ious to get a model motor vehicle law
for Pennsylvania seem to have any
settled opinions on the limits that
should be placed on the trucks which
are daily becoming more numerous
on the highways.
During the past administrations
of the Highway Department the
roads have been built with founda-
tions of five inches on the sides and
seven inches in the center. but under
the plan to carry $4,000 pound traf-
fic the new specifications call for
6 inches on the side and eight inches
of foundation in the center of rein
forced roads and for seven inches
side and nine-inch foundation in the
center of plain roads. The heavy
truck traffic has been found to be
too severe on the former foundations
and new standards have been adopt
ed, but no step forward can be
taken if the weight of trucks is to
be increased by the Legislature. The
weight of the trucks is going to
figure in the cost of all highway
construction of a permanent nature
and If this weight is increased above
$4,000 pounds the depth of founda-
tions will have to be materially in
creased, adding to all items OF con-
struction.
The truck people also desire leGis-
lation permitting trucks of sc inches
in width instead of 80 inches and
truck lengths OF % feet instead of
20 feet. There is considerable op-
position to these increases as the
majority of roads are but sixteen
feet wide and it would be difficult
and dangerous in many places for
eight foot wide trucks to pass each
other. The long sweep around a
curve by trucks of great length is
also given as an objection to in
creasing the length.
There has been some talk among
members of the Legislature to in
crease the speed limit in open country
to thirty-five miles an hour, and to
rigidly enforce this provision. but
the general concensus of opinion is
that a limit of thirty miles an hour
will pSSbably be decided upon. This
will increase the speed from the
present mark of "a miles an hour.
Another suggestion that will likely
receive favorable consideration by
the lawmakers will be to make every
one exceeding the speed limit finally
adopted, responsible for accidents
without consideration of negligence.
The stolen car evil has caused the
introduction of a number of bills in
both branches of the Legislature
regulating sales of motor vehicles
and placing upon all public garage
owners certain requirements in the
way of records that will enable po-
lice to readily locate stolen automo-
biles. SoRe garage owners are OBJ
jecting strenuously to making the
records required IN some Oh the DlllS
but it is almost certain that some
Legislation will be enated that will
require records to be kept of the car
and engine numbers of all motor We
| hicles coming into their hands for
storage or repairs. When there are
any signs that show mutilation of
any numbers or attempt to mutilate
numbers immediate notice must be
furnished to police departments
other proposed bills propose heavy
fines and imprisonments to have in
possession or operate any motor We
hicle from which car or engine num-
ber have been eliminated.
There are two bills regulating
truck weights and widths, fixing
license fees and carrying general
| motor vehicle regulations before the
Legislature, one measure introduced
| by Senator Buckman and another in
troduced by Representative w. H
Dithrich, of Allegheny county. The
| Dithrich bill has had a hearing be-
fore the House committee on Public
Roads where a number of amend
/ ments, were suggested and it will
| likely make it's appearance on the
calendar during the week.
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