The Washington times., 1919-06-21

The value OF the motor truck as
feature OF transportation engineering
is shown in no way better than the
manner in which some OF the electric
interurban lines of America are using
the motor truck in combination with
their electric express service. This
is coming to be a great feature OF
the electric interurban service, and
the ability to make deliveries to
points beyond the termini of the ran
lines is proving Of wonderful value in
the development of long distance cleo
trio haul.
Two methods are being used in this
work, one being the utilization Of the
truck as part OF the electric railway
system. The other is the forming or
a combination between an independent
highway transport system and the
electric line, by which the truck COM
pany collects the freight charge for
it's part of the haul, and also acts as
agent OF the electric line in the col
lection and distribution Of freight to
points beyond the rail lines.
The accompanying is a description
Of the method Of operating Of typi-
cal transport system, by the electric
railway itself, with the difficulties
encountered, and the methods of
operation.
The system is one Of Importance in
its field, an electric line with
large American city as its center,
of operations, and several interurban
lines reaching out in different direc-
lions. The motor truck system de-
scribed is one OF the extensions OF
the rail line, duplicated in the other
long distance lines, but providing the
typical problems OF the entire sys-
tenn. Roughly, the highway transport
operation by the company has added
thirty miles of haul to each Of four
electric lines.
Typical Country Road.
The road covered is typical country
highway, some clay, some sand, some
macadam. but the twenty-five miles
Of haul is inclusive of every sort of
highway condition, from the nearly
impossible up to the concrete high
way.
The company began operations by
making a traffic survey OF the terri
tory to be reached, to determine the
amount of freight which might be eX-
pected to develop. The basis of this
survey was the amount OF freight
handled by the electric line in similar
territory which had been electrically
developed.
With this determined, the cost Of
equipment to handle the freight was
estimated, the cost of maintenance,
and other elements figured in to
achieve a figure which would repre-
sent the total estimated income and
the total estimated expense. Rates
for express haul were then develop
ed on the lines of ordinary freight
classification to achieve workable
tariff for the motor haul.
The motor truck system was then
put in operation. with few trucks at
first, and later expanded as the bust
ness developed.
In handling freight. the highway
transport section OF the line was con
sidered as an integral portion OF the
main line, with the electric terminal
as a junction point with the truck
service. The business developed was
for merchants in the villages and
cities on the route, but the company
could not refuse. as a common car
rier. to handle also the offerings of
individual farmers along the route.
The ordinary express bill Of lading
was used, with a tariff between all
points either wholly rail, wholly
truck, or rail and truck combined.