The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-03-08
LESSON IN
TRUCK PLAN
Chicago Cooperative Country Haul.
ing Company WIN Prove vaiuable
Example Ia Western Firms

what n number of Chicago men
have done In the WAY OF inAugurat'
ing a cooperative truck line In of
real interest TO the people OF Seattle
and the Northwest. and tho lessons
learned By rhe.s pioneers In an In
FAINT industry viii be Of great value
when the Inevitable happens. and
rural truck lines are established on
the coast.
A group OF fArsvtEiousd manufRc.
turrrs and proprictoru OF mercantile
establishments Of Chicago and viciD-
iiy are applying the coopcfativc
principle 10 truck transportation.
having organized what Ia believed
to be the first cooperative motor
truck freight line In the rnitcd
States.
Firmly convinced that the time T.
rips for extending the usefulness OF
the truck In the field OF short haul
transportation. 40 men. representing
business interests in Chicago and
eitieA within a radius OF so miles
west Of Chicago. formed tho Western
Truck Lines II IN a cooperative
venture. Simon pure. there not being
a share OF promotion stock within
tho organization.
RaI lines entering Chicago. like
the railroads Of tho cntir. country.
found II practically impossible TO
transport tho vast amount OF freight
that Was dumped Mt their doors last
spring and summer. AZ conse.
duence unavoidable delays In the
transportation OF goods wer. fro
auent II WIS this condition tina;
led tn. manufacturers TO seek relief
thru the Organization OF the motor
truck line as an auxiliary To the over
burdened railroads.
Daily Schesfulcs
On September daily schedules
were inauguratcd between Chicago
and West Chicago and intermediate
points. Shortly after schedules were
extended and freight stations were
opened at Aurora. Elgin. Batavia.
Geneva and ST. Charles. As rapidly
as possible II ls planned TO extend
the service to points within a radius
Of 100 miles OF Chicago At present
the longest haul IA So miles one way.
The motor truck line has now been
in operation a sufficient length OF
time TO convince thoroly it's promot,
ers and patrons alike Of its merit
both as n profitable Investment and
ns medium for quick and cconom.
ical shipment OF goods. As n mat.
ter OF fact the enterprise was a sue.
cess from tho start. Serving terri
tory IN which some of the largest
manufacturing plants of the country
are located. the truck line Is giving
a freight service much specdicr than
IL possible by any other form OF
transportation. This Is true especial
ly with shipments OF less than car
load lots. Frequently freight is
placed in the hands OF manufacture
ers within "A few hours from time Of
shipment. that n consigned by other
carriers might bo days In transit
Railway Prccaiends
In tho operation of tho Western
Truck Lines. railway precedents
have been followed In 50 far ms they
have been found of advantage. A
terminal station or depot. similar 20
those maintained by railroads. has
been established in the heart OF Chi
cago's shipping district at Clinton
and Polk streets. This terminal
building Is an unusually large one
with $4,000 square feet OF floor
space. All trucks load and unload mt
shipping platforms, which are ar
ranged in station order. Depots are
located In all cities thru which the
trucks operate. Each depot Is In
charge OF an agent who assists in
loading and unloading. makes out
bills for freight and checks and col
lects bills for freight receivcd--in
fact. renders n service for the truck
line much similar to tho duties Of a
local freight agent.
All trucks are operated over es-
tablished routes, but delivery OF ship
mcnts and pick up OF shipments
from and TO points other than de-
pots in Chicago and towns west. are
made at regular published rates. the
rates being based upon actual service
rendered on each specific shipment.
In the organization of the Western
Truck Lines IA broad plan for future
development was followed. The
president OF the company. Edwin An