Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-12
Distributi0n as a Factor
In Southern Prosperity
T TRUTH of basic Importance to the en-
tire South as we'll as to its own partic


TTRUTH of basic Importance to the en-
tire South as we'll as to its own partic-
- ular region is stated admirably by the
Birmingham News when it says 1.-The paths
that lead from the producer to the cOnsum-
er must be smoothed and hardened to a con-
dition which will permit the passage OIL
great food-laden vehicles. Industrial de-
velopment in Alabama hangs largely on the
distribution of foods. We have got to get
back to that fundamental fact in all our
planning for an industrial empire for the
Birmingham District. The rural regions
must be brought next door, for their sake
and ours. The motor truck offers an i'm
mediate solution. The motor truck is ready.
The roads are not
It is through thoughtful and steady eff
fort to bring the farms and towns Of the
outlying country into relations Of neighborly
business with herself that Birmingham has
developed so widereaching a trade influ-
ence and has done much for the agricul-
tural progress of Alabama. In the matter
of food producing and food marketing she
has studied the needs and opportunities of
every county in that State, and has proved
at once ready and able to help them in work
ing out their practical problems. She is
reaping the rewards of friendly, intelligent
and serviceful interest. Being wise enough
to see that there must be adequate and eff
ficient distribution ere there can be full
LOWING anu sustained pFOQuCClOn, CndC ClCy
is working upon lines broadly beneficial to
farmers and consumers as we'll as to mer-
chants, bankers and manufacturers.
But, as the News points out, the best OF
such efforts will not yield due results until
the highways from farm to city are Smooth
ed and hardened to condition which will
permit the passage of great food-laden We
hicles." That is to say, there must be more
and better channels of distribution if the
mutual interests of town and country are
rightly to be developed and the consequent
prosperity vouchsafed. The ship-by-truck
movement is intellectually rich in possibili-
ties if suitable roads be provided. 'What
truck transportation is doing for the larger
milling companies" says a bulletin from
Akron, Ohio, "is illustrated by the report
of one concern which operates forty-one
trucks and upwards of sixty salesmens cars
at all times. Cost sheets convinced the own
ers that trucks were not only a saving over
horse-drawn vehicles, but that in a large
number of cases they were transporting flour
at less than railroad freight rates." Incl
dentally it may be said that while truck ship
ping will take some business from the rail
carriers, it will be of chief Importance in
developing new business and calling forth
the life of latent resources, so that the larger
volumes of commerce thus produced will re-
dound to the good of the railroads along with
all other interests. But the motor truck
cannot play this stimulating and construct
tive part except where highways are smooth
and hard and durable. Such highways then,
there must be if we are to work out our
problem of distribution with it's basic bearing
upon lair profits for the producer, fair prices
for the consumer, and hence upon the en-
Tire range Of economic welfare. The sooner
and the more thoroughly Georgia and her
southern nelghbors apply this truth, the
r1cher Will be their measure of prosDeritv
and the swifter their progress