Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-12
PRODUCER And
CONSUMER BOTH
NEED HARD ROAD
Producers Of State Realize
New Legislation is NeCeS- .
Sary; Lessons Learned
from War.

kick each year when the hauling
season came around and he found
the roads so poor he could get TO
market with difficulty, probably
breakage Of serious sort to his We
hicle To economically raise more
stuff we must have better roads over
which t. transport the crops. The |
producer and the consumer will |
profit to the greatest degree only |
when the link Of transportation be-
tween the two is Of such character
that it will give 365 days service.
For that reason Ahe present legis-
lature is an unanimous good roads
legislature. The producers Of Neil
braslSa realized deeply that the.
proper legislation must first be en-
acted before results can De felt.
Trucks and Railroads
There are over 100000 trucks in
service in the United States. This |
Is one-sixth OF the total of freight |
cars. Truck transportation has
such a wonderful future that even
the most optimistic adherent's pro-
phecv will in time be found to have
been a mild guess as to the extern
sion of this door-to-door service. |
The great value of the truck over
the freight car is in the fact that
trucks are not bothered with ter
minal congestion. Railroads unload
at the rail end and that means con-
gestion.
The Wars Lesson.
The biggest lesson learned from
the war is the vital necessity OF
hard surfaced roads. We are faced
with two propositions, to either
drift along with the unprogressive
dirt road States, or see the light and
stand firm for permanent construc-
ton and skip costly intermediate
stages OF senii-hard building, Ser
50 is the predominant, value of
permanent roads. Constant upkeep
is the predominant item when think
ing of anything else.
Highway Snow Sheds.
Pennsylvania will keep snow
plows active on 225 miles of main
highway this year, which demon
states that highway transportation
fills SO important a position in the
sphere of hauling that year-round
right OF way must be had. Snow
sheds and snow fences have been
erected at points where drifting
is likely.
Favor Night Closing.
The National Automobile Dealers
association state that they are in
favor of tahooing night and Sunday
service. The present war-hahit OF
closing nights and Sundays will, in
all probability, be endorsed and con-
tinued. Dealers claim night service
is. at best, costly, and want to
steer shy Of resumption Of the
practice.
War Trucks to Be Held.
The War department has stated
that manufacturers need have no
fear Of the government dumping
their thousands Of trucks, parts,
etc. on the market. This would UNI
doubtedly disorganize the effort to
resdjust to a peace basis, and work
financial havoc among large fae-
tories. The government has nearly
10000 trucks on hand. Hundreds OF
offers from individual prohteers
have been received, with the idea
Of buying cheap from Uncle sam
and selling at a fat figure to the
Individual. The government will
cooperate to the fullest extent in
stabilizing the market.
Justice in Auto Thefts.
The majority of the progressive
states are to ask their legislatures
for severe sentence in auto THEFT
cases. Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut,
Indiana and others are aroused to the
need Of once for all curbing the au-
tomcbile thieves games. Nebraska Is
ii line for the same thing. Mich
iQan is asking for FIVE to Is years.
The financial loss in machines IS
greater than that Of any other one
item, and deserves deep thought
from ali legislatures. A car to every
seven persons in Nebraska demands
adequate laws for checking the loss,
which affects the entire state.
Iowa For II Hard Roads.
Iowa is to make the hardest fight
of its career as dirt road state for
real. permanent, 365-day roads. a
bin has been drafted for eonstruc-
ton of II hard roads to compose a
state system. To finance the scheme
II is proposed to issue bonds for $751;
100000, backed by the state credit
and interest and principal to be paid
BY the motor license fees, bonds TO
draw 3.5 to IA per cent interest.
"A. A. "A. Motor Truck Board.
The American Automobile assoc
citation, the powerful national ore
qanization, which has played prom
inent part in all legislation affecting
automobiles and trucks, has added
another important committee to its
working unit, that of motor trucks.
REPRESENTATIVES from all sections OF
the country club members affiliated
with the Al. A. A., will be appointed
members. w. B. Cheek, president
Of the Omaha Automobile club, IS
slated for one of the members OF
this important committee.
400 Dues Paid.
During the first seven days of
January over 400 members Of the
Omaha Automobile club paid up
their 1919 dues. The excellent, far
reaching work done by the club in
the past in the interest of the indi-
vidual motorist has placed this club
IN the front rank Of organizations
working for the interest Of all On