The Dolores star., 1920-12-10

summarizlng the experience. of s31
n.belt farmers who own motor
yks. the United States Department
Agriculture found that in the opin-
Of nlne-tenths of these men, the
latest advantage in owning n motor
sk is Saving time:" in the opinions
three.fOurths of them the greatest
advantage is poor roads" and 81
cent believe that their trucks will
In out to be n profitable investment.
The reports, however. indicate that
most of these farms the truck has
d reduced expense to any great cX-
nj, and that 1t supplements rather
(n replaces work-stock and other
glpnent
On the average these trucks travel
~ miles per year, and the cost Of
sraticn is between 1919 cents and II
hts per mile, making n total annual
|st from $46O to $40. Each truck
lglaces an average of II head of
Wh-stN'h- W liu liit ''Sl w ht'I'-
/. horse a year In the corn belt
round 500, the reduction In expense
b this Item Is in the neighborhood
$40 per farm. For all farms the
rerage amount of hired help saved
the trucks Is Sl63. On most farms
iese are the only two Items of direct
kiuctiOn In expense which can be
trdlted 10 the truck, and on the av-
Hage they amount to $50 or so less
ban the total cost Of operating it.
To Offset this added cost, custom
aullng done with the trucks amounts
about $50 per year for all farms,
paving only something like $40 or $50
|rnual net expense which must be
pore than balanced by the saving of
the Of the owner and members of the
|imlly, the ability to get crops and
Fve stock to market In Better condi-
bon or at better time. and other bene-
|is which are not directly measurable
} dollars and cents, If the average
FuCk is to be profitable investment.
It must he remembered that most
I these farms where trucks are owned
ie larger than the average, and are
waited at n considerable distance from
larket.
The investigation was made during
inter and spring Of 1920. Farmer
rck owners In Indiana, Illinois, MIS-
rlh, Iowa, southern Wisconsin,
,rfhprn Minnesota. southeastern
mh Dakota, eastern Nebraska and
stern Kansas, who raise corn rs one
their principal crops, and who prac-
&c the general grain and live stock
ming characteristic of the corn belt
ported to the department the use
py make of their trucks, the cost of
Tating them. the advantages ana
of trucks for farm use,
ID Othc.' related information.
Study of Reports.
A study of the reports of S3l of
%e farmers has just been completed
: the division of rural engineering or
e bureau of public roads and the
lice Of farm management and farm
Some of the important facts revealed
the investigation are:
The average size of the farms Is 346
res and their average distance from
arket is eight miles.
Only II per cent of them are less
ian five miles from market, and ~
er cent are Is miles or more from
arket
little over one-fOurth Of these
len have changed their markets, for
least a part of their produce, since
urchaSns trucks. For those who
ave changed market, the average dis
'nce to the old market was seven
illeS and TO the new market Is Is
llles
me rated capacity of these trucks
aries from one-half to two tons. Sew
nty per cent of them are rated mt
ue ION and only per cent of them
less than one ton.
Experience with trucks has caused
per cent of these men to decide
'at The one-ton size Is best suited for
.e'r conditions, % per cent that the
's'ton size is best, and ~ per cent
''' 'he two-ton size Is best. Practical
one man In four has decided that
'ruck larger than .lie one he now
WINS would be better suited to his
ohdltions.
Nihety-one per cent believe that
neir trucks will prove to be protita-
e Investment.
~ the opinions Of these men the
'ne'pai advantage of n motortruck
a. ~ saving time, and the principal dis
',"h'age Is poor roads,"
"' compared with horses and wag-
:. .'' me trucks save about twO-thirds
we time required for hauling to
Ho ron these tarms.