The Dolores star., 1920-12-10

| ''i Wv lltIt nTh over plHflt
weeks during the year when the roads
are In such condition on account of
mud, snow. etc, that these trucks can
not be used. The roads on which
nearly 30 per cent of them usually
travel are all or part dirt.
The condition Of the roads prevent
ed the use Of trucks with pneumat-
ic tires little less than seven weeks
during the year covered by the reports,
and of those with solid tires a little
over nine weeks.
Twenty-four per cent of the trucks
are equipped with pneumatic tires, 27
per cent with solid tires, and 40 per
cent with pneumatics in front and sol
ids In rear. However, experience has
convinced 5S per cent that pneumatics
arc best for their conditions, 35 per
cent that solids are best and per cent
that pneumatiCs in front and solids in
rear are best.
These men have return loads for
their trucks about one-third of the
time.
Still Use Horses.
A majority of these men still use
their horses for some hauling on the
road.
On more than half of the farms all
the hauling in the fields and around
the buildings is still done with horses
and wagons.
th,nt Of fhnSn did
some custom hauling with their trucks
during the year covered by the reports.
The average amount received by those
who did such work was S132.
Their owners estimate that on the
average these trucks travel 2,777 miles
and are used on 112 days per year.
The average estimated life Of these
trucks Is 6R years, and on this basis
depreciation is usually the largest sim
gle item of expense in connection with
their operation.
The average cost of operation, In
Guiding depreciation, interest on in
vestment, repairs, registration and H.
cense fees. fuel, oil and tires, Is 15.2
cents per mile for the one-half and
three-quarter-ton trucks, 15.2 for the
one-ton, 21.3 cents for the 1A
and 1lk ton, and 25.S cents for the two
ton.
The average cost Of hauling crops,
including the value Of the drivers time
at 80 cents per hour, is "a cents per
ton mile with the one-half and three
,,I-s I hn
ton, 23.3 cents with the IL and 1ls-
ton. and 21.5 cents with the two-ton
trucks.
Nearly S5 per cent of these trucks
had not been out of commission when
needed for single day during the
year covered by the reports. and 50
per cent of the owners stated that they
had not lost any appreciable time on
account of motor and tire trouble,
brcakage. etc, when using their trucks
About one truck in fifteen was out of
commission more than five days how
ever. and one owner in 40 reported
n loss of more than per cent of the
time when using his truck.
Also Own Tractors.
Half of these men own tractors as
well as motor trucks. Most or the
tractors are used on the larger farms,
however. Only 33 per cent of the men
whose farms contain lGO crop acres
or less own tractors, while 60 per cent
of those with over 800 crop acres own
them, The number of work-stock Kept
on the farms where both trucks and
tractors are owned Is only slightly
less than the number kept on the
farms of corresponding size where only
trucks are owned.
Seventy-eight per cent of these farm
ers state that their trucks reduce the
eypense for hired help. On those
farms where there is reduction the
onerators estimate that 1t amounts TO
5000 per year on the average.