Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-28
TRUCKS MEET PRESENT
RAILROAD EMERGENCY
with Transportation Facilities
OutSrown, Garage Takes Place
of ROunu-iouSc,

Industry in the United. States has
outgrown tho whole system of ran
transportation. experts assert. II
{ VIII be year. they say, before even
K Inc existing equipment can be re-
s stored to efficiency and years LONGER
before the expansion OF facilities
ssneccssary for the rails TO "catch up
ssto the demands OF business can be
accomplished. Meanwhile. business
z scvcrywhere, with it's customary re-
sourcetulne,Ss. has sought relief else
where Cut off ut the round house. ii
has turned TO garage. Therein
the motor truck--it has found sue
Intcrcity shipping by truck. which
under ordinary circumstances. Is in
Guided in the short haul category.
~Sas commonplace even before the
Sriilroads began 10 faltor under their
burden--as ordinary, almost, as the
smotorization OF hauling and delivery
oNerworkcd railroads were hit by the
Switchmen's strike. shipping for II
time received what amounted to u
II was. here tina; the motor truck
stepped in, no: Gully in a legitimate
way on short -. but, as the de-
{ mark had been passed in numerous
instances. Now, the experienced truck
Z conditions, there IS no economy in
S truck hauls OF such distances. Hence
Z he would not recommend them OK
eSpt Ii Eases OF great urgency.
However. many an emergency did
arise which sent motor trucks over
the roads on long trips. True. the
s STn OF tne d oSnig5os vas hiEn: bur
:; cred tho expenditures an ultimate
economy after estimating the iinan-
ciai loss through delayed shipments
and loss of business that would nave
been cntailed by waiting for ship
nnd o6 by ran; Weighng conditions
~
long hauls.
Trucks Snvc knitting Mill.
y case in point: III ordof TO keep
knitting Min. Dc,aTs.. vi Wis. n had sS
have yarn-freight embargoes not
NM,i,hs'anding..-fTom the A,tleboro,
commission dyers and bleachcrs \
White iivc-ton truck was called into
service. With cargo of worsted
yarns. valued nj nearly $4,000, the
Company, Woonsocket. Il. l., set on;
on scheduled round-trip OF 2a0O
miles The Sontract price for the
LIP was S2.SSS.s', or approximately
. $50 per mile one way-sl.2o per
. 1nut for the entire route
been shinped by freight. But here
y Had the truck not been thrown
INT" the breach. clrtailment of pro-
duciton at the Bradley Knitting Mill
would have been necessitated. The
ny truck was more than Justified. OF
Gals felt, by the urgency Of their
need.
Similar situations similarly met in
Question whether use OF trucks.
though Involving Increased expense
MAS not an ultimate economy. Sup
pose delayed shipments OF raw ma
ierial mad been allowed to force sus-
pension OF production, with n conse-
pucnt loss of time for employees! Very
shortly, lost time and decreased pro-
tucticn would have proved more cost
~ than emery nlcy use OF trucks for
i"nE hauling Of nected raw materials.
Less tanSto!e, hut none the less
real, was the danger OF weakened
prestige by failure 20 promptly fiji
10 he the closing factor in the de-
cision OF certain firms 10 use trucks
on emergency long hauls Although
lmpossiole TO compute in dollars and
cents pcrStiEe--it was realizcd-was
worth protecting. even at some cx-
pcnse.
Needed Machine. HnuIed Overland
Mnen the Troy Foundry Company.
81 Troy. y. Y. found that the rail-
road strike was holding up mould
ing machines needed for an addItIoo
10 the plant, officials of the Consoli-
Gated Trucking Company were asked
10 SEND one OF their trucks 10 Mil
Waukee 10 bring back load OF the
machines. Delay could not hc
cpnnienanccd. as a large order from
. i'r filled. G. n. Watson, who looks
after the trucks. selected a three
ION White for tho trim and decided In
drive II himself. Full loads Wera
carried both ways. Taking on q
direction load OF castings consigned
to the Wright Gutter Company 81
Chicago. WatsG. madei.,hc i.S0o-niIr
Trip in eishc.-da.-s.' Eight hours Of
hdditiona! driving took him TO Mil
Maukee. whore he nilcd on len nk