Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-25
From Other Viewpoints
Trolley Cars as Produce Carriers.
ny JOHN II. PARDEE.
Transportation facilities of the United states
are very much less than needed for tho

Transportation facilities of the United states
much less than are neeued LOT 'hc
production required.
la this situation it is simply the part OF
common sense to avail ourselves oil every
facility which can he utilized TO improve. ex-
tend and expand such facilities and TO bring
thorn into coordination with each other 50
that each may perform the part which II Is
best fitted TO perform. The $4,000 miles Of
intcrurban electric railway track which now
the country is being utilized TO only
part of its capacity. 1t is capable OF per-
better i'a,.'s work in the service of the public.
Transportation rails is OF all methods OF
land transportation the cheapest. To incur
large expenditures for new forms Of transpor-
ta,!on before making the greatest use OF
those already existing is waste
OF the total revenue of the steam roads Of
the country approx imately 20 per cent Is de-
rived from the transportation OF freight OF
he total revenue of electric railways less than
5 per cent is derived from freight. Yet three
scvcnths of all electric trackage is OF a char
actcr that lends itself to transportation OF
goods between communities, while practically
all OF the rest can be put to efficient use in
connection with the intremurai dist ribution OF
commodities.
The transportation problem OF today in it's
practical aspects is largely terminal prob
ZEN. No large city of the country has at the
preseh' time sufficient terminal facilities
Their provision involves such enormous. eN-
tehditureS that any means by which terminal
congestion can be relieved and terminal re-
fuircments reduced must be welcome not only
tF ne steam roads. but by industry. The in
tcruTban railway in connection with city sys-
TENS Offers such relief to the extent that the
lntcrurban can relieve the steam ronds or
tratiic within the sphere of their operations
rae ei'y that is adequately served by street
railway tracts is in an excellent position TO
solve its distribution problem, i'm so far as
" concerns traffic, both,passenger and freight
.t'E!h"t'hE or destined for territory served
by IT'S inierurbans. The expense involved is
ior establishing small terminals in such locn-
t.o''I as w,ii pest serve the population. and
enormous expenditures requisite for any great
cApehsion OF steam and terminals
@ all
u"ciioh oil food, while It's distribution after
Production Is an equally Important factor in
,he cost OF living. The electric railway is a
ready made. and almost alreodv ~,
AGENCY 10 facilitate distribution and I'm lo,yor
US oos' In cooperation with the motor truck
~ can 40 more to solve the problem Vhore
an I ,, naen inns corporation, and. thhrc are
:'"nS instances the results have been excel
rent Whenc there is competition mo resni, ,
49, zen disastrous to both and in spitc
OF temporary reduction Of ,r.ns,,,,a.;
charges or Improvement in fuci1itIes :, -, ~
P"h!'c mat in the end suffers
h.ec,ric roads that serve tho cities a,d
Fart 10 perform in this work NJ i n"n We a !,
rrodnction' their efficient operation ,s nsan,,n
"a 70 any program. End like cvery otbsr ~,
task ~ ~ perform their
my cannot be considered as merely mi,
M uses whose sole object Is to gain:
pcrfor,,in W regarded as public necessities.
cn,n,, Ing pnbiic service. and under This
concept OF their character ana funn,I ms
- - 1"rh position both financially and
~ INC public mind will pcrmi, ;hon an"
the work well. '"tH' 10 40
, ,i in',ay me transportation companies are
,Attthg IN their business or providinu ser,,,no
,'I''hR 70 ut'iiHe TO the fun in the nubIi. IN
'tresis the possibilities or their fao,,I,; IN :
chnsc thcy are no restricted and hnmnorn, ~ .
rupi'c niseoHeeption and public prejudice thnt
they have neither the financial resour"ns ' m"
the public co-operAion necessary for their
task. Il I'M n. 'e e't