East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-03-18
SMALL CARS TRIUMPH
ON TRANSPORT TOURS

Somewhere in WASHINGTON Is re.
posing n mass of data that would be
iof inestimable value to both truck
and passenger car manufacturers. L,
tells the technical story of how II
pieces of motor equipment, made up
of trucks and light cars and motor
cycles, travelled the continent along
the Lincoln highway from Washing
ton to san Francisco.
The entire trip was unique in that
/ II was conducted by the Motor
! Transport Corps OF the War Depart
ment; was made up OF army equip
ment entirely; was conducted under
army regulations and discipline and
was the most carefully checked trip
ever attempted. Also it was the
longest jaunt ever made in military
formation. having covered $500 miles
as against SEQ miles for the trip near
est approa ching it In distance.
When the complete reports of this
trip are released they will tell how
the ten varieties of trucks stood up
mechanically, the slight faults OF
each, tire wear and tear and also will
contain a particular account of the
records of the Dodge Brothers tour
ing cars and business cars, provided
for the train commanders and COM
pany Officers.
To fully appreciate the test to
which the cars were put on this trip
one must realize that every conceiv-
able condition of roads was encoun-
tered. There were the hard surfaced I
highways of the east, the mud of Ohio |
and Indiana, the gumbo of Iowa the /
sand of western Nebraska. the bot |
tomless alkali trails of the Utah and (
Nevada deserts and the unbelievable /
grades of the Rockies and Sierras. |
Even one small stretch of corduroy
was crossed.
To say that the convoy expert
enced no trouble would be assinine.
1t did. 1t met trouble of some sort
or other in nearly every state, but
this only made its record the more
enviable and gave the entire project
greater merit. The War Department
wanted a motor test and it got it.
There would be days when the two
mile column would rumble along in
perfect formation, stopping only for
loon mess or to respace the cars.
Then there were other days when i
200 sweating men would be strainins
On a. cable literally lifting one of the
huge trucks out of the mud or alkali.
There were days, too, when the II
schedule would be forgotten while the
immense jobs, chained together until
they resembled an elephant train with
trunk wound around tail, would lum-
Der and wallow slowly through sand. 4
These were the days when the sixty or 4
seventy mile schedule was cut to
fifteen or twenty. III
To man familiar with automobiles
It was a most interesting and instruct
ing sight to see ten or fifteen trucks
axIe deep in mud or sand. 1t gave
aim the correct insight into the actual
working ability OF the trucks. II
The convoy would be grumbling
md humping amiably along with
very one at peace with the world
when suddenly the truck masters
whistle would halt it. From their po-
itions as the rear of their companies |
he commanders would dash out to
he side Of the road in their Dodge I
Brothers touring cars, speed along
he line until the trouble was located
nd remedied and then return to their
lace. These sturdy cars made it pos
ible for the company commanders
D visit all parts of their column at
Il times except when the trails in the
fountains We're too narrow to permit
q ssage. The actual necessity of
ght but powerful and reliable car for
Ulcers was demonstrated time and
me again when, in the desert or in
lmbo or sand, the Dodge Brothers
lrs pulled out of the line and around
-ucks that were hopelessly stuck on
ne road carrying the officers to the
sat of trouble. They did this re-
Perhaps some day these reports will
e released and take their place with
ther facts of important automotive
istory When they do they will show
he light car triumphant both from
le standpoint of performance, main
nance and general utility.