The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-16
20 North 10th Avenue,
Mount Vernon, n. Y,
Jan. 10th, 1921.

Dear Sir
From time to time of late I have
read with interest various news items
and comments in The Journal concern
ing the very important question of mo-
tor trucks and their relation to road
wear.
1t seems that there is a marked ten
dency on the part Of legislatures not
only in and around Pensacola and the
State OF Florida, but in other parts
of the country as well, to feel that
large capacity motor trucks, by vir-
tue of their size are destructive to the
roads. They seem to feel that they are
serving. the best interests of the coun-
try by, placing restrictions on the size
of more transport units.
1t occurred to me that most people
fail to realize that motor transporta-
ton is now a recognized economic ne
cessity-that there is definite in
creasing amount of material that must
be shipped by truck and canot be di-
verified to other agents. The roads OF
today have already failed in their eff
fort to support present traffic. What
will be the situation ten years hence
IL Incl III IGopOAiSAbiO po6ASASAS 49,
tinue to look upon the problem through
smoked glasses? Anyone at all famil-
lar with the history of commerce knows
that laws favoring short sighted re-
strictions can, at best, be but temper
airy.
Did the absence of mammoth piers
and deep channels prevent the devel-
opment of the ocean greyhound OF
commerce? Did the absence of some
thing better than iron strips nailed to
wooden stringers prevent the develop
ment of our present day 150-ton loco
motive having single pair of drive
wheels that weigh more than the EN-
tire first steam engine? Did steam
railroad interests finally prevent the
securing of rights of way for the
much needed interurban trolley? The
flying ship has become thing OF
commerce that literally shrinks the
map of the world. VIII its develop
ment cease because of the scarcity
of landing fields at convenient points
across the earth's surface? Did the
early opposition to the horseless car
rage upon our turnpikes prevent the
present horseless age? Not And can
the development of the efficient pres
ent day motor truck, which is yet in
"knee trousers be checked by men
who cannot read the clear handwriting
upon the wall that a NEW EPOCH
HAS DAMNED?
Unlike other history making inven-
lions. the present gas engine is not
a substitute for something antiquated
but acts as the most powerful ally to
the railroads that has ever been
| dreamed of. 1t is eliminating the un-
profitable branch lines and main line
short hauls and bringing freight from
isolated sections in a manner thai
Vanderbilt, Hill or Hartman had new
err even hoped for.
If the present railroad systems were
relieved of terminal congestion and the
| Improbable short hauls. they coulc
take care of the demands of today
with their present equipment.
1t is gratifying to note that con
! structiye minds are coming to see the
modern motor truck as solution III
| the form of an evolution that will be
| felt by every family throughout the
| country-as great an evolution and
having as far reaching an effect upon
| the life of each individual as did the
| introduction of the steam engine.
| It is known by the people that al
i most so per cent of Americas perish
able farm products are absolutely lost
because of the inadequate transport
| facilities Do these 10 million people
of the United States still hold that the
axiom 1.-The greatest good to the
greatest number is sound? Are they
/ finally going to vote to restrict the
motor trucks economic development
or to restrict uneconomic road build
| ing?
The inadequate present day overland
motor haulage companies operating
| upon railroad schedules have already
brought many marked changes.
There are close to rs concerns oper-
atinG trucks on 16 regular routes, pass
| ing through New York City.
In Southern California, since the be-
ginning of the war, intercity motor
| truck transports have increased al
least 400 per cent.
Seattle, Spokane, Portland and Ia
coma, in the extreme northwest, are
alive with motor truck transport com
| panies. Likewise the states of Ne
vada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado are
equipped, even to ore carrying fleets
The South today frankly acknowledges
its great economic handicap in having
to use Light capacity trucks or no
| trucks, due to bad roads. Tremendous
tonnage of farm products and manu-
featured goods gathered through this
medium directly from the farm and
factory has been a great assistance to
the railroads already, but the motor
truck will daily have to handle
thousands of tons more in every state
before there is any perceptible relief.
Has the small capacity truck held
this intercity and suburban field
against the economies of the large ca
pacity truck for this purpose? Not
any more than the old type 15-ton box
car and the Cotton engine has held
out against the 5O-ton car, with its
accompanying 150-ton locomotive
The ineyorable law of commercial