Evening star., 1921-02-13

most so per cent of Americas perish
because of inadequate transport
facilities. Do these 11O.0O0,00O 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 over
land motor haulage companies oper-
ating upon railroad schedules have al
ready brought many marked changes.
There are close to seventy-f1ve con-
Germs operating trucks on sixteen
regular routes passing through New
York city
In Southern California since the
beginning of the war intercity motor
truck transports have increased at
least 400 per cent.
Cities Alive With Companies.
Seattle, Spokane, Portland and Ia
coma, In the extreme northwest. are
alive with motor truck transport COM
panles. Likewise, the states OF Ne
Vada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado are
equipped even to ore-carry1ng fleets.
The south today frankly acknowl-
cages Its great economic handicap in
having to use light-capacity trucks
or no trucks. due to bad roads. Tre-
and manufactured 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 per-
ceptible relief.
Has the small-capacity truck held
this intercity and suburban field
against the economies of the large
capacity truck for this purpose? Not
any more than the old type 15-ton
held out against the 50-ton car with
its accompanying 150-ton locomotive.
The inexorable law of commercial
economics takes care of such matters
in Its EFFORT to pay dividends to the
very legislative stockholders who per-
sistently refuse to build a substan-
tial base for the truck that lays the
golden egg.
The day will come, regardless of
opposition. when the states which held
will awaken to find that their back
ward step leaves their states years
behind those which faced the situa-
ton squarely and promptly adopted
progressive measures.
The gas engine, with it's wonder
fully compact power plant, suddenly
places the world in an entirely new
era, and the sooner every individual
steps up to the window and looks
toward the horizon with a clear Wis
ion. just that much sooner will we
all get down to work and prepare to
meet the Irresistible force plainly
visible.
Must Stop Demanding.
I'VE have got to stop demanding the
greatest possible stretch of roadway
for each dollar expended and insist
upon less mileage with the best of
subgrades obtainable. And the gov
ernment must back and control each
progressive step if it is going to be
done intelligently and economically.
Roads of today are a different prob
lem than those of yesterday. and no
man can foretell the definite require
ments Of the roads of tomorrow.
within the next ten years the motor
truck will be direct auxiliary to the
main railroad lines throughout the
country and that the railroads will
not only refuse to build further
branches. but will have abandoned
those not showing a profit.
I'm place Of these branch lines, mo-
tor trucks will act as direct feeders,
gathering vast tonnage systematically
and literally converting every farm
er's and manufacturers gate into
freight loading station.
'"The railroad will then be in a po-
sition to put all it's finances and ener-
gies into the problem of handling the
tremendous volume Of freight deliv-
cred daily from these thousands of
Arranging trucks.
Sooner or later many apparently
complex national issues, policies and
platforms will be built around the
highways and the motor trucks, and
the sooner every voter becomes ia
miliar with the basic economic prin-
ciples of commercial advancement
just that much sooner will we realize
the long-wished- for agricultural and
commercial stability"