The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-01-20

Summarizing the experience OF S3l
corn-bet farmers who own motor
trucks, the United States Department
of Agriculture found that In the opin-
Ion of nlne-tenths of these men, the
greatest advantage In owning motor
truck is Saving time" In the opinions
OF three-fcurths Of them the greatest
disadvantage is poor roads," and 9l
per cent believe that their trucks Will
turn out 20 be profitable investment.
The reports. however, indicate that
on most of ~ farms the truck has
not reduced y. ense TO any great OK
tent. and that II supplements rather
than replaces work-stock and other
equipment
On the average these trucks travel
2.771 miles per year. and the cost OF
operation Is between 1914 cents and II
cents per mile, making n total annual
cost from $i60 TO Si70. Each truck
displaces an average OF IL head or
work stock. With the cost OF keep
ing n horse q year In the corn belt
around 500, the reduction In expense
for this item Is In the neighborhood
Of &2f0 per farm. For all farms the
average amount OF hired help saved
by the trucks is $163. On most farms
these are the only two items of direct
reduction In expense which can be
credited to the truck, and on the av-
crage they amount to 500 or $40 less
thnn the total cost of operating 1t.
To offset this added cost, custom
hauling done with the trucks amounts
10 about $50 per year for all farms,
leaving only something like $40 or $50
annual net expense which must be
more than balanced by the saving of
time Of the owner and members of the
family, the ability 10 get crops and
live stock TO market In better condi-
tion or at better time, and other bene-
fits which nre not directly measurable
In dollars and cents, II the average
truck Is to he profitable investment.
II must be remembered that most
Of these farms where trucks are owned
nre larger than the average, and are
located at considerable distance from
market
The investigation was made during
winter and spring of 1920, Farmer
truck owners In Indiana. Illinois, Mis-
so,ri, Iowa, southern Wisconsin,,
southern Minnesota, southeastern
South Dakota, eastern Nebraska and
eastern Kansas. who raise corn as one
Of their principal crops, and who prac-
tlce the general grain and live stock
farming characteristic Of the corn belt
reported TO the department the use
they make of their trucks the cost OF
operating them, the advantages and
disadvantages Of trucks for farm use,
and other related Information.
Study Of Reports.
A study OF the reports Of S3l OF
these fnrmers has just been completed
ny the division Of rural engineering of
the bureau Of public roads and the
Office of farm management and farm
economics.
Some OF the important facts revealed
by the investigation are:
The average size of the farms Is 3iC
acres and their average distance from
market is eight miles.
Only II per cent Of them are less
thnn Ave miles from market, and 2C
per cent are IL miles or more from
market
A little over one-fourth Of these
men have changed their markets, fol
Mt least a part OF their produce, since
purchasing trucks For those whC
have changed market, the average dis
tnnce u the old market was sever
miles and TO the new market Is II
miles.
The rated capacity of these trucks
vnries from one-half 10 two tons. Sew
enty per cent of them are rated a
one ton. and only per cent of then
Mt less than one ton.
Experience with trucks has caused
~ per cent Of these men to decide
that the One-ton size is best suited fo
their conditions, % per cent that th'
IH-tOn size is best, and 10 per cen
that the two-ton size is best. Practical
iy one man in four has decided tina
truck larger than he one he nov
owns would be better suited to hi
conditions.
Ninety.one per cent believe tina
their trucks win prove TO be profita
ble Investment.
10 the opinions OF these men tn
principal advantage Of motortrucI
a. in saving time, and the principal dis
advantage Is poor roads"
AS compared with horses and war
ons. the trucks save about two-third
OF the time required Tor hauling {
ssd from these farms.