Arizona republican., 1921-06-12
MOTOR TRUCKS HIGHWAYS OPERATING TOGETHER TO
 REDUCE COST OF LIVING

= REDUCE COST LIE LvlNG|
 In these days of increasing freight rates the eyes of the Consuming public manufacturer jobber distribu- tor farmer and retail merchant turned to the motor truck In the of the mountain states of Montana Idaho, Wyoming Colorado Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, which have suffered for years because of un Just freight rate conditions the motor truck seems to be the quickest way out of the mre into which the pro- dcers and of these states have found them selves
 The people of these states have been brought face face with the question of adequate highways In our own case Arizona has needed the motor truck as she is needing it today It is weconceded fact that freight rates play the largest part in the cost of all commodities today The high cost of rail transporta tion has affected every item of living Building has been retarded in the which are forced to depend upon other localities for materials The cost of motor operation where the items of gasoline and motor oils are concerned is largely influenced by freight rates. There are indeed, very few things which are used consumed by the general public which do not have big factor Tn their cost basis the nigh freight rate
 The motor truck has developed within few short years into tremendously potent factor Tn the develop ment of the country There has never been any other agency which has contributed largely to the comfort and welfare of the people the motor truck and the automobile Without them, would today be trudglng along 25 years behind the times Education sanltatlon civic development better living conditions al would now be little further along than they were in the 9Os The farmer has been released from his bondage by the motor truck and the motor car and today enjoys
  enjoys close contact with the surrounding country and by reason of motor transportation is receiving more and more the benefits which result from this contact
 The question of highway building, as before stated necessarily pioneers the development of motor truck The cart cannot be put before the horse in this case Highways must be built to enable the motor truck gain into the remote places Wnlcn ae often the richest districts of a state
 The proper development of Arizona cannot take place without the prosecution of Weldefned highway pro- gram. Arizona needs paved road-or several of fhem-connecting with Californias splendid system: Many of our necessities from the Coast Many of our products sent to the Coast Adequate communl cation in the shape of highly developed arteries for the motor truck are sorely needed And with the develop ment of these arteries freghtng conditions will adjust themselves and the results will manifest them selves in lower commodity prices
 Much has been said and written regarding the high cost of motor fuel and lubrcatng oils in Arizona but when the subject is boiled down and the facts brought to light it will be found that the greatest item in keep ing the of these necessities where it is at present is the high freight rate The gasoline and fuel oil panies operating in the Salt River Valley forced pay freight rate of 85 cents per gallon on gasoline shipped into Phoenix from Texas, and 73 cents pei gallon from California This places the cost of motor fuel at high level in Arizona compared with points t the East and to the West Little be done toward bringing down the cost of gasoline until freight rate are reduced and any efforts directed otherwise arr simply exerted on the little end of the horn
 The same is true of building materials. Lumber ant cement from the Coast and their costs are con stituted in large measure by freight transportatio by rail.
 To show the development of the motor truck through out the United States the statistics of 1920 will furnis valuable information and give the reader idea inc extensiveness of motor transport.
 The motor truck has not yet become competing factor with the railroads in the long haul-that is- transcontinental But 1t has released thousands upo thousands of freight from the short haul and d1ced the expenses of the railroads to great exten in the maintenance of the short lines and connections
 It can safely be asserted that the number of moto trucks in the country today will reach the mio
 This total is to be increased rapidly durin
 and 1922 brought about largely through the bulo
 of highways and the high freight rates of the raj rnads And with the development of the motor true and the construction of highways will about lower living cost It is through realization of th