New-York tribune., 1921-01-15
Roads of Tomorrow
For the Good Of All They Must Be
Built to Garry Motor Trucks

Built to Garry Motor Trucks
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: 1t seems that there is a marked
tendency on the part Of legislatures,
not only in and around New York Citv
and the State of New York but in other
parts of the country as we'll, to feel
that large capacity motor trucks, by
virtue of their size, are destructive to
the roads. They seem to feel that they
are serving the best interests of the
country by placing restrictions on the
size of motor transport units.
1t occurred to me that most people
fall to realize that motor transportation
IS now a recognized economic necessity
that there is a definite increasing
amount Of material that must be shipped
by truck and cannot be diverted to other
agents. The roads of to-day have al
ready failed in their effort to support
present traffic. What will be the situa-
ton ten years hence if men in respon-
sible positions continue to look upon
the problem through smoked glasses?
Unlike other history making inven-
tons, the present gas engine is not
substitute for something antiquated by
acts of the most powerful ally to the
railroads that ever has been dreamed of.
1t is eliminating the Improbable branch
lines and main line short hauls and
bringing freight from isolated sections
in manner that Vanderbilt, Hill or
Hartman had never even hoped for. If
the present railroad systems were re-
lieved of terminal congestion and the
improbable short hauls, they could take
care of the demands of to-day with
their present equipment
1t is gratifying to note that construc-
tive minds are coming to see the mod
ern motor truck as a solution in the
form of an evolution that will be felt
by every family throughout the country
as great an evolution and having as
farreaching an effect upon the life Of
each individual as did the introduction
OF the steam engine. 1t is known by
the people that almost SO per cent of
Americas perishablc farm products are
absolutely lost because of Inadequate
transport facilities. Do these no.
100000 people of the United States still
hold that the axiom "Thc 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 building?
The inadequate present day overland
motor haulage companies operating
upon railroad schedules already have
brought many marked changes. There
are close to scventy-five concerns oper-
atlng trucks on sixteen regular routes
passing through New York City. In
southern California, since the begin
ming of the war, intercity motor truck
have increased at least 400 !
per cent. Seattle, Spokane, Portland
and Tacoma in the extreme northwest |
are alive with motor truck transport
Likewise the states of |
Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado
are equipped even to ore-carrying
fleets. The South to-day frankly ac-
knowledges it's great economic handi-
cap in having to use light capacity |
trucks or no trucks, due to bad roads. |
Tremendous tonnage of farm prod
ucts and manufactured goods gathered
through this medium directly from !
the farm, and Factory has been 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.
The prophecy is we'll founded that |
within the next ten years the motor |