San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-18


ery citizen in the United States.
pres of other industries receive ben
Is from motor vehicle manufacture.
lis year should see even greater
ogress in the production and use
individual transportation units.
Thus were the benefits of the auto
bbile to mankind summarized by
fred Reeves, general manager of
National Automobile Chamber of
mmerce, in an address before the
transportation Club at Detroit, re-
billy.
Mr.. Reeves told of the benefits that
d come to the man and his family
bm the use of the automobile and
We an array of facts to show what
a industry has done for labor, real
Rate, schools, railroads, the farm
and those in other lines of actiy-
He urged cooperation between
railroad and the motor bus and
Dtor truck interests, with view TO
wing each find its rightful place in
Ne general scheme of transporta-
pn, doing the work for which it is
st suited.
As a result Of a survey of the high
by transportation field, Mr.. Reeves
pressed the belief that railroad men
experts on transportation, were
e proper ones to manage highway
ansport, particularly as it could be
ade an addition and feeder for
il lines.
Among other things, Mr.. Reeves
id:
"Benefits from the automobile in
lstry have been widespread, with
w persons or industries failing TO
lap some of the reward. The auto
obile makes q man the owner of
transportation unit with none of the
mutations of a timetable. To the
oman it permits freedom from isola-
on, and a greater social activity,
hich makes her a more efficient
, ife and mother. To the child it gives
broader vision of the world, keep
it in closer contact with its par
its and enabling it to go to the
kst schools no matter where located.
Aid TO Schools.
1The automobile has kept the fam
together as a whole, added to its
Efficiency in various ways, improved
health and, above all, kept the
LENDERS together a greater part OF
he time.
"The highway and motor vehicle
|hs permitted bus lines to be oper-
ed that take children to more than
b, 900 schools throughout the coun-
Iy of a much better type than the
Ge-room schoolhouse Of old. Z. W.
ost the Wayne county (Michigan)
,hool commissioner. calls attention to
| ne new Consolidated School at
rosse Isle, made possible by motor
|uses and say there were u school
installations in Michigan during
|p22.
aFor the farmer, the highway has
rem the connecting link between his
arm and the market. 1t has per-
kitted him to buy land for its pro-
uctive value irrespective Of whether
r not it was near the railroad. 1t
yes him access to the nearby town
Ind thus ends his isolation.
at is not the city man and his
lhmily who benefits most from the
Iotor car, but the 100000 farmers.
|Iore than So per cent of all automo-
lies 20 into population points OF
1000 or less, so you can see that the
kealthy tourists and the truck-using
Explorations form but an infinitesi-
hal part of those who gain through
Ihotor transportation.
Should Stop Overlooking.
"The truck is daily proving Its
wn case. 1t Is being abused, of
[ourse, by overlooking and over
bleeding. We strongly advocate laws
hat limit the size of trucks, the size
II bodies and the loads that they can
larry. We should, Of course, try TO
build and maintain our highways SO
|hey can properly care for our rolling
|tock.
"This overlooking evil Is most pro-
kounced among smaller trucks with
heir narrow tires. We should like to
Tee the authorities not alone impose
lines for overlooking, but as they do in
require that the over
Dad be taken off the truck and placed
In the roadside.
awhile the truck has benefited
many. it NAV have taken some traffic
rom the railroad, but as it has been
N the short haul character on which
he railroads claim they do not make
money, this has been something of q
blessing
"Railroad men are not certain OF
he proper distance for profitable
fruck haul. their opinions ranging
rom % to 40 miles. The truck will
axe the place Of many short haul
railroads.. More than two.thirds OF
Ne $40 railroads in the Short Line
association. are listed rs having less
han 25 miles of track. which under
he new order of things. means that
hey will have difficulty competing
With the motor truck.
"Everywhere we find railroads. troll
ey lines and even the Chicago Il
adding trucks and buses to their equip
nent.
Trucks Boon TO Shippers.
aside from the rates. shippers
seems to nrefer motor truck shipment
because they have full control. there
S less boxing. it supplies door-tO-door
delivery and regularity of delivery
which helms in the operation of
plants: it saves time and permits the
arriving Of small inventories with the
saving Of interest CHARGES.
"Store-door delivery. 81 successful in
England. is coming fast. We have
he Erie and other railroads. nrrang-
ng with truck lines TO insure THROUGH
eervice from the collection OF the
-reicht TO its final delivery.
"Bus and truck lines have not all
,een successful. generally because ~
or because Of routes
.bnt furnished insufficient returns.
"All this means that the railroad
men are the proper ones TO take
'harge Of track and bus operations.
making thnrn feeders to the trolleys