Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-06-26
TRUCKING ON HIGHWAYS

Salt Lake Tribune: The hauling OF
freight, in heavy trucks, over the
state automolJ.e highways by pro
fessi0nal freighters and transfer con.
Germs, is of chief advantage to the
freighter. He may be in a position
to render slightly more prompt and
expeditions service when the roads
are good than his customers can OBJ
tain from the railroads; and he may
be able to cut the freight rates on
certain commodities, thus saving
something for his shippers but the
general puplic is aware chiefly of the
detriment to the roads and the pres
ence of the capacious vans and
trucks as they lumber along over
much of the space allotted to travel.
There are many towns situated OFF
the railroads which must depend sole
/ ly upon the population at the end of
the route; thus an amieable( relation
ship is bound to be established be-
tween them and general understand
ing gained of each others rights. In
deed, the roads between such places
are maintained by the public partly
so that these public freighters can
NNiNNA iAt Dhbiit SuDDlltc. Dul NutIt
such a freighting line parallels a
railroad there is very different sit
uation, and the problem is one for
careful adjustment in the interests
of everybody.
The trucker must be watched at
some expense for policing. lest he
overload and break the laws in regard
TO width of tires and weight of loads
on the varying kinds of roads he tray
els over in varying kinds of weather
His interests are in sense those of
the tourist, who is DESTROYS only of
passing over the road as well as he
can, with no great thought for what
happens to the road as a result of his |
travelling. Thus, if the machine will |
carry the load. it is to his interests
to accept the freight and attempt to |
deliver it.
His rights on the road are no great
er, because he pays no more taxes, if |
he pays any, than other individuals !
or firms in similar circumstances in
other businesses. Yet, he is on the
road from morning till night. and oft.
IN in the night, with his large trucks.
Twins OINupg idlStl
width of the road and demanding by
his mere presence that every other
iriver give him very wide respect
ul berth. This is not to say that a
ruck driver is any less courteous or
'bliging on the road than others, but
lis road-weary, day-after-day ex.
'erience makes him rather dominant
n the road population just the same.
The freighter ON the public high {
Tay is, in fact, using valuable state
road-for his own per-
onai use actually diyerting more
han his share of this valuable inn
rovement to his own ends The state
cts no taxes from its own road; and
comparatively little tax from such
,ad users; while the railroads must
: regarded as the heaviest taxpayers
the state. We hold no brief for the \
and have no present desire
defend their freight rates where
'eatly in excess of the cost of auto T
obile hauling; but the point we de- "
re to make is that the trucker or al
Fighter on the state highways is G
ting himself in line for a special
n-mile or other equitable tar, which &C
II reimburse the state and the coun-
for his excessive and intensive use 81
the public roads, chiefly for private
vantage. be