Evening star., 1940-10-20

ming in the use of the highway and
motor vehicle facilities now in op-
Grafton with a view to any condi-
tions that might arise.
1t would appear that this country
has on a countrywide basis nearly
enough, if not enough, transporta-
ton facilities. Railroad spokesmen
have indicated that existing rail
facilities are adequate. We now
have 100000 modern motor trucks
on the highway, compared to the
$4,000 crude solid-tired vehicles
that were in existence in 1917
largely used for local carriage work
Our present highway plant COM
prises 100000 miles of surfaced
roads, compared to the 100000 that
existed in 1917. The improving of
roads of military Importance is 60
ing forward under the cooperative
planning of the War Department
and the Public Roads Administra-
ton, based on 20 or more years
research. This activity should pro-
vide the answer as to efficient high
way facilities.
Appear Sufficient.
But while the 100000 trucks in
use by the motor carrier, the baker,
the grocer, the manufacturer, the
farmer and all other lines of busi-
ness may seem numerically Suffi-
clent, little is known of the poten-
tlal capacity of these vehicles, and
the extent to which they may be
used in moving up supplies to Army
bases and in handling traffic for the
defense industries, disrupting as lit
tie as possible the normal require
mentS of commerce.
With new defense plants being
constructed at different localities
throughout the country, the need is
for providing these plants with ade-
quate transportation service. VIII
the plants be built in some of the
$4,000 communities served exclu-
Slyely by highways? Are there suf-
flcient rail, water and highway IA
CllueS IN particular areas where
plants are expanded or where new
ones are to be built? These are lust
few of the transportation ques-
tlOnS that arise out of the enormous
defense program.
The answer to them will be found
only after painstaking research. par
tlcularly as relates to highway trans
portation, which comprises several
million individual operations.
The Transportation Act of 1910,
recently signed by the President,
clears up one of the serious hin
dranCeS to the Army use of COM
mercial highway transportation IA
cihtieS. Before the act was passed
motor carriers were virtually pro-
hibited from moving commodities
on Government bills of lading. be-
cause the Army was required to in
Vlte competitive bids for movement
by motor truck, while the rail pub
liShed tariffs were accepted. The
proY'sion in the new act which
eliminates land grant rates, now
permits the Army to recognize the
motor carriers published tariffs.
Sizes and Weights Law.
Another problem which has had
its effect on commercial transport
tation under normal conditions, as
we'll as during the current defense
program, is variation in the sizes
and weights laws of some States.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion recently released three volumes
of reports summarizing these vari-
anceS and indicating the effect of
motor truck sizes and weight re-
strictions on safety. Other volumes
which will become part of the COM
missions proceeding in its investi-
CATION as to the need for Federal
regulation Of sizes and weights will
embrace the effect of truck loads