Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1918 — RETURN LOAD BUREAUS IN WAR-TIME SERVICE [ARTICLE]

RETURN LOAD BUREAUS IN WAR-TIME SERVICE

State Council of Defense for New Medium of Transportation.

In each of thp ninety-two‘counties of Indiana there has been appointed, at the request of the Indiana State Council of Defense, a Highways Transport Committee. This committee includes the chairman of the County Council of Defense, the Federal Fuel Administrator, the Federal Food Administrator, county agricul tural agent and county surveyor. The business of this committee is to encourage the further utilization of the motor truck as a war-time agency for the relief of transportation difficulties. Out of the activity of this committee, it is expected that the railroads will be relieved of a large share of their burden. Through short hauls of food and fuel, including grain, produce, groceries, coal and supplies, the motor truck is expected to supply, in a large measure, the means wnereby a more direct and efficient nationwide trfnsportation situation will be created. In addition to the local service rendered, the Rural Motor Express —the official designation of this new service—will' make possible the through routing by rail, and efficient transportation of munitions of war. Including food staples and live stock, which heretofore have suffered delay, -jiue to terminal congestions, thus weakening the nation s power.

The passing of the inland waterways, which a few years ago was the source of much lamentation on the part of those who urged the general development of all forms of public transportation service, will be overbalanced, it is believed, by the increasing usefulness, economy and convenience of the larger type of gasoline propelled vehicles. Freer access to his markets is certain to interest the farmer, who, in Indiana, is already awake to the value and importance of good roads. The more general use of the large motor trucks has been found, in other communities, to serve as a stimulant to road construction of the most economic type—the building of permanent, hard-surfaced roads. The action of the Indiana State Council of Defense was inspired by the resolutions of the Council of National Defense, which, after a thorough investigation, endorsed the plan of the Rural Motor Express. The National Council has issued a bulletin on this subject which says in part: "The transportatibn burden on the railroads and highways of the country has been tremendously increased by the war. There is a larger load to be carried of manufactured goods, raw materials, and foodstuffs. Not only has production of manufacturers, raw materials and farm products increased, but it is now necessary to transport a much larger proportion of these goods over long distances. "The burden is further increased by the fact that we have removed across the sea, 3,000 miles away, a considerable part of our population, which must be provisioned and maintains These men were in our army camps last winter. This year there are other men in these camps, and we must handle goods and food stuffs not only to these thirty new cities, but to a great population 3,000 miles away. "It is absolutely necessary to utilize our facilities to the maximum and to extend the use of the highways by the more efficient use of motor vehicles which can operate independently of fixed lines or terminals where congestion of traffic is liable to occur. The motor truck can help the railroad _by reducing the short-haul load and also act as a feeder line in sections far removed from market. "Added to the Increased loads of goods to be transported, is the fact that man power must be conserved. Heretofore the farmer has done his own hauling to market, but adoption of the Rural Motor Express will enable him to delegate his hauling, and to devote his own time to farm oper-

ations. An enormous waste of time and labor of both men and teams can be prevented by consolidating the small loads from a number of farms into a single load to be carried by a motor truck. • "In many localities local food supplies are in need of development. A . better use must be made of agricultural lands in the immediate vicinity of population centers. It improves the business of the local community and adds to the total food supply of the country. The improvement of marketing facilities through the openin® of regular daily traffic to market centers and shipping points, is a most effective agency in encouraging food production. "We have, therefore, three outstanding facts that demand especial attention be given to the increased use of the highways for rural transportation: “ ‘l. The increased volume of foodstuffs to be hauled. “ ‘2. The need for more labor on farms. " *3. The need to encourage local food production. "The motor truck has demonstrated its adaptability to the hauling of farm products. It is dependable wherever the roads are capable of carrying its load. The use of the motor truck for farm transport is growing rapidly, and in the vicinity of many cities rep ular routes are now maintained. The purpose of the organization of rural express on a national scale, is tn bring to agricultural communities throughout the country an under standing of the great benefits to be derived from regular, daily service over the main highways from farm to city and from city to farm. “Ry ‘Rural Motor Express’ is meant the use of the motor truck in regular daily service, over a fixed route, with a definite schedule of stops and charges, gathering farm produce, milk, live stock, eggs, etc., and de livering them to the city dealer, and on the return trip carrying merchandise. machinery, supplies, etc., for farmers and others along the route. This service amounts to a collection and delivery that comes to the door of the farmer with the same regularity that the trolley ear passes over Its tracks."