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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1918)
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: FEBRUARY 24, 1918. STIMULUS OF WAR CALLS THE MOTOR TRUCK TO THE FRONT j ASMOST IMPORTANT FACTOR For the Short Distance Haul the New Vehicle Fills the Long Felt Want and Is Being Rapidly Pressed Into Service and Is Proving Most Satisfactory. The man who in any thinking way attempts to keep abreast of the times and who seeks in his own mind a solution for the problems that face the elusion that transportation with a capital "T" is more nearly the basic problem than any one thing. "Ships, ships and then more ships" is a cry that echoes from each of our European allies and more ships must be those ships, the seaboard must production centers. In turn, acre of productive land must have at hand a transportation system over which can flow without interruption the raw ma terials and the finished products The government has recognizedO this . fundamental problem and fed ersl control ef railroads is one out come of this recognition. Another step in the co-ordination of transpor tation is the formation of a Highways Transportation commission, whose "duties should be to see to it that the broadest utilization of highway trans portation is made possible. ' Motor Truck, Burden Carrier. The necessity of the hour has done much to out before the public the fatt that ttys motor truck is the bur den carrier that has no ultimate lim itation its usefulness in solving the .great tundamental transportation problem is only limited by conditions that an be overcome; wherever ade quate roads are built the motor truck inarches on to do its efficient work. Already, tinder the stimulus of war, the government and business gener ally has called on the motor truck to do work that even a year ago would have hardly been considered. A gov ernment train of motor trucks, carry ing full loads from Detroit to the Atlantic seaboard, has made the run ' in the dead o.' winter, and has proved beyond a shadow of doubt that a run of thousands of miles is entirely prac tital. The papers- have told of a manufacturer who runs motor trucks regularly between a mid-Ohio city and Boston, and by so doing moves foods-in a' few days that railroad congestion had made a matter of weeks. . An Important Factor . Our own manufacturing problems have made motor truck hauling an all important factor in, our business. It is impossible , to ' over-estimate the necessity of a manufacturer keeping a balanced stock .of merchandise; the lack of one part may throw produc tion entirely out of kilter. Early in 1916 we estimated that we would turn out during 1917 a certain number of motor trucks we hit it within 2 per cent. Our 1916 production, es i . ' Now added to the list of superior General Motors products is the G.M.O. Samson Tractor a selling mate with the time-tested' G.M.C. Truck. ' ..,'' ' The G.M.C. Samson is not an experiment; it is a development. Fifteen years of actual service have thoroughly tested its principles and construc tion and have proven its superiority. It would be impossible to present a new tractor to the market mechani . cally perfect in every detail. No matter how good its engineering theory, actual field work alone can show its merits. ; Eealizing this the General Motors Corporation searched the country for the one tractor that met its ideal as to right-building and alj the same time! a tractor that had thoroughly proved its worth under every condition. In the Samson tractor at Stockton,Cal., it found the tractor it sought. Backed by a Strong Company , Now backed by the General Motors Corporation and made in the G.M.C. plant at Pontiac, Mich., and bearing the General Motors name, it becomes a tractor that is destined to find an extensive market. We invite your inspection of this wonderful tractor during the Oma ha Auto Show. On exhibit at our Omaha Sales Rooms. , ' ' Nebraska Buick Auto Co., OMAHA LINCOLN ' tSIOUXCITY country, must come to the con forthcoming; but in order to fill be adequately connected with each factory, each mill and each of the entire United States. timated the previous year, was up to schedule. In order to live up to our produc tion schedules, our own trucks have done some emergency long hauls, and have covered a great many regular routes trom lactones that supply us with material. On one occasion some castings were urgently needed from Hartford, Conn. An Autocrr made the trip, and our production was not slowed up. Part of Program. Hauling material from New York, South Bethlehem, Newark, Plainfield, Brooklyn and Elkton, Md., is a reg ular part of our program now, and this direct highway service has dis pelled many a cloud of transporta tion congestion. The exceptionally long hauls are emergency measures, which serve to prove motor truck reliability more than anything else but there is a tre mendous volume of transportation that rightly should and must be car ried over the highways, war or no war. The hauls originating anywhere within 30. 40 or SO miles of their des tination are rightly railway hauls, and a decided movement is generally on foot to relieve the railroads of such snort-haul trattic. by using motor trucks for this work, not only would a tremendous number of freight cars be released for through Jreight work, but as deliveries would be made di rect from shipper to consignee, a very large tonnage would be released from terminals and warehouses. The relief of terminal congestion is ad mittedly a very necessary step toward bettering transportation conditions. Used on Short Hauls. Even before the railroads were taken over by the president, certain localities were put under shipping rules tending: to divert short haul traffic from the railroads. The Phil adelphia District Committee on Car Service, composed of representatives SAMSON TRACTOR of the three trunk lines serving that city, as early as December 1. 1917, put into effect an embargo on all rail shipments between points within the city. Obviously many shipments should be made over the streets, not only to relieve the railroads, but to speed up such deliveries for the mere convenience of business. There are undoubtedly, certain carload ship ments of great bulk that in normal times should, be moved by rail, even within the city, particularly where the shipper and consignee both have sid ings. To move some of these loads over the streets would congest traffic ana endanger life. Very definite orders and proposals are being made in all Our large cities looking to the immediate removal of merchandise standing in freight cars, on piers, in pier sneds and ware houses. Penalties for the use of cars and terminals to store eoods have already been announced by Secretary MCAdoo, federal director of rail roads. This insistent demand that merchandise be on the continuous move is calling to the motor truck to everlastingly keep at it. Nearer to' City Market., The rural districts are daily becom ing nearer and nearer to the city mar kets by means of motor trucks. There is hardly a meeting of an agricultural society todaytnat is not adopting some resolution looking to the spread ot good roads as the chief solution of the quicker and more "economical distribution -of foodstuffs. Would a certain ' berry picker, who lives in New Jersey, 40 miles from his city market, go 'back to horses after he has used a motor truck that takes his product to .market in a few hours and gives him the day on. the farm? No indeed I 'The farmer who has used motor trucks is fast convertine his neighbor and between them they are diverting many thousands of tons of hauling tp the highways. Jn the rural transportation bv road. too, Uncle Sam is pointinir the .way. The post office department has in stituted parcel post motor truck routes connecinir country districts with the large cities. These govern ment trucks are already running on certain routes and the farmer can ship his produce direct. The service is not a venture. It is merely the utilization of a transportation unit' that has already proved its practica bility, and it is hard to prophesy to what limits this service will extend or the benefits that it will bring with it. One thing is certain those who live along these motor truck routes will have a daily demonstration of motor truck possibilities.- looay, as never Detore, the re sourcefulness of America must find a way to ovecome obstacles. It be hooves any man who has goods to ship to transport these good in such a way as to distribute the burden of transportation ovtr every possible carrier. Railroads and waterways must be used to their highest effi cient possibilities, but the loads that rightfully are "highway loads" should travel ever the highways. The roads must in every locality be built, maintained and kept open to meet this growing need. It will mean much toward speeding up the great business of war now, and in the future, when loads of peace are mov ing hither and thither, the blessincr of adequate transportation will amolv repay every effort and expenditure. Marmon Stripped Chassis r This view of the Marmon stripped chassis shows the location of the four grease cups and running board as part of the frame. MOTOR TRUCK ON SCENE TO SHARE RAILROAD BURDEN "The railroads have been nearly buried under an avalanche of freight, originating through our, war-time en deavors," says T, J. Hudson, sales manager of Little Giant Trurlr rnm. panv. "and to date have rxerteA hir. culean efforts to keep stuff moving. ror tnis they. deserve the gratitude of the nation. But their task is growing increasingly difficult, and our manu facturers and business men should bestir themselves and throw them a lifeline. Motor trucks are a remedv at hand that will not onlv he rf in. calculable .assistance to the country in its freight moving job, but will in crease the business efficiency of each shipper who uses them. Thi tion of affairs opens up a wonder ful opportunity for transfer companies operating motor trucks on schedule over specified routes." "The automobile truck no . longer is an experiment,'' adds Mr. Locke of the Haarmann-Locke Motors com pany. "It is a proven utility. It has become a safe and swift mean of transportation, not only over short routes, but for long distances. Now that the weather is onenimr n. the motor truck will more than ever re lieve the burden of the railroads." The Little Giant truck is proving One Of the most nontllar trucks nn the market if the sales report of rbe Haarmann-Locke company is suf ficient evidence.- More Little Giants are being seen on the street every day and the Haarmann-Locke com Mi pany is considered fortunate indeed in landing this line for Omaha. Velie Has Nine New Models And Many Improvements Noted The new Velie Biltwell 6 series con sists of nine entirely new models, in cluding roadsters, touring cars, en closed cars and a very unusual sport model. Body lines on all cars follow the straight line idea; the high radia tor and hood continue the effect even to the nose of the radiator itself. Seats are much deeper; one rests well down in the car on soft woven curled hair upholstery, with real leather covering in French plaited style. The doors are wide and there is more leg room in both compartments. Many refinements contribute to the distinction of the new Velie cars. The top is of waterproof material, having curtains opening with the -doors. Nickel-plated top moulding accents the pleasing lines. The curtains are stored without folding, in an over head envelope. All closed models are regularly equipped with exhaust heat ers. The extra seats in the seven passenger disappear completely. The! sport model has outside exhaust pipes extending through the hood, with foot boards and other novel features. Mechanically, there is little change in either Velie 6 chassis. There is ad ditional cooling surface, due to the higher radiators. The Velie-Continen-tal motors handle low grade fuel effi ciently and show even more power than heretoforeA The Timken anxes have improved elements of safety and strength. Many minor details of con venience and control show a care ful attention to the needs of the mo torists. Prices range from $1,340 to $2,450, including practically every body style now in demand. WHITE TRUCKS at ike Automobile Show THE White Truck display at the Automobile Show affords an excellent opportunity to truck buyers to inspect and compare the latest developments in motor truck chassis design and construction. The position of White Trucks locally, nationally and internationally is well known. It has been built up step by step, in industry after industry, by successfully per forming the hardest tasks presented. First in light delivery service, first in heavy haulage, White leadership covers the full range of trucking operations. Eighty percent of the materials used in the construction of the Cantonment at Camp Funston, Kansas, was hauled by a fleet of more than one hundred White Trucks. Exact duplicates of these trucks , may be inspected at the Show. ' ... - THE WHITE COMPANY CLEVELAND I We now have on hand any model or size of White Trucks, includ ing the 2, 3, or 5-ton dumps, and make immediate deliveries. .NEBRASKA WHITE CO. FEED C, ROGERS, Manager. 2417 Farnam St. Omaha. Phone Tyler 1767. NO RESTRICTION BY GOVERNMENT Factories Making Motor Cars Have No Reason to Fear Cur tailment ot Their .Jaw Materials. "The broadcast circulation of un founded rumors and idle speculation," says President Percy Owen of the Liberty Motor car company of De troit, "have tended to create a feeling of insecurity and doubt which is absolutely without good cause. But reliable information is most reassur ing. We have every reason to be lieve that there will be no drastic limitation of materials essential in the manufacturing of motor cars. I here need be no alarm about tne T9n1ine citiiatirm The Hnleful nir- tures which have originated from cer tain malicious sources have been ridiculonslv overdrawn. Of the total amount of gasoline now being pro duced in this country, only 14 per cent is required tor United Mates war use during the next year. The probable increase in gasoline production will deduct from that percentage. "Our greatest problem is that of transportation. Information sent out oy inc cnairman or tne war mausines board assures us that we shall not be denied transportation facilities, though iney may oe limited, ine govern ment wants it known that its disposi tion is not to handicap industry. One's own sense of the importance of the motor rar in thm tnrlttctri'il lif nf tne country should persuade against be lieviiW that there is to he crovern- mental restriction of its use and manu facture. Motor Cara Save Time. "The actual necessity for the motor car because of its usefulness in sav ing time, in conserving, and adding ef ficiency in the conduct of business makes it a wartime necessity, and re quires that it continue to be built. The same reasons demand that it continue to be sold and put into service. "I look for a general safe, sane busi ness year. I anticipate for business a safe conduct through 1918. There will be restrictions, of course, with some readjustments. There will be a lessened production of motor cars- due to the action of motor car manu facturers in turning part of their facilities over to the prosecution of war work. "The automobile industry, third largest manufacturing industry in the country, has a tremendous potentiality in the character and ability of its man equipment and a stupendous amount of machine equipment both of which are material through, which wars are won. The motor industry is now do ing tremendous things, but will Jo still greater things. "Absence of men from their usual vocations makes the use of the time saving motor car all the more essen tial. Well conducted business organi zations are already equipped with motor cars some are improving their motor car equipments others seri ously considering it. This great big industrial country of ours must. con tinue to keep its industrial wheels turning, and this year will prove the motor car an actual necessity to busi ness progress. "Curtailment in manufacture, how ever, means fptuAr rar t i from. Those which are made will be readily sold. There will not be a lack of orders for cars and' the motor car industry will progress, because it is a part of the business of war, as well as an essential to all business advancement." Cincinnati Man New Head ( Of Maxwell Motor Company "A change, important to motordom, went into effect January 1 when Walter E. Flanders, president and general manager of the Maxwell Mo tor company, inc., was elevated to the chairmanshin of the hnarA ( di rectors of the company and was suc ceeded in the presidency by W. Led vard Mitchell of rinnd ..... Walter S. Johnson: " Mr.. Mitchell,. well known in finan cial circles, has been general man ager of the Robert Mitrhdl Ftr company of Cincinnati, and brings to his nam L- I I . 7 . ...a ai. MIC "CaU fjl inc Maxwell, business acumen of q hirti order and remarkable energy in an executive way. This chance in officials Ana f O -V....M.W IIV, presage any difference in the policy 01 ine Maxwei. comoanv those Dolicies havinir heen nrnucn mnct successful in everv wav f i-r-..... Mr. Flanders, to whom the success ful building-up and operation of the comnanv is oreatlv Hue will pnn. a. 0- J " t ..... tmue as active head of his great or ganization. 1111