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The craftsman
(August 1914)

The motor truck in country and city service,   pp. 555-557


Page 555


THE MOTOR TRUCK IN CITY AND COUNTRY
THE MOTOR TRUCK IN COUN-
TRY AND CITY SERVICE
AN invented explosives and har-
         nessed the lightning, to war with
         his enemies, to defend himself and
         his property, to strike death to his
neighbors or to keep them in proper subjec-
tion, in fitting awe of his masterful prow-
ess. Now he controls these powers so
superhumanly invoked in the cause of war,
for a vastly different purpose-to plow his
fields and take their yield to market. His
first roads were highways of death and
destruction. He built them that his armies
might have a quick access to the granaries
of his neighbors and bring back with ease
the ill-gotten plunder. Their whole intent
and purpose was hostile, they were power-
ful weapons for the ravishment of lands,
the pillage of property, the enslaving of
people. Now roads are built for the trans-
portation of produce instead of armies.
Their whole intent and purpose is neigh-
borly cobperation instead of neighborly
annihilation.
   Good roads and controlled explosives are
 now man's most powerful aids to personal
 and public advancement. They have been
 associated with him through many phases
 of his history, through his wars, his pleas-
 tires and his commercial enterprises. It is
 a question as to whether good roads have
 increased by demand of motor vehicles or
 whether motor cars have developed in
 popularity and usefulness because of the ex-
MOTOR BUS FOR COUNTRY TRAVEL.
      A MOTOR TRUCK WITH TOP IN THE TROPICS.
istence of good roads. Certainly they are
constant associates and also invaluable
allies of man.
  Motor cars and good roads have brought
the city and the country into a more
friendly association  and  understanding.
Since a city's existence depends upon the
prosperity of its back country, it is well for
them to work pleasantly and confidentially
together-for the well being of one is based
upon the success of the other. In America
are more than 2,222,248 miles of excellent
roads connecting city and country, and over
50,000 motor trucks thundering over them,
rushing fresh farm products into cities and
returning to the country laden with needed
products of the city.
   Horses are no longer adequate to the
 stupendous task of keeping city and coun-
 try in close touch. Neither are the steam
 cars able to push infinitesimal arteries into
 every secluded hamlet and valley, making
 them a necessary, a vital part of one great
 living system. The motor car is proving
 itself to be the indispensable mediator be-
 tween city and country. Business men are
 transported daily from suburban home to
 skyscraper office in quick time and with
 much comfort by the ever handy motor car
 without the annoyance of rushing to catch
                                      555


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