ilroad cars and locomotives created a shortage of coal
during the winter. Lack of coal slowed down production of steel, which
in turn delayed ship construction. Insufficient coal for bunkering ships
created a critical congestion of freight in Atlantic port terminals and
in railroad yards hundreds of miles inland. A certain part of this
congestion was due to short-haul shipments of freight within cities and
originating in near-by points, 10, 20, or 50 miles from the cities. Much
of this short-haul freight can be carried on the highways by motor
trucks. It can be picked up at the door of the shipper and delivered at
the door of the consignee, entailing only two handlings. It can be
delivered the same day it is shipped, whereas the same shipment by rail
would require several days if not a week or more. And the shipment can
go forward by motor when a rail freight and express embargo precludes
shipment by rail at all.

DEPENDABILITY OF MOTOR-TRUCK HAULAGE PROVEN.

The practicability and dependability of motor-truck haulage not only
within cities but between neighboring cities have been demonstrated
fully. Hundreds of local and intercity motor express lines are in
successful operation in widely scattered sections of the country. The
Return-Load Bureau system has been installed in England, where it is now
considered unpatriotic to run a truck without a load. Manchester,
England, for example, and all the surrounding cities have their
Return-Load Bureaus and have reciprocal arrangements whereby they
exchange information regarding available trucks and loads. Consequently,
any Chamber of Commerce in a city whose merchants are adversely affected
by rail embargoes and delays, freight congestion, or lack of sufficient
and direct rail transportation, and where there is any considerable
number of motor trucks, will not be embarking upon a doubtful experiment
in establishing such a bureau.

NO RESPONSIBILITY ASSUMED.

A Return-loads Bureau can be established by a Chamber of Commerce
without creating any legal liability to the shipper or assuming any
other responsibility. The function pure and simple is to advise the
shipper where and when a truck can be obtained to haul his goods and to
advise the truck owner where a load can be obtained. It has been found
in England that very often, when such a relationship has been
established between the shipper and the truck owner, an arrangement is
made between them for regular service, and