August 6, 1919. The mess of the roads and the Mess Officer arrives. Ogallala to Big Springs, 22 miles in 6 hours.

On this day in 1919, the now much slowed Motor Transport Convoy made 22 miles in six hours.

Sand was again the problem.

One of the trucks mentioned in today's journal was a Riker. Riker's were heavy trucks made by Locomobile, a major manufacturer at the time.  Interestingly enough, the Riker company, which had been acquired by Locomobile, started off as an electric car company.  Early on, there were quite a few electric cars, although by this time gasoline engine vehicles had very much taken over.

Cpt. Guvine reported on this day as Mess Officer, probably arriving in Big Springs by Union Pacific train.  The Army diarist had earlier reported that a lack of a mess officer was causing morale problems.

Big Springs is a very small Nebraska town which is now on Nebraska State Highway 138.  The old Lincoln Highway tracked very close to the Platte throughout Nebraska, and the Union Pacific did as well. There were good reasons for this, as the region is dry and water, obviously, a necessity for everything.