The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-12
STATE SECRETARY
 ROGERS ON AUTOS
GIVES INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GREAT NUMBER OF MACHINES NOW IN USE
Revenue to State From Licensing Oi Motor Cars Amounted to $275,OOO
 Last Year.

The annual banquet of the Auto 1 club of New Haven, which was held l last night in the palm room of the 1 Hotel Taft, was attended by Secretary
 of State Mathew H. Rogers, who gave some very interesting facts about the l great number of automobiles now in use in this state and their growth l within the past few years, and also Of the fact that this state alone re- | ceived last year revenue of s275,- l 900 from the licensing of motor cars. ] He further stated that the growth in 1 this state was comparatively the most
 remarkable of any state in the union. State Secretary Rogers as the speak I CT of the evening made several sug- ] gest1ons to the officers and members of the club which will no doubt be l taken up and carried out.
 Mir Rogers said in part: Previous to the time I was chosen as the sec retary of state there were 4,2oo au- At the present time there are more than 18,00O. I do not mean to crit icise my predecessors but when I went Autoists failed to register their cars at the beginning of the year and as consequence the state suffered a loss in revenue. The suggestion that the color of the markers be, changed an nua1ly soon eliminated a great deal of work and anxiety and brought to the state more revenue when the scheme was adopted
 ."The revenue derived from the au-
 
 ed to s4s,oOo and was used for the maintenance of good roads about the state.
 Tn 1909 the autoists paid nearly $1O, 600 to the city courts of the state in fines and in 1911 paid less than $2, 500 in fines. In 1908 all of the mem our highways every autoist and in 1911 only three members were against the automobiles on highways By this 1t is proven that the autoombile is here to stay and that it is recognized all over the country and state.
 t'It is not so much the touring car tention on as it Is the use of the mo tor truck. It is my prediction here that in the next five years great CT changes will take place in the mo- tor industry. and in my opinion, all of the transportation between cities and from here to New York, and to will be taken care of by the automo- bile truck. The auto now isn't a toy nor Is it rich mans pleasure, but it has grown to be a necessity and 1t is here to stay for good.
 ttIn the 1909 and 1911 laws we en- deavored to eliminate the reckless drivers, and we have succeeded in a great measure No one has worked harder than the automobile owners and the auto clubs all over the state: We have at the present time the best Ia WIS on any statute books in the coun- try. Why New York at the last eee- sion copied half u of them The and Test os them at it's next session. We have also made New Jersey and many oth- CT states in the east ashamed of them selves. 1
 There is not a state, gentlemen, al though it may .seem hardly credible to you that more cars pass in and out of than Connecticut. Connecticut may we'll be termed the Automobile Gate way of the North, South, East and West ''-
 Highway Commissioner James H. stated that he was sorry he had mot had the opportunity of meeting the members of the local club before as g better understandinng might have resulted. He gave an idea of the road which is being built be- tween New Haven and Portchester and stated that the same roadbed would be used in the construction Of all oth- er Connecticut trunk roads hereafter.