The Washington times., 1912-11-09
MOTORCAR CENSUS
SHOWS POPULARITY
OF CARS IN CITY
Nearly 81, 900 Is Collected in
District From Owners of
Automobiles.
BY HARRY WARD.

II a census taken by leading author-
ity is correct, l0,24 registrations OF
automobiles were, made In the District
OF Columbia UP to OctoberI1. 1872. on
which fees of 1880 were collected. or
this number. the new registrations In
1912, up to the time mentioned above.
were 81, ,502. The registrations or electric
vehicles numbered 276 cars, while trucks
and other commercial vehicles num-
bered $780,
The percentage OF increase In registra-
tion in 1912 was 80 per cent, while the
per capital distribution Of cotorcars In
the District Is said to be 81. The dis
tribution of dealers, garages, supply
houses repair shops. shows 60 dealers.
30 garages. supply houses. and IL re-
pair shops. or a total of 1l3 up to Sep
tember 80. 1912. with a total Of IS on
January /, 1912. This Is an increase of
23 within nine months.
These figures are interesting taken In
connection with the total figures for the
United States. which show that 900, ,73S
automobiles have been registered in this
country. having total value of $1.1ss.-
SS5, 900, figuring the average value of
each car as 81, ,2O0. The registration fees
paid on all these cars total IS, 229, 49, or
fees are looked upon in the light Of
registration. The average automobile
taxation per capita of the population Is
81 cents this year. according to the
most careful compilation OF The Auto
mobile.
OF the 900, ,73S automobiles registered in
this country. 9209lS are gasolene pleas
ure cars, 35.977 are trucks. while 33,S42
are electriCs. OF this number. 266.d1O
g.. H.
time during the year 1912. in addition to
the 724,O6S automobiles in use last new
year and this addition amounts to an
increase OF 3G.S per cent on the latter
basis. In other words says The Auto
mobile, 26.9 per cent of the automobiles
used today throughout the United
States have found purchasers since
January OF this year.
In the tabulations with the population
per car registered. California takes the
lead with one automobile to every twen-
ty-eight people; while this figure is
closely followed by Maine and the Dis
trict of Columbia with thirty and thirty
one. respectively. of the population &c
each car registered.
These figures tend to prove the asser'
tion. often made, that the automobile
among the principal lines of effort II
the United States in the year nov
closing.
in the city yesterday and closed a dea
with r. C. Smith, president of th'
Observation-Disclosures Motor Compann!
to handle the Overland and Gramm !,
the Virginia capital. Mr. Sapp vii
have n salesroom at 1903 Carey street
81 am delighted to secure the Over
land and Gramm truck agencies, sai'
Mr.. Sapp. "and feel confident that :,
will be able to place many OF them II
Richmond"
w. p Barnhart, the Everitt agent
left today for Richmond, where he WI
spend several days. From there lie Wi
go TO philadelphia and thence to De
trolt and Jackson, Mich. where he VII
visit the Everett and tandard electri
factories.
Clarence Barnard, OF tho Barnar
Motor Car Company. agent for the Stod
dard-Dayton, is spending Few Gay
In New York, He attended me ,noI dinng
Priscoe, the retiring president OF tn
United States Motor Company.
The overland Washington Motor Con-
many reports the sale of Overland car
TO the following: DR.. c. NJ. llammet
roadster: William T. Shane, touring cal
Charles r Felter, touring car: W. =
Copenhaver. touring car ana roaas,el
A J. Tholl, touring car and Preslder
Rurrcll Of the Allegheny Coal Con
pany, roadster.
Mrs. II. c. Rodcnius has place., a
order with II. B. Leary, ir.. for fiv'
passenger Rambler Cross-country ca
with full electrical equipment.
Within the next two weeks the fei
dcrson- Rowe Auto COMPANY will rcceiN
tta first shipment OF Chevrolet and Ii
lie six-cylinder cars. 1--WE have ha
many inquiries for these new M m,
chimes" said I. j. henderson sa"
manager of the company" and the
advent in WASHINGTON Is likely to crea
considerable comment