The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-05
76O AUTOMOBILES
LICENSED IN CITY
Exceeds Entire Number of
Cars Owned in State
Five Years Ago
OWNERS PAY $4,000
IN TAXES ANNUALLY
Valuation of Machines in City
Estimated at ST, $50, 900;
In State, $4,000, 600.
y List of Local Owners

More automobiles whiri through the
streets uf Richmond to-day than were
owned five years ago III the entire
length end breath Of Virginia.
Approximately. there are 500 cars In
tho city, $50 Of which actually are
licensed by Il O, James. secretary or
/. the Commonwealth. Five years ago
there wer, only CPS licensed In the en-
tire State.
The total valuation Of the autnmo-
biies in ais city In regular use 's es-
tinated at not less than 81 so, hoe.
The combined horsepower Of the ma
Chimes fiji thu city aggregates nat less
than $4,000,
The treasury of the state nets alone
from the tax paid by Richmond's auto
owners nearly s10,o00 annually.
In addition 20 the large number ~
machines In the city, there are Lime
teen selling agencies.
Growth In Virginia.
As an indication OF the growth of The
industry in Virginia there were off,
cially recorded Ave years ago s2S ma
off ciai figures. 4.0.l owners have paid
the State tax, estimated at nearly
$50, nfya
Today the value Of all the automo-
tiIes IN the state Is estimated at moro
than ss,ooe.e0 with combined horse
power # l2o, 600.
The present year will break all past
records Il, the city and the State the
evolution keeping time with the indus
try Of the entire nation, and the auto
mobile business now holds fourth place
ir the Industries of the United States.
Five concerns will put out 100000 ma
chimes on the market this year. and
when 1t is considered that there are
ESQ concerns manufacturing machines
the grand total output almost Ia be-
yond conception.
Based on Good Roads.
Richmond dealers are hasing their
future business upon the growth OF the
gpoSi roads pianF.
The washinEton-to- Richmond public
highway movement has given impetus
to local business and upon the sue
cess OF this proposition will depend Il
great deal @. the future prosperity OF
richmond automobile dealers.
Good roads Is the secret of the vast
automobile business In Atlanta and
throughout Georgia,
Good roads" has tecomn the one
slogan Of the manufacture. the dis
trihuting agent and the owner,
The automobile no longer Is a lux
urv. hut labor and cost saving neces-
sity" is the argument In Richmond as
we'll as elsewhere.
There are the $500 limousiiles for
the plutocrats. and the $3.50 machine
fdr the farmer OF limited means and
light Yssaning eieetries for city travel.
roundries are now using trucks In
Richmond fer hauling heavy maeh'n-
ery Machines are being pressed into
SER ice by the fire and police depart
faents and. indeed. almost every line
Of business and INJURY is employing
The power vehicles for varied pur .s5scs.
People Cons erva alive.
Richmond people are the most con-
servative In the world" commented ona
dealer. They have not taken TO the
automobile as a TAD They have not
raortgared their homes to ride in big
red touring cars as In the case In many
The value of the machines as time and
expense savers has been SO fully dena-
anstra,ed. and the prices reduced to
a figure within the means of the
classes Abe evolution IN Richmond In
fast becoming more marked
K hns only been few years since
the business sprung up in Richmond,
ssss t. today r. is, cr,s~s ,f the ssnpoFtant
=. aa8aetors iii the cits's prosress. carrying
an immense amount of capital and
employing scores ~ persons
Local Auto Dealers.
Among the dealers In Richmond are
Eastern Motor Sales Company,
Jones Motor Car Company.
Gordon Motor Company
Ford Auto Company.
shenandoah Motor Company.
Worth Electric Vehicle Company.
2 A. Blenner.
Foster Motor Car Company.
International Harvester Company.
A. Meyers Sons.
d. A. Prentiss.
Oakland Auto Company.
Chesterfield Motor Car Company.
Ioxier Motor Sales Company.
Wallace p Kennedy.
Overland Motor Company.
Virginia Motor Sales Company.
Alsop Motor Company.
Peerless Agency.
W. G.. Smith h Co.
Richmond Auto Owners.
Licensed owners In Richmond. In
dicating the manufacture and horse
power, are as follows. va
Charles ". Darlington. Stevens