The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-22
THE AUTOMOBILE
IN NORTH CAROLINA
Estimated That Some Six Mil
lion Dollars is Invested


The estimate is that there i now
invested in automobiles IN North car
olina very nearly six millions OF dol
lars. The first law regulating the use
and registration Of automobiles in
North Carolina became effective on
July first. 1909, and there are now
over 1.o0o automobiles. with an aver
age estimatesd value OF $500 each.
For the first year the registrations
We're 1851 machines. which included
all in operation IN the state at that
time, and All purchased for the nrS
year. In 1879, from January LIST 10
December 3lst. approximately : 400
machines were registered. IN 1913 he
Office Of the secretary of state. where
they are registered. expects a least
i,030 registrations.
The old lew required . $isuation
fee Of 81 IL BE- paid TO thv secretary
Of state, ana 81 for renewal each year
thereafter. Under the new aW. the
registration feeLS shaded according
80 horsepower. heing IS for machines
OF : horsepower IT less, $3.50 for
machines o. from oS horsepower 10
40 horsepower. and $40 foc all over
40 horsepower. These fees are pay
able annually. Under tho old law IS
Of The s. registration was returned to
t the counties for the road fund. N
DER the new law. eighty per cent 81 Al
| funds is returned 70 the counties foi
) the ROAD fund.
The principal feature OF the new
{ law. is The feature OF identitication-
4 that is, heretofore the State did not
5 furnish display numbers. each regis
: tered owner Furnishing tncm for him
, self. There was no uniformity in
. these numbers. some being painted
6 on the machines. others Deing made
/ Of metal, etc. Under the new law, tn,
{ secretary OF state will furnish to each
0 registered owner . display number ..
= uniform size. to he changed in styi'
and color each year, so that the Off
= GERS Of the state can tell at d glanc'
= whether or not a machine is register
:, cd. The date of in" expiration Of tn.
u license will be stated on the plat
% and it is expected that by his mean
a all owners VIC awe heretofore. h'
. one means Of another lodged reS
- istration. will easily alprchended.
Is The new law requires also the reg
- istration of motorcycles, which wa
% not required under the old law ]
also proeides that 10 person unde
&C the age of 16 years shall operate
machine. NONRESIDENT owners ar
X exempt froc the registration proVls
ions Of the law for Il period OF tftee
days in each year.
The present registration amounts
=, about 1000 machines, which shoul
average about $500 each, a total {
$500, 400. requests for applcauo
Us cards. and the unusual number OF he
=. registrations, together with informs
q ton obtained from the various dea
rs ers Of the state. would indicate, ;
- stated above. at Least 1000 new N;
- chimes in the state for this yea
- Roads are getting better, and the ~
tomobile IS being used Ia take II
10 place OF the horse bY doctors, and
IS The more progressive class Of farm
q ers. there being a great number
% registrations coming ia from the j
% +. Dis" As the registration Law on
% went into effect in 1909. there are :
~ figures as ia The amount invested IL
% fore that time