The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-09-28
STATE RANKS HIGH
WITH BUZZ WAGONS

MONTANA AUTOMOBILES COJrII
CARRY POPULATION IN TWO
TRIPS.
Iremenduous Growth In Number o
Cars Owned in Nation-Montan;
Stands Twenty-Eighth on List
Ranks High in Average of Cars t.
People.
Montana, with a registration OF
4l,OOO mOtOr-driven vehicles. ranks
tWenty-eighth among the states in
the number of such conveyances ac.
cording to figures that have been
compiled on reports from officials in
charge of such registration through
out the country. There are a score
or states of large population with not
nearly SO many machines.
Most of the figures are based on
reports made as to the number of
vehicles registered on July 1. The
Montana report is for the number
registered on August 81. The total
figures show 4,251,439 passenger
cars and trucks in the country. This
stupenduous total is six times as
many cars are in all the rest of
the world. 1t is 40 or SO times as
many as Germany or France pos
sessed at the beginning of the war.
Between January 1 and July 81,
this year, the Motor Age estimates
the increase of cars in the country at
700,40l, an advance of 20 per cent.
Increase in Dealers.
There are 1851 car agencies,
garages, repair shops and supply
houses, an increase of 4,619, the to-
tai including Hawaii, West Indies,
Canada and Mexico. Dealers now
number 27,052 as against 25 924;
garages number 24,4S3 as against
23,6S6; repair shops number 49,
l61 as compared with 1911; COM
panies having supply departments
7,723, as compared with 5,675; sup
ply dealers exclusively, 2,433, as
compared with 1903 for 1916.
When the registration for the year
is completed it is believed that TAX
ing the final census estimate as a
basis the result will show q motor
vehicle for every - people in the
state of Montana. When incomplete
returns were furnished in June and
the registration was 1000 the
average was Is people to each motor
driven vehicle. Allowing for the ex-
ira carrying facilities OF the trucks
and larger machines it will be seen
that the state will have sufficient
autos and motor driven vehicles to
haul the whole states population
in two trips.
Iowa Leads in Averages.
Iowa heads the list with fewer
than 10 people per motor vehicle.
Nebraska is a close second with II
md California third with a trifle
more Minnesota and North Dakota
nave IA, while Montana at the time
The figures were made averaged Is
20 each vehicle. Arizona and Michi-
gan have 16, Indiana, Wisconsin and
Nevada II, and Colorado and Ohio
[S, with Wyoming 10, and Connec-
lieut. 20. The other states range
rom Oregon, with 81, up to Ala
oama, which has 81 people for each
'ar or truck.
A comparison with the population
o-car ratio in the various states
1t the end of 1916 is of value. Up
o July /, 1917, there were Is
tates with fewer than 20 persons
'er car or truck, as compared with
'nly 10 in this class last year; 16
more states averaged between 20
md 80 persons per vehicle, as against
Z in the 1916 list; the remaining II
re made Of five states having an av-
rage of between 80 and 40, six with
% to so, two in the sixties, three
eventies, and one with over so.
Last year 10 states average over
c persons to each motor vehicle reg
stored, with seven in the 3O-to-4O
ivision and - averaging from Al
o 100 people per motor vehicle. The
three, Alabama, Louisiana
nd Arkansas, all had over 100.
ave 70, Instead of 10S and 11S, re-
pectlvely, and Alabama has 81, in
teady of 104.
One of the most interesting fea-
ures of the new registration statis-
les is the fact that there are seven
tates with registrations of 100000
r over as compared with only four
tates having attained this rank at
he beginning of the year. At the
eginning of 1916, New York was
ne only state having over 100000
ars and trucks on it's registration
ghts.
Cars in Various States.
The following figures were COM
lied at the end of the first half of :
ne current year. Montana's regis !
'ation not being required until at !
ne close of the legislature the fig :
res furnished by her were not so :
omplete as those furnished by any :
Their state, she being credited with :
My 31,700 cars, while the report of !
he secretary of state, when he made
is recent disbursement to the vari-
US counties Of money due them ! !
ON licenses showed over 41,0O0 g
ars. In compiling the list, there =
~ s~