Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-11-06
BIG INCREASE IN
AUTOMOBILES IN IOWA

In 1904 there were just 931 auto
mobiles in Iowa that were registered.
In 1911 the number had increased to
5000. with three months remain
ing in 1919 SO far there has been
$4,000 registered and by next year
the total registration will reach 40O,-
600, or close to 1000 for each coun-
ty, il the distribution was equally di-
vided between Iowa counties.
These figures are just compiled BY
w. G. Ramsey. secretary of state,
who declares that the same system
in vogue in 1911 for taking care OF
registration prevailed. when he enter
ed the Office In July Of this year. He
declares that with the Anticipated
system Of registering which prevailed
and with the inefficiency Of the old
law the actions Of second hand deal
ers and the failure to act on the part
OF the negligent car owners resulted
in complications and entanglements
in the automobile records of the
state which can only be described
as being utterly choatic.
Hence the new law, he believes,
will bring great relief to the state
and county officials and to auto own
ers as we'll since It will provide for
county registration and an accurate
check on sales of cars and those not
registered. In discussing the new
law, Secretary Ramsey, among other
things said
"The new law becomes effective
December 1, 1919. and its operation
will revolutionize the method OF
motor vehicle registration in the
state of Iowa. Under this law the
manner of computing the fee for the
registration of automobiles is en-
tirely changed. The fee will be
used on the manufacturers list price
and the weight Of the car. The fee
is one percent Of the list price, fixed
at the next even one hundred dollars
above the list price. and forty cents
per hundred pounds Of weight fixed
at the next even one hundred pounds
when fully equipped. The fee for
motorcycles is fixed at five dollars
per year. After an automobile or
motorcycle has been registered Ave
times the fee is reduced one-half on
the list price only.
1.-THE fee Tor trucks is based upon
the loading capacity and ranges from
SIS for q truck of one ton or less ca
pacity to SITS for a truck having q
capecity OF six tons. Tbs f:e for
each ton g. load capacity above six
tons Is $50 in addition to the six ton
tuck Having q capacity Of svsr six
tons without permission Of tia muni-
cipal court authorities Z operated
within The limits Of CRY or town or
from the state highway commission
10 operated ON the public highways
OF tho state. The Tee fer tratlers
IL also based ION the l.: ling .apnci-
ty aud ranges from IS tn see rtr
year.
..New number plates are to be is
sued annually and all registrations
except dealers and chauReurs. ar, 70
be made through the Offices Of the
county treasurers Of the several
counties. The chauffeur's license II
81 per year and the dealers license
10 S25. per year, with additional
dealers plates costing SIS per pair.
1.-THE law increases the fee approx
imately from fifty to one hundred
percent. the minimum fee being $40.
This represents q considerable In
crease, but at that the fees are less
than those charged In Massachusetts
and Michigan. II Ia estimated that
there vii be more than 100000 cars
registered in Iowa next year and the
revenue from such registration will
amount to between six and seven
million dollars. making the motor ve-
hicle departments the largest pro-
ducing bureau Of the state govern
ment.
"Of this. sh percent Is set aside
for the support Of the state highway
commission. az percent for the
maintenance OF the motor vehicle de-
partment and - percent Il to be APP
portioaed hack to the counties. based
upon the area Of the county a. COM
pared to the total area OF the state.
to - expended upon the primary
road system Of the various counties
of the state
Subscribe for The Republican.