Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-03-18
Automobiles in Missouri.

Jefferson City, March 16.-That
prosperity has full possession of Mis-
souri, and will be much in evidence
throughout the entire year, regard
less of the high cost of living, isvivid-
ly illustrated by some facts and fig
ures just given out by Secretary of
State John L. Sullivan, dealing with
the remarkable increase in issuance
of automobile state plates and licenses
during January and February of 1920,
as compared with the same months
of both 1918 and 1919.
Automobiles are still classed as
costly luxuries, especially with the
prevailing high cost of gasoline and
accessories, and the ever increasing
price of the cars themselves, regard
less of how plentiful they are every
where, and for this reason the num-
ber in use serves as an efficient
barometer on which to gauge pros
p6Flty Vi d btdt6.
, The annual day for renewing auto
mobile plates and licenses in Mis-
souri is February 1 of each year.
January and February are the months
when the automobile department of
the Secretary of State runs day and
night, including holidays and Sundays,
to keep space with the demand for
new plates and licenses. During the
months of January and February,
1920, Secretary of State Sullivan issu-
ed 1S9,295 owners plates, thereby
breaking all previous high records in
this respect, regardless of the fact
that half of the working force were
la grippe victims most of those sixty
days. In January and February, 1919,
when 129,317 plates were issued, as
compared to O,S48 for the same two
months in 1918, it was thought the
high water mark had been attained.
The 1920 plates issuance record, ex-
ceeding that of 1919 by nearly $4,000
plates, constituted gain of over
47.9 per cent over that of the previous
year.
To further indicate the increase of
Missouri prosperity, 1920 over any
year in the chronicles and legend of
the state, during the two months
considered in this treatise, James
O'Oonnor, Supervisor of the State
Automobile Department, reported to
Secretary of State Sullivan, that, in
addition to the plates to car owners.
1888 plates were issued to dealers, as
compared to 1885 dealers plates dur
ing the same months of 1918. This
increase in Missouri automobile deal
ers and selling agencies in a year,
nearly 80 per cent, is accepted by
criterions on the industry as indicat-
ing that the Missouri automobile busi-
ness, 1920, will exceed that of 1919 by
fully forty per cent.
Other achievements of Secretary of
State Sullivan's Automobile Depart
ment include the issuances of 3,233
duplicate dealers plates; 1877 motor
cycle plates and 1855 Chauffeurs'
badges. The gains in issuance OF
such plates and badges, 1920, over
any previous years. records were as
marked as for owners and dealers
plates.
The st. Louis branch of Secretary
of state Sullivan's automobile licens-
ing department in January and Feb
ruary of 1920 issued plates for ano
registered 43,755 car owners; badges
to 7 1854 chauffeurs and plates to 51s
motorcycle owners. The Kansas City
branch the same two months, 1920, is
sued plates for and registered 20, LOT
car owners and for 293 motorcycles
and also 2,O29 chauffeur. badges; ant
the st. Joseph Office, 1903 car owner
plates; 342 chauffeur badges and g.
motorcycle plates.
For the months of January and Feb
ruary, 1920, Secretary of State Sulli
van deposited in the State Treasury
to the credit Of the good roads fund
the sum of $1,O12, 1920. Such ar
the indications of record breaking
year of prosperity for Missouri dur
ing 1920.