The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-03-11
AUTOS IN MISSOURI
Report of Secretary of State Sullivan
| Shows Increase.

Jefferson City, March 6.-That
prosperity has full possession OF MIS-
sour and will be much in evidence
throughout the entire year, regard
less OF the high cost OF living, is
vividtty ittus ratcd BY -sotrte
figures just given out by Secretary OF
State John l.. sullivan, dealing with
the remarkable increase III ISSUANCE
OF automobile state plates and IL
censes during January and February
| OF 1920, as compared with the same
months of both lylS and lyly.
Automobiles arc 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
ISIS OF how plentiful they are every
where, and tor this reason the NUM-
Der in use serves as all efficient bar
ometer on which to guaye prosperity
Of state.
The annual day for renewing auto
mobile plates and licenses i'll Mis-
souri, is February l OF each year.
January and February are the month,
when the automobile department OF
the Secretary of State runs day and
night, including holidays and Sun
days to keep apace with the demand
for new plates and licenses, During
the months OF January and February,
1920, Secretary OF State Sulli, an is
sued 1925 owners plates, thereby
breaking all previous high records in
this respect, regardless vi the tact
that halt OF the working force were la
grippe victims most OF those sixty
days. In january and February, 1919,
when 1857 plates were issued, as
months in 1918, il was thought the
high water mark ..a been attained.
The 1920 plates issuance record, cx-
cecding that OF 1919 by nearly 10000
plates. constituted a gam OF over
40 per cent over that Ut the previous
year.
10 further Indicate the increase IF
Missouri prosperity, 1870 NTer any
year in the chronitlcs aud legend OF
the state. during The two months, con-
sidurvd i'll this treatise, james = { on
nor Supervisor OF the State ,\ltomo-
! bile Department, reported 10 Sccrc-
tary ul state sullivan, that, III adIi-
ton to the plates t.. ''ar owners. l,~J5
pilates We're issued 10 dealers, a, COM
pared to l.->5 dealers rlltg, daring
the same months Ol IVlG In: in
crease in Missouri AUTOMOBILE dealers
and selling a&uncic, in t Year, nearly
81 per cent, is accepted Ivy crlterlons
on the industry as indicating tht., the
Missouri automobile business, 1870
| t,fii,y. Ilr -
| per cent.
| Other 1920 athic> cmcn>s oi Secrc-
tary oi STATE s7ul}ivana aut5mob lc
Department include the distances OF
$3.50 duplicate dealers plates; 1,-77
motorcycle plates and 1875 chaui-
icurs badges. The gains in issuance
OF such plates and badges, 1920, over
any previous year records were as
marked as ior owners and dealers
plates.
The St Louis branch OF Secretary
Of State Sullyans automobile lcens-
ing department in January and FEB
ruary of 1920 issued plates for and
registered -43,775 car owners; badges
to 1904 chauileurs and plates to 5lS
motorcycle owners. The Kansas City
branch, the same two months, 1920,
issued plates for and registered 29,I5o
car owners and for EOS motorcycles,
and also 2.o20 chauffeur badges; and
the ST. Joseph Office. 7,7oS car owner
plates; ,34a chauffeur badges and 81
motorcycle plates.
For the months of January and
February 1920, Secretary OF State
Sullivan deposited in the State Treas
TRY. to the credit OF the Good Roads
Fund, the sum OF $I,ol2, I5..eo. Such
are the indications of a record break
ing year of prosperity for. Missouri
| during 1920.