Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-20
AUTOS SHOW
z PER CENT.
GAIN IN 1920
More Than 9,21l,295
Motor Vehicles Register
ed in U. S. Last Year

A total OF a.211, ,2e5 motor cars in
GLIDING commercial vehicles were reg
istcred last year in the IS states and
District of Columbia according 10
figures compiled by tho Bureau of
Public Roads OF the United States de-
partmcnt of Agriculture in u study of
revenue available for road building
purposes. There were also registered "A
total OF eSs.1ts motorcycles. The regis
tration and license fees. including those
Tor chauffeurs. operators, and dealers
amounted to Sl02. .o34, los rs. As COM
pared with 1919. the data for 1890 rep
resent an increase of 20 per cent, or
l.S5.Se motor cars. This increase
alone lacks but per cent to being
equal to the total registration of the
United States six years ago.
In 1870 in tho state of New York
alone, the number OF motor cars regis
tered. including commercial vehicles.
exceeded the total cars registered in
the whole OF the United States in 1910.
Furthermore, tho revenues derived
from registration in the state OF New
York in 1920 were about equal to tho
entire registration revenues of the
United States for 1913.
The use made of the revenues has
changed with the passing OF years.
In 1906 the total reSistra tons were ap-
proSimately 5000 cars, paying a gross
revenue OF about 1880 (Arizona in
1890 paid approximately this amount }
In 1906 the gross registration rcve-
nucs werc equal TO less than three
tenths of l per cent OF tho total rural
road and bridge expenditures for that
year.
The registration revenues in 1870
were equal to about H5 per cent of the
total rural road and bridge expendi-
turcs for tho calendar year 1919. In
1906. practically none Of tho motor We
htclcs revenues was applied to road
maintenance or construction. while in
1920. ss per cent, or a total OF s3T. .9o1. =
1890 was used for this purpose. The
remaining per cent not applied TO
road work was expended very largely
for number plates and in carrying out
the provisions OF the motor vehicle
laws IN the several states. OF the total
amount applied to road work 20 per
cent. or SII.53i,5se.5I was expended
under tho control or supervision OF the
several state highway departments.
Increasing Amount for Road Work
For n number of years the general
tendency toward devotlnE an ever
Increasing portion of the motor vehicle
revenues to road work under tho con-
troll and direct supervision Of the state
highway department has been very
noticeable. Prior to 1911. only a very
small portion OF the motor vehicle reg
istration was devoted to this purpose.
In 1890 80 per cent OF tho revenue. or
S'T.5Sl. .5s2.57 was applied to road work
under the direct supervision of the
state highway departments and in ad-
dition Sc. .is5. .51s.t was applied to road
work by counties or other local sup
crvision but with little or no direct
Supervision from the state highway
departments.
szI-
revenues arc devoted to maintenance
and repair OF the state roads or other
improved highways. These states seem
to have solved fairly we'll the difficult
problem of sccuring funds for the
maintenance of fhc more important
roads under tho cver-increasing traf-
fic requirements. AS both the traffic
and the revenues increase with the
number of cars. there apparently cx-
lists n possibility OF so adjusting the
registration rates rs to keep pace with
the ever growing maintenance
changes.
general but a small mileage of i'm
/ proved roads have recently adopted
tho plan OF capitaliSing the motor
vehicle revenues and dcvo;ing these
funds TO road construction. The states
doing this are Illinois, Maine, Mime
sofa, Nevada. Utah and wyoming. IN
them bonds have heFn Nolcd OF lssuc"
for road construction. and the princi-
pal. in some instances also the interest
| is to be paid entirely from the motor
vehicle revenue.
Limit Load of Motor Trucks
At the beginning of 1921 there were
still seven states in which motor
trucks were registered at the same
rate as passenger cars, but in reeen,
years there has been very decided
tendency in most states to increase the
fees required FOR motor trucks over ana
! CONTINUED on Next rage)