The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-04-11
Bureau Of Public
Roads Makes Report
on Motor Vehicles

4AOSAO AvACS1AVO 4NSISOA
on Motor Vehicle,
Huge figures are dealt with in |
compilation prepared by the bureau
OF public roads of the United State
department of agriculture relating
to automobiles in the United States
The number OF motor vehicles regis
tered in the forty-eight states ant
the District of Columbia reaches thu
amazing total of 9,211,295. In addi
ton, there were registered last veal
238,148 motorcycles.
The figures were collected ant
tabulated in connection with study
Of revenue available. for road-build
ing purposes. The license fees, in
GLIDING those of chauffeurs, opera
tors and dealers, amounted tt
$102,034,106.26.
The data for 1920, in comparison
with the returns for 1919, represents
an Increase of % per cent, or 1885,.
$40 motor cars. This increase alone
lacks but 4 per cent of being equal
to the total registration of the United
States six years ago, and is proof OF
the tremendous extension of the
automotive business.
Last year the state of New York
alone had registration of motor
cars, including commercial vehicles,
exceeding that of the entire United
States in 1910, only ten years ago.
Moreover the revenues derived from
registration in the state of New York
in 1920 were almost equal to the
entire registration revenues of the
United States in 1918.
There has been a pronounced
change in the use of the revenues in
recent years. In 1906 the total
registrations we're approximately 49,
600 cars, paying a gross revenue of
about $4,000. This amount was
about the sum paid last year by
Arizona alone. In 1906 the gross
registration revenues were equal to
less than three-tenths of 1 per cent
Of the total rural road and bridge
expenditures for that year. The
revenues from registrations in 1920
were equal to about 25 per cent of
the total rural road and bridge ex-
penditures for the calendar year
1919. In 1906, practically none of
the mOtor-vehicle revenue was ap-
piled to road maintenance or con-
struction, while in 1920, SO per cent,
or total Of $97,997,160.60 was
used for this purpose. The remain
ing per cent not applied to road
work was expended very largely for
number plates and in carrying out
the provisions of the motor vehicle
registration laws in the several
states.
OF the total amount applied to
road work, 70 per cent, or $751;
582,57, was expended under the
control or supervision of the various
state highway departments.
In recent years there has been an
increasing tendency toward devoting
larger portions of the motor-vehicle
revenues to road work under the
control and direct supervision of the
state hihgway departments. Prior to
1912 only very small part of the
registration revenue was used for
his purpose. In 1920, 76 per cent
If the revenue, or $77,531,582.57
vas applied to road work under the
Erection of the state highway de-
'artments, and in addition, $780,
l65, 57S.04 was applied to road work
~ counties or other local govern
nent, but with little or no direct
from the state high
way departments.
In most states the motor-vehicle
evenues are devoted to maintenance
Ind repair of the state roads or !,
'ther improved highways. These
tates seem to have solved fairly we'll
he difficult problem of securing
unds for the maintenance of the
more important roads under the ever
Increasing traffic requirements. AS
10Th the traffic and the revenues in
rcase with the number of cars, there
.nrarently exists a possibility of so
djusting the registration rates as to
zee race with the ever-growing main
enanae changes.
A number of the states having in
General but a small mileage CT i'm
'roved roads have recently adoTted
he plan of capitalizing the motor
'ehicle revenues and devoting these
unds to road construction. The
tates doing this are Illinois, Maine,
Missouri, Nevada, Utah
md Wyoming. In them bonds have
'een voted or issued for road con-
truction, and the principal, in some
Instances also the interest, is to be
'''d entirely from the motor-vehicle :
evenue.
At The beginning of 1o2. 4l.rre
we're still seven states in which
motor trucks were registered at the 1
anne rate as passenger cars, but in
ecent years there has been a decided {
rend in most states to increase the G
ees for motor trucks over those for
cars. This increase is {
lsually based on the weight of the
ruck and its carrying capicity, it's t
lorse power, or a combination of 7
hese factors. The most general prac-
ice seems to be toward directly 9
Uniting the maximum total road q
eight Of the vehicle and basing the
egistration fee on the capacity of q
he truck. A few states have adopted @
scale Of fees, which in actual prac- 9
Ice serves to make the operation of T
cry heavy trucks impracticable.
In Colorado, New Mexico and Ore @
on, in addition to the registration 4
,es, state tax on gasoline or other =
roducts used for the propulsion of