The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-09
South CarOIina's Automobile Bill for
1920

The following exhaustive and illu-
minating survey OF the automobile
situation in South Carolina IS the
work Of Professor Wilson Gee, of the
department Of rural social science.
University Of South Carolina. 1t af-
fords much food for thought:
The registrations of automobiles in
South Carolina during the year 1920
totalled 93,S43 autos and trucks. The
population Of the state, according to
the figures OF the 14th census Of 1920
was l,6S3,662, A simple process OF
division shows that there is one car
for every 1S persons in the state. In
1919, similar figures indicated one
car to each 23 inhabitants.
Official figures liberated recently by
the American Automobile association
give 9,180.316 passenger and COM
mercial motor vehicles as registered
In the United States during 1920. The
gain in registrations over 1919
amounts to 2.114,S70, which is the
greatest increase ever recorded in q
single year.
1t thus appears that there is now
one motor vehicle for about every II
people in the United States.
Density by States.
The same source furnishes the to-
tai registration ly states for 1920,
with the exception OF California and
New York. where the registration
year ends February 2sth, and the
Agures consequently are for eleven
months. 5-r -
While these figures are nor entirely
complete. they afford the basis for the
very interesting table given below
rating the states according to the
humber. OF inhabitants per auto.
California, Iowa, Nebraska and
South Dakota vie with each other for
first place with six inhabitants per
auto. In 1919, South Carolina and
North Carolina each had an automo-
bile for every % persons in the state.
The year 1920 finds South Carolina
ranking 37th, along with New York,
North Carolina stands 39th with 20
inhabitants to each automobile in her
bounds.
Density by Counties.
Marlboro county leads in South
Carolina with an automobile for ev-.
cry 1913 persons; Anderson is q close
second with one car for each 1875 Of
Its population; and Darlington ranks
third with 1915 inhabitants to each
automobile. In 1919 Richland county
led with q car to each IL Of It's peo-
pie: in 1920 it ranks fourth with 1a.2
per auto. tying with
~ IN, fhsa cA
counties. as shown i'm accompany
Ing table. rank above the state aver
age. Pickens with 1871 inhabitants
per auto is closest to the average for
the state. twenty-siN counties ranking
below this figure. Berkeley has ap-
60 Inhabitants per auto,
the largest number in any county in
the state.
The largest number Of cars in any
county in the state is 6,72G in Green-
Vile; Anderson ranking second with
6,0S6; Richland third with $500, anu
Spartanburg with 5.616. occupying
fourth place. tt.
Marked Increase.
In 1915. there were 2O.500 cars in
the state. This Indicates an increase
OF 36s per cent In the past five years
In 1919. there were 70.l43 auto
licenses Issued. IN 1920 there were
S3.S43. This would seem to show an
increase of 2S.700 cars. or npproxi-
mately "a per cont. during the past
year. n ,e. ..-s .r..
As a matter OF fact. the number OF
new cars added is greater than the
above figure, The difference between
the, registrations for any two years
does not include the cars which have
become worn out and replaced. TAX
ing the average length OF life Of a car
at five years. and using the 1916 fig
ures OF registration wa ada 400 cars
for this factor. making 2T.S00 auto
mobiles bought last year.
Value OF Cars
Eleven hundred dollars would seem
to represent q conservative average
price last year per car. This valuation
signifies $so.6s0.0O0 expenditure for
new automobiles in South Carolina
during 1920.
The same price per car applied to
tho total oa.S+3 cars gives an auto.
mobile wealth investment of SlO3,-
227.300.
Operating Expenses.
Figures secured from the state de-
partmcnt Of agriculture. and based on
the eighth OF cent a gallon tax on
gasoline gives 41,225,067 as the
amount used in South Carolina ,in
1920. At the average value Of 80
cents a gallon this item totals $13,-
092,02l. The most OF this was used
by autos.
Rating the average number OF
miles per gallon as 13, there were
535,925,S71 miles travelled on this
gasoline.
1T would perhaps be conservative
to estimate tho operating expenses Of
a car at 10 cents mile. This would
include gasoline cost, tires. repairs,
and depreciation on car. Such an