The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1921-04-09
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Herald Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON. April e.-of the
s1o2,e34,10s.26 collected in the for
V-eight states and District of Col
umbia last year for automobile. mot
orcycle and registered chauffeurs' IL
censes. 96 per cent, or ss7.s97,l6O.-
60 was applied to road maintenance
or construction. In 1906. Just four
teen years ago, practically none OF
the automobile revenue was applied
to road construction or maintenance.
There has been a tremendous change
IN the last fourteen years.
In 1906 the total registration OF
cars was $4,000, the total gross re.
venuu was sls3,ooo. or Just about
what Arizona paid in 1920. Last year
s.211,2s5 motor cars. including com
mercial vehicles, were registered. In
addition to this number there we're
2<s.146 motorcycles.
The amount received from regis
tration revenue last year was equal
to approximately rs per cent OF the
total rural road and bridge expendi-
lures for the calendar year OF 1919.
In 1906 the gross income from regis
tration was only equal to three
tenths OF I per cent for expenditures
on account Of total rural road and
bridge construction.
Expense Too Small
The most significant feature OF the
report, which has besu compiled by
the bureau of public roads OF the
United States department of agricul-
ture. is that only per cent Of the
entire amount collected was applied
to the administration expenses and
purchase OF metal number plates. All
Of the rest OF the amount. almost
500. 900. 900 went for road work and
Of this sum 7s per cent, or s77,531.-
5S2.57, was expended under the con-
troll or supervision OF the several
state highway departments.
For a number of years the gener-
al tendency toward devoting an sv-
er-increasing portion OF the motor
vehicle revenues to road work under
the control and direct supervision Of
the state highway department has
been very noticeable. Prior to 1912
only very small portion OF the mot
or vehicle registration was devoted
to this purpose.
In 1920 rs per cent OF the reven-
ue. or s77.531.5s2.57. was applied
to road work under the direct super
vision OF the state highway depart
ments. and In addition s20.465.57S.-
o4 was applied to road work by coun-
ties or other local supervision, but
with little or no direct supervision
from the state highway depart
ments.
States Use Funds
In most states the motor vehicle
revenues are devoted to maintenance
and repair OF the state roads or 9TH
or improved highways. These states
seemed to have solved fairly we'll the
difficult problem OF securing funds |
for the maintenance Of the more i'm
portant roads under the ever-in. |
creasing traffic requirements. As
both the traffic and the revenue in
crease with the number Of cars. there
exists possibility OF so
adjusting the registration rates as to
keep pace with the ever growing
changes.
A number OF states having In gen
oral but small mileage of improved
roads have recently adopted the plan
Of capitalizing the motor vehicle rev.
enues and devoting these funds to
road construction. The states doing
This are Illinois. Maine, Minnesota.
Nevada, Utah and Wyo-
ming. In them bonds have been vot-
ID or issued for road construction,
md the principal In some instances
llso the interest, is TO be paid entire
y from the motor vehicle revenue.
At the beginning of 1921 there
we're still seven states In which mo-
or trucks were registered at the
anne rate as passenger cars, but In I
ecent years there has been a very
locidaa taudancv I'm most states to