The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1922-02-21
UNITED STATES HAD
OVER TEN AND 0NE-HALF
MILLION CARS IN 1921

Statistics complied by The B. F..
Goodrich Rubber Company give a
total of 1O,524,39 cars and trucks
registered in the country during
1921. This is as increase of 1929
O23 or 1872 per cent over 1920 when
there were 9,295,372 motor vehicles
registered.
The gain made during the past
year warrants the consideration of
the automotive pessimist. The au-
tomobile business has gone through
its supreme test. 1t has emerged
victorious and there is no longer any
room for pessimism. Authorities
concede that over one-third of the
cars running are owned by farmers.
Despite the fact that six large ag-
ricultural states show a decrease
over the previous year, the industry
has forged ahead. 1t is remarkable
that so few states show a decrease.
Wheat and corn in 1921 sold at ex-
tremely low prices, frequently far
below hte actual cost of production.
This of itself would tend to restrict
the use of automobiles by farmers
yet in such states as Kansas, Ne
braska and Iowa where the agricul-
tural depression was most acute, the
number of cans has increased. Mo
tor vehicles are becoming as essen
tial as farm implements.
New York again leads the field
with 816,010 cars and trucks, an in
crease of 1856, the largest made
in any state over the previous year.
Ohio is second with 726,7O0, gain
of 1OS,7OO over 1920. Pennsylvania
clihgs to third place with 689,589,
while Illinois is close on its heels
with 670,b34.
The largest percentage gain was
made by West Virginia where an in
crease of 1871 per cent. is recorded
over 1920. California and Florida
reflect the popularity Of their eli
mate and roads with respective
gains of 1915 per cent and 24.j per
cent.
1t is an interesting to note that
six states account for over one
third of the years increase in reg
istration. Illinois, Indiana, Michi-
gan, New York, Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania accomplish this with combi-
ned gain of 573,347 cars. Any one
of these states has more cars than
the entire European continent.
Their aggregate total of 1871, $40 is
greater than the total registration
of the country in 1916, and greater
than the present world registrations
excluding the United States.
Nevada is ON the bottom rung of
the lader with 10000 cars. Della
ware is only one step above with21,-
Alb. By comparison the states are
not badly mired as it seems, for eth
err one of them has more cars than
the entire Chinese Empire.
There was one motor vehicle for
every ten people in the country in
1921 as compared with one for Ills
in 1920. If this average were
maintained throughout the world
there would be 17O,OO0,00O cars in
use. The world registration today
is approximately 12,500,000. Cali
fornia and Iowa lead in the number
of cars as compared to population
with one car for every 81 inhabi-
tants. South Dakota has third
place with an average of 5.3. Ne
braska the 1920 leader dropped to
fourth place with ga people for
each car. Alabama makes the
poorest showing in this respect with
% persons for each automobile.
New York with the greatest number
of cars has an average of 1877 peo-
pie for each one in use. If the lead
ers' per caipta average could be
maintained throughout the country
we would now have 0,327, 900 mo-
tor vehicles in use. The saturation
point has hardly been reached.
At the outset of 1921 various
authorities agreed that at least
100000 automobiles would be
serapped during the year. National
Automobile Chamber Of Commerce,
and other production figures for the
year compared with the increase in
registrations show this total to be
well under the four hundred thous-
and mark. Cars are delivering ex-