The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-21
OVER ten AND 0NE-HALF.
= MILLION CARS IN 1921.
10,524,394: Motor Vehicle.
Registered Last Year in:
United States

Statistics compiled by the B. F.
Goodrich Rubber company give ia to-
tai Of 10, 524, 1896 cars and trucks reg
istered in the country during 1921.
This is an increase of 1,229,O23 or
1872 per cent over 1920. when there
were 9,295,372 motor vehicles reg
istered, '';57 -. -.''
The gain made during the past year
warrants the consideration of the
automotive pessimist. The automo-
bile business has gone through its
supreme test. It has emerged VIC
torious 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 agri-
cultural states show decrease over
the previous year, the industry has
so few states show a decrease. Wheat
forged ahead. It, is remarkable that
and corn in! 1921 sold at extremely
low prices, frequently far below the
actual cost of production. This of it.
self would tend to restrict the use
f automobiles by farmers yet in such,
states as Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa
where the agricultural depression was
most acute, the number Of cars has
increased. Motor vehicles are becom-
ing as essential as farm implements.
New York again leads the field with
816,0IO cars and trucks, an increase
Of 1885, the largest made in any.
state over the previous year. Ohio
is second with 726, 700, a gain of 1885,
700 over 1920. Pennsylvania clings
third place with $50 $50, while Him
OILS is close, on its heels with 67O ,434.-
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 cli-'
mate and roads with respective gains
of 1875 per cent and PAS per cent.
It is interesting to note that six
states account for over one-third of
the years increase in registrations.
Illinois,, Indiana, Michigan, New York,
Ohio and Pennsylvania accomplish
this with combined gain of 573, 347
more cars than the entire European
cars. Any one of these states has
continent. Their aggregate total of
1881, 849 is greater than the total
registrations the country in 1916
and greater than the present world
registrations excluding she United
States. 1. !.
Nevada is on the bottom rung of
the ladder with 10000 cars. Dele.
ware is only one step above with 81
413. BY comparison these states are
not as badly mired as it seems, for
either one of them has more cars
than the entire Chinese Empire.
Tire was one motor vehicle for
every 10 people in the country in
1921 as compared with one for 11.8
in 1920. If this average were main
tanned throughout he world there
would be 17O,O00,00O cars in use.
The world registration today is ap-
proximately 1880, 900. California
and Iowa lead in the number. Of cars
as compared to population with one
car for every 81 inhabitants. South
Dakota has third place with an aver
; age Of 3d. Nebraska the 1920 leader
dropped to fourth place with 5.4 peo-
pie for each car. Alabama makes
the poorest showing in this respect
with 20 PRISONS for each automobile:
New York with the gratest number of
cars has an average OK 1877 people
for each one in use. If the leaders
per capita average could be MAIN
tanned throughout the country we
would now have 20,327,0O0 motor
vehicles in .usel The saturation point
ha hardly been reached.
Car Mortality Remarkably Low.
At the outset of 1921 various au-
thorities agreed that at least 100000
automobiles would be scrapped dur
ing the year. National Automobile
chamber Of Commerce, and other