The Washington times., 1923-12-11
GAR OWNERSHIP
IS HEAVIEST
ON FARMS
One for Every a. Persons in
Rural District, N. A. c. c.
Report Shows.
By KENNETH w. CLARK,
International News Service.


International News Service.
''How you gonna keep 'em down
on the farm?"
That's easy, explains the Ma
ttonal Automobile Chamber Of Com
merce, which reports that proper
tionately more cars are owned in
the farms and villages from 1000
to 5000 population all over the
country than along ! the gayest
white Way Fifth Avenue, Broad
way, Michigan Boulevard, Euclid
avenue or + street.
In fact, motor cars have put the
main in Main street.
1.-The ownership Of motor cars IL
proportionately heaviest in the vii
lagos from 1000 to 5000 popula-
the United States population, yet
use 20 per cent Of the total motor
cars" according to the chamber.
Stating it another way, these COM
munities have one motor car for
every A persons, or $50 cars per
1000 persons"
Then the chamber modifies this
statement by pointing out that
while eft IL true the farmer owns
80 per cent of the automobiles and
is by far the heaviest single user Of
motor transportation, he constitutes
AL per cent Of the population.
Farmers Need Cars.
Numerous factors contribute to
the intensive use OF the motor in
rural districts, notably the need Of
fast transportation. to annihilate
great distances from the farm to
the city.
mo occupation gets more value
out OF the motor car" the Chember
says. There are other points,
however, to be taken into considera-
ton, such as income and roads.
is In elements other than cash, it is
difficult. to make q comparative
study on this basis. The rural
highway situation, though, is rap
idly improving, as is evidenced by
the fact that Federal, State and
local road construction Is going
ahead at the rate Of more than
20, 600 miles per year."
In an interesting analysis Of
cities OF various sizes, the cham
Der reports:
"The density Of motor cars to
population decreases as the towns
increase In size. For instance,
cities between 5000 and $4,000
have $50 motor cars per thousand,
as compared with 230 in the 1000
to 5000 class. The cities ranging
from $4,000 to 1901 have 1916
cars per thousand persons, and
the largest cities, those over 100000,
have 81 cars per thousand.
Elm the corn belt and wheat
States, also In California, one finds
q very high percentage OF motor
cars on the farms. as, for instance,
in Iowa and Nebraska, where
there are more than $50 OF these
vehicles for every thousand per-
sons.
East's Ratio Low.
TN the Middle Atlantic States,
where there are many Of the
largest cities having q high per.
centage OF Industrial workers who
live within the crowded city limits,
the ratio Of cars IA municipaliti
Is low. Conversely, the farm own.
ership Of cars In this territory il
OF the farming land, the degree to
proved, and the extent to which
city markets call for local trans
portation In such uses as market
gardening and dairy products"
South Dakota outranks all States
in the use OF cars In cities OF more |
than 1000 population, with 1913 cars
Per thousand persons. Closely fol. |
lowing are California, 254: Arizona,
ESQ; Iowa, 246 and Kansas, 242.
Rhode Island Is the lowest In this
class, with only 65.4 cars per thou.
sand persons.
On farms and towns under 1000
population, however, Rhode Island
tops the list, with 738 cars per thou
sand persons, followed by Massa.
chusetts, 365; Nebraska, 156; Iowa,
1906, and South Dakota, 1903. Ala
hama trails with but 1876 cars per
thousand persons.
In this connection the chamber
declares. however, that some Of the
territory included as town" town
Massachusetts, population census In
classified as rural In other States.
Pacific States lead the sectional
classic ication in cities lover 1000
with 1862 cars per thousand per-
trail States, with 200, and Mountain
States, with 1873.
In farms and towns under 1000
population, the West North Central
States-Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, North and
South Dakota-top the list with
1914 cars per thousand. Pacific
States are second, 112.5 and East
North Central-Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin,
third, with 100 cars per thousand.
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