The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-24
EVERYONE RIDES
 AUTOMOBILE NOW
Over 5,O0O,OOO Are Being Operated In United
 States

A check-up on the passenger cars and trucks registered in the United States July 1, 1924, reveals the astounding total of more than 151a million motor vehicles at present Ion the job" in these United States-exclusive of Alaska and territorial possessions, says the Literary Digest. In the rest of the world, ac- cording to the most recent figures, there are only about three million cars, so that about SS per cent of the total number of motor cars are in the United States. Among the states, California has at last passed New York and now ranks first in the number of registered cars. In the United States as whole, the present figures mean that there is one motor vehicle for every 7.2 Ameri- cans, enough so that, counting on little extra assistance from trucks, everybody including men, women and children, could, probably, take a motor ride at the same time. The survey, undertaken by Automotive Industry, and recapitulated in Motor Age, shows that:
 There was an increase of 2,475,710, or 19 per cent, over July 1. 1923. Trucks which had represented 10 to II per cent 1 crept up 12.3 per cent of the total There is one motor vehicle for every S.@ PCESOuS III Iu0 OldLeS.
 Fewer Motor Cycles
 Fees paid in the first six months of 1924 amounted to $195, ,S21 ,622, an in crease of approximately 45 million dol lars over the first six months of 1923, and, in round numbers, five million dol lars more than was paid during the 12 months ending December 31, 1923.
 The number of motor cycles registered has declined consistently since 1919 Totaling 240,000 on December 31 of that year, they now number only 126,366, q decrease of almost 50 per cent i'll less than five years.
 In the face of these constantly de- creasing mum bers. Massachusetts showed a gain of 3,023 motor cycles and Connecticut followed with an in. crease of 1 1,15S. To offset this Califor- mia showed loss of ,692, Pennsylvania loss of 1,524 and Wisconsin loss of 1915.
 While passenger car and truck figures from July 1, 1923, to July 1, 1924, show . gain of 10 per cent. the period from December 31, 1923, to July 1, 1921, does not record nearly so good a showing. The increase was only 301 ,240 for the six months.
 This small gain is doubtless to be 'ex- plaincd in several ways. The tremen- deus volume of purchases which were made in the fall and early winter of 1923. the long. cold spring of this year, and the feeling of uncertainty which has predominated in business over q period of months all have had their effect on car sales.
 Few With Less Than 100000.
 At the end of the first six months of 1924 there remained only eleven states and the District of Columbia. which had not passed the 100000 mark, namely {: Arizona, Delaware, Idaho. Montana Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico. Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.
 The total registration figures for De cember 31. 1922, shows that there were at that time seventeen states and the District of Columbia which had fewer than 100000 passenger cars and trucks. On July 1, 1923. there remained 16 states and the District of Columbia which had a total registration of less 4. than 100000.
 In the period from July 1, 1922, to July 1, 1924, the number of states which had less than 100000 total registrations had decreased to twelve and the District of Columbia. In other words, five of the sixteen states which had regis trations ranging from Nevada with 12,- 766 to North Dakota with 99,000 on July 1 of last year have gone over the top with more than 100000 motor ve- liicles in operation.
 To put it in terms of percentage and disregarding the District-sof Columbia, approximately 35.5 per cent of the states showed total registrations under the hundred thousand mark at the end of 1922; this had decreased to B per cent on July 1, 1925 and on July of this year, over a period of twelve months, had still further decreased from B to g per cent.
 Greatest Gain In California.
 California, New York, Ohio and Penn sylvania stand well above the million mark in the order given. Illinois, which had 9S6, ,490 registrations on July l, is first on a list of six states whose regis tration is above million but under million, and there are twenty-seven states whose registrations range be- tween 100000 and the half-million mark
 In other words, there are now thirty seven states which individually have from 100000 to more than 1 million mo- tor vehicles, five more than there were at this time last year.
 The largest gain recorded over De cember 31, 1923, in numbers was made by the state of Ohio, with an increase of 91, 300. Thirteen states showed an increase of more than 10000.
 The largest percentage gain was made by the state of Massachusetts, IS per cent, S5,6S6 in number and second only to Ohio. Following it were Delaware with a gain of 16.8 per cent, North Carolina with a gain of 151 per cent, and Washington and New Mexico with gainst of 1.2 and Ill per cent respec- lively.
 For the period of the twelve months from July 1, 1923, to July 1, 1921, Cali fornia showed the greatest numerical gain, 249, 100. It was followed by New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan with more than 100000 ad- ditional registrations each.
 Every state shows an increase for the twelve months ending July 1, 1924. The District of Columbia alone shows a loss, which may be accounted for by the confusion of registration figures which has existed there.
 MOST OF CARS OWNED HERE