The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-09-25
STATE AUTO TOTALS
RUN UP BIG FIGURE.
MINNESOTANS PUTTING VAST
SUMS INTO CARS AND
TRUCKs-COMPARATIVE-
LY LITTLE INTO ROADS.

Minnesota this week probably will
register its 550,000th motor vehicle,
says an official bulletin just received
by The Ely Miner. With it comes
a prediction that auto tax receipts
this year may reach $10,000,000.
But
The total of cars and trucks now
using Minnesota roads is more than
ten times that of ten years ago,
the bulletin states. Upwards OF
100000 machines, tourist cars in
eluded, are running in the state now
on fair daily average. Auto reg
istrations totalled 42,035 during
1912-13-14 when 3-year licenses
were sold for So but the added per-
sonal property tax brought the
whole to more than the present
single tax.
State Figures Run High.
Carried out in conservative esti-
mates, Minnesota motor vehicle fig
ures mount high and afford COM
parsons.
The $4,000 motor vehicles this
year represent an investment of
1885, 100000 at only 500 each.
Will cover 2,750, 100000 miles,
at only 5000 miles each.
Will cost to run nearly $200,000,-
900 at only " cents a mile.
May yield $14,000,000 of auto
and gas taxes for good roads.
Will be operated at So, 100000
saving because of better highways.
The last statement is based upon
the showing on car running cost re-
ports of county agents that better
roads conditions now, compared
with those of 1920, have cut over
cents mile off the cost of operat-
ing the average car. But a good
roads reduction of only l cent a
mile would mean a SGT 500, 900
saving or nearly double the aggre-
gate receipts from both auto and
gasoline taxes, the bulletin adds. 1t
emphasizes the moral pointed out by
highway officials that auto and gas
taxes are paid back in savings in
the cost of running cars.
ST. Louis Co,nty Totals.
To bring the figures home to the
large number of car owners, the
bulletin states that of the $4,000
cars and trucks owned in the state
about 45,446 are registered from
this county. On the basis of fore
going state estimates, these St.
Louis county machines at $7OO each
may be valued at $31, S12,500.
Their collective mileage this year
is put at 227 1892, 500 miles and the
operating cost at $17,021, 800. They
are producing in motor vehicle and
gasoline taxes about $1,156,S00 of
1925 state trunk highway funds.
But the better highways are saving
the car owners of this county ABOUT
$6,858, 800 this year, if the average
reflected in the county agents re-
port applies, the bulletin explains.
Good roads advocates point out
In this connection that better high
ways will soon pay for themselves
in money that otherwise must be
spent for extra car wear and tear
and gasoline and other items, if
roads are not built.
Auto Gains Classified.
During the first eight months this
year Minnesota registered 261,42e
light passenger automobiles at the
s12 minimum tax or "a" plate
class, as against 24O,229 during the
twelve months of 1924. Autos pay
ing more than $12 tax and carry.
ing t"B" plates numbered 237,586
against $224,936 for the respective
periods. Passenger BUSES, paying
a 10 per cent tax under &c" plates
dropped in number to 383 from 449
and there is but one on the road,
now for every 1900 privately own
ed cars.
Trucks carrying the SIS minimum
tax and "T~' plates totalled PATE
in 1924 and 28,053 the first eight
months this year. Larger truck!
under ''X' tags went up rom 1870
to 21,957 on the respective reports
The trucks for hire-"Y" plates
made slight gain, to $50 from 378
Motorcycles dropped from 5000
to 2,726; trailers climbed from l.,
514 to 1908, while licensed dealer:
jumped in number from Ito to 1 !,
BAT and made up the remainder Of
the total of 547,186 registrations tt
Sept. 1 this year, compared with
the full year figure of 5O9,8O1 fol
1924.