Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

the total amount of special motor
taxes exclusive of personal pro-
perty taxes for the 48 States and
the District of Columbia was 22.8
per cent.
The District of Columbia, with
$13.28, had the lowest per vehicle
tax levy. The five States with the
highest per vehicle tax levy were
Florida, with $50.10; Arkansas,
with $4673; Oregon, with $44.25;
Vermont, with $43.53, and Vir-
ginia, with $42.67 The District of
Columbia might we'll be expected
to be the lowest in fairness to the
comparatively few number of
miles in its territory with the
States.
Following is summary of other
facts brought out in the A. A. A.
review: First, the average per
vehicle tax for the entire country
was $28.56 in 1929, as compared
with $2524 in 1928, an increase of
Is per cent in a period of IL
months. The per vehicle tax has
increased more than 800 per cent
since 1919, when it was $855.
Taxes Reach New Peak.
Second, special taxes collected
from car owners by the States
reached a new high peak last
year, with a total of $767, oil ,595,
as compared with $624,325,67 in
1923, an increase of $142,685, 1925.
Third, the States revenue from
70
cent in 1929, the total being $422,-
216,641, as compared with $780,
906,417 in the previous year.
While New York reported regis
trationS we'll over the two million
mark, seven other States showed
registrations in excess of one mil
lion. These are New York, $780,
430; California, 1,974,341; Penn
sylvania, 1,766, 241; Ohio, 1,738, 600;
Illinois, 1,615,088; Michigan, l.
574,496; Texas, 1,343,307, and
Massachusetts,, 1,016,916. The lat
ter State was the new addition to
this list.
In State fees, drivers licenses
and gasoline taxes, the highest
five were Pennsylvania, $65, 49,
078; New York, SIS, 500, 734; Ohio,
SAG, $4,000; Michigan, $43,310,86
and California, $43,094,142.
Pennsylvania led in the amount
collected from the gas tax, with
$35, $40, 1888, while other leading
States were Ohio, $34, 900;
California, $685. 59; Michigan,
SCI, 309, 009, and Texas, $18,373, 772.
New York collected $16,585, 1858
from the gas tax, which went into
effect for the first time on May
l, 1929.
From these figures it appears
that taxation on motor vehicles
has not kept in line with other
taxes, but has gone far beyond
what would seem reasonable and
fair. Internationally, all the
money raised is not going for
street and highway improvement.
Just what percentage of the
amount raised drifts off into
other channels can only be Specu-
lative.
Every one agrees with the neceS- |
sity of road improvement and ex-
tension, but it does look like the |
taxation is very high.
Thursday and Friday of this |
week have been designated as the
days for the Winchester apple |
blossom festival. More than 100,-
900 people made the trip last year
and were not disappointed. An
accompanying map in this sec
ton shows the best route and
the intervening distances.
Residents of MartinSburg, w.
Va, and nearby may use the con-
tinuation of the Valley pike,
known as United States Route IL.
This highway is in good repair.
The Virginia State Highway
Commission points out that there
is construction work on United
States Route $40 between Charles
Town, w. Va, and Berryville, Va.
1t is recommended that motorists
using this route take the county
road to the left Is miles beyond
Nippon, and continuing right
upon entering Route 81. At Berry
vile the motoriSt is advised to
take up Route $40 again, continu-
ing into Boyce. From Boyce turn
to the right into Route so, which
will bring the motorists into Win
chester over a good roadway.