Evening star., 1932-01-31

Washington last year was third
in the entire United States in its
percentage of increase in automo-
bile registrations over the pre-
ceding year. The increase was "a
per cent, the largest increase OF
anv State in the Union but two,
and made in the face Of the fact
that % States showed sharp de-
CrcaseS, which pulled the national
AVERAGE down to only 08 per cent
increase over the previous year.
Incidently, license fees paid to the
District during the same period
amounted to $500
This increase during the buSl-
rosS depression gave Washington
an average of one automobile to
every 3.11 people, a figure sur
passed only by two other states
WASHINGTON stands fourteenth IN
population and twelfth in the
total number of vehicles owned,
having a registration of 156,676.
But New York, with population
"A times as great as Washington,
has only 4 times as many au-
tomobileS. Chicago, with a popu-
latiOn 6 times that of Washing
ton, has less than times as many
cars.
Auto Ownership.
washington owns more auto
mobiles than Arizona, Delaware,
Idaho. Montana, Nevada, New
HAMPSHIRE, New Mexico, Rhode
Island. Utah, Vermont or Wyom-
ing. Washington owns more cars
than Belgium, Norway, Sweden
Holland, Austria, Russia, Portu-
gal. Denmark, Finland, Greece
japan. Chile, Poland, Hungary OF
Mexico. Out Of list OF SO coun-
tries and foreign colonies IN which
an accurate census is kept, only
II own more machines than the
District of Columbia.
Of all the cities in the United
States under 100000 population
only one, Newark, N. j., owns more
autos than Washington. Three
cities of 100000 or more, Pitts
burgh, Baltimore and Boston, own
fewer cars than Washington.
The above figures, supplied by
Facts and Figures" published, by
the National Automobile Chambel
of Commerce, goes to prove that
the automobile has somewhat OF
a standing in the Nations Capl-
tai. Begging pardon IOr a LITTLE
facetiouSneSS that also might be
noticed by the parked cars on the
CityS streets.
New Traffic Director.
During the past year Washing
ton has been given a new trattlC
director. Coming here from the
PENNSYLVANIA State Highway De
partment and the American Roac
PuilderS' Association, William A
van Duzer has accomplished
some important matters. During
1921 he has secured the uniform
lcft-hand turn for Washington
motorists and the automobile tltIe
law. He has kept the city iron
beng filed with unnecessary trat-
flee lights, and among Othel
things has aided the driver b!
OcrmiJting him to secure hi
license tags through the mails
Mr., van Duzer has done well. Th'
next step for him is to push tn'
safety responsibility bill, spon
Sorcd by the American AutOmo
biz Association, which was adopt
ed bv Maryland the first OF tht
wear. This measure will go far II
making the streets of Washington
safe. At the present time Il
States and 4 provinces Of Canad'
have deemed this law so wise a
to pass it.
Credit for the enforcement o
Washington's traffic should go II
Inspector E. w Brown, head o
the Traffic Bureau, and second i:
command Of the metropolitan
Police Force. Despite many shake
UPS in the personnel, he has dom
his part with difficult problem
Always ready to listen, advise ant
carry out worthy plans, the IN
spectOr has shown a great spin
Of cooperation.
Some Of his thoughts were re
Gently given in a radio address
They are as follows:
Il consider that the maJorlt.
of Washington drivers intend II
ovarciSa reasonable care in thI