Smyrna times., 1942-01-08

Daniel. During the past decade
the life expectancy of an automo-
bile has increased from eight to
twelve years. That means the av-
erage car made today has years of
added usefulness that are available
to families who can afford to buy
only second, third or fourth hand
cars. The result is that in the
United States there are more low
income families owning cars than
there are car-owning families, rich
and poor, in all the rest of the
world.
Used Car Increase
Recent studies of car ownership
in this state reveal not only that
about half the cars are owned by
families with modest incomes, but
also that over twice as many used
cars are sold than new cars. After
the original owner, an automobile
often passes to the possession of
three or more families before it is
finally retired to the junk heap.
This remarkable trend of increas-
ing ownership of older cars among
the low income families in this
state has almost escaped notice.
Yet studies indicate that approx
imately half of the cars operating
on the highways of Delaware are
five or more years old and that
these cars have an average cash
value of less than $4,000"
Wheels Move Faster in 1941
Not only did the number of auto
mobiles increase in 1941, but own
ers of all cars tended to use their
vehicles more. Preliminary figures
for the year, said Mr.. Danel, indi-
cate that motor vehicle owners
used per cent more gasoline in
194414 than they did in the previ-
Gus year. A substantial part of
that gain in consumption was from
the increase in automobile registra-
tions, and the balance of the gain
results from the whels of all motor
vehicles on the highways generally
moving more than in 1910. During
the past five years automobile own
ers have increased their annual
mileage by approximately one
third. Thus, increased average use
of automobiles is as important in
pushing up the states gasoline tax
receipts as is the gain in motor
vehicle registrations.
Period of REIMBURSEMENT
Warning that the present high
level of automobile taxes will not
continue indefinitely was sounded
by Mr.. Daniel. ga few years hence
when the postwar readjustment
comes, there may be a sharp drop
in highway user taxes" he said.
"For example, in the years 1880 to
1888, when incomes of millions of
families in the United States de-
clined, one out of every 10 cars in
this country was forced off the
roads because owners could not af-
ford to operate their cars. In some
states automobile registrations
dropped third. Because car own
ership among the lower income
families is far more extensive than
it was in 1880, sharp decline in
readjustment period may bring a
reduction in automobile registra-
tions of 25 per cent or more. This
should be kept in mind by state
highway officials in planning road
improvements over a period OF
years.
Transportation Vital to Nation
1.-The great expansion in automo-
bile ownership and use in this state
shows the growing Importance Of
highway transportation to the vel
fare of the people in this emerg'
ency period. Goods needed by in
dustries producing war material:
are moving in large quantities from
plant to plant over the highways
Workers in plants the country owe
get to and from their jobs by cars
Soldiers, equipment and supple
for military operations are trans
ported by motor vehicle over tn,
roads, for which motorists of tn,
nation have paid $18,000,000,00,
! and now are paying $1,000, ,O00, 90,
annually in special taxes to tn
states.
Highway transportation is ;
vital, and an integral part of tn
activities of a democratic people
in peace, in preparedness, or il
war" said Mr.. Daniel For tha
reason it is in the public interest t
J, encourage highway transportatio
so that at all times it will serv
: adequately the basic needs of tn
: people in the movement of person
: and goods. Fair principles of au
tomotive taxation, recognition o
! the ability to pay as basic facto
in determining tax rates, reason
able rules for the use of the high
2 uqug Wica r1annipO or rood ~,