Cars Producing $128,380 In Motor

Vehicle And Gasoline Tax.

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Minnesota this week will register

its 550,000th motor vehicle, says an

officials bulletin just received by the

Review. 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 600,000

machines, tourist cars included, are

running in the state now on a fair

daily average. Auto registrations

totaled 42,035 during 1912-13-14

when 3 year licenses were sold for

$5 but the added personal property

tax brought the whole to more than

the present single tax.

State Figures Run High

Carried out in conservative estimates,

Minnesota motor vehicle

figures mount high and afford many

comparisons.

The 550,000 motor vehicles this

year Represent an investment of

$385,000,000 at only $700 each.

Will cover 2,750,000,000 miles, at

only 5,000 miles each.

Will cost to run nearly

$200,000,000 at only 7 1-2 cents a

mile.

May yield $14,000,000 of auto

and gas taxes for good roads.

Will be operated at $82,500,000

saving because of better highways.

The last statement is based upon

the showing on car running cost

reports of county agents that better

roads conditions now, compared

with those of 1920, have cut over 3

cents a mile off the cost of operating

the average car. But a good roads reduction

of only 1 cent a mile would

mean a $27,500,000 saving or nearly

double the aggregate receipts from

both auto and gasoline taxes, the bulletin

adds. It emphasizes the moral

pointed out by highway officials that

auto and gas taxes are paid back in

savings in the cost of running cars.

Brown County Total

To bring the figures home to

the large number of car owners, the

bulletin states that of the 550,000

cars and trucks owned in the state

about 5,043 are registered from this

county.

On the basis of foregoing state

estimates, these Brown county machines

at $700 each may be valued at

$3,530,400. Their collective mileage

this year is put at 25,217,500 miles

and the operating cost at $1,889,000.

They are producing in motor vehicle

and gasoline taxes about $128,380

of 1925 state trunk highway funds.

But the better highways are saving

the car owners of this county about

$761,100 this year, if the average reflected

in the county agent’s reports

applies, the bulletin explains.

Good road advocates point out in

this connection that better highways

will soon pay for themselves in

money that otherwise must be spent

for extra car wear and tear and gasoline,

tires and other items, if roads

are not built.

New Ulm Review,

September 23, 1925

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