Smyrna Times

FARMING AND AUTOS

According to statistics, the farmer owns and operates one third of the automobiles in Delaware. This shows how "Old Dobbin", as a means of transportation is fast disappearing from the highways.

The number of passenger cars and trucks on farms last year was 11,720 of which 8,724 were in the passenger group and 2,996 in the truck group. In addition there were 1600 tractors on farms. The above figures are according to a tabulation made by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce.

There was a pronounced decline in automobile registration. In Delaware, there was a falling off from 1930 from 56,109 to 52,851. Figured on a ratio basis, there was a car for every four persons in the State, the 1930 census giving the State a population of 238,380. This meant, among other things, a substantial investment on the part of our people in motor cars and a substantial regular expenditure of money throughout one of the leanest years experienced in a long time to keep up and operate those cars.

Of the total number of motor vehicles in Delaware last year it is recorded that 19,011 were owned in Wilmington. This was more than one-third of the total for the entire State. Outside of Wilmington the registration was 33,840.

It is interesting to know that last year, as depressing as business conditions were, the State derived revenue from automobiles aggregating $2,117,546, of which $1,018,396 represented registration fees and $1,099,150 gasoline tax. Of this amount $861,019 was applied to retirement of State and county road bonds and the remainder to highway construction, maintenance and protection.

And so, the motorist pays his way and helps the State in a substantial way, but in return he has the use of one of the best, and best protected, highway systems in the country.