NORTH DAKOTA

The earliest known city ordinance in North Dakota requiring automobile registration is that of Grand Forks in 1905.  In the next six years, at least eight other cities joined the bandwagon, also issuing local registrations and in most cases, plates.  However, with  smaller villages like Northwood (pop. 769) issuing plates, the possibility of many more ordinances and plates having existed is great.  All local registration ordinances were invalidated by the first state registration law which took effect on July 1, 1911.

Bismarck (5,443)

The first automobile ordinance in Bismarck was not passed until August 1910.  The city largely copied the ordinance in effect in Fargo when drafting the law.  Ordinance #234 was passed on August 22, 1910, and effective upon its fourth publication in the Bismarck Tribune, September 17, 1910.  Automobile and motorcycle owners were required to pay a fee of $2 to the city treasurer, and display "in a conspicuous place" a city-issued plate acquired from the city auditor.  Plates were to bear 4-inch-tall numbers (or 3 inches for motorcycles) and the words "Bismarck, N.D."  Dealers could purchase 5 plates in duplicate for $10, and each additional duplicate plate for $1.25.  Non-residents were exempted as long as they displayed their home plate.

The October 13, 1910, edition published the following "NOTICE TO AUTO OWNERS.":  "Licenses and tags for automobiles and motor cycles are now ready for delivery.  The city ordinance requires that each owner of a motor vehicle shall pay the city treasurer a license fee of $2.00 and the treasurer's receipt shall be presented to the city auditor, who will issue the tag and license."  The next day, it was reported that #1 was issued to A. B. Welch.  On October 27, 1910, it reported that "The police department of the city is watching the auto owners of Bismarck very closely.  Only fourteen licenses and tags have been issued to date..."

A city-issued 1910 silver-on-maroon flat plate #28 is known with "BISMARCK" and "N.DAK." vertically in two columns at left and "1910" vertically at right.  This plate appears to have been made by the same manufacturer as that of Minnesota's 1909 and 1910 plates as well as the North Dakota 1911 state issue.  Since the 1910 plates were issued so late in the year (mid-October), it is uncertain if a 1911 Bismarck plate was ever issued before the state law took effect on July 1st.  The ordinance did not specify a license year at all.  An undated leather plate #38 exists with "BISMARCK" over a stepped "ND" at left, but the history of this plate is unknown.

Devils Lake (5,157)

A dated 1910 leather plate #62 is known with "DL" vertically at left and "1910" vertically at right.

Dickinson (3,678)

An ordinance was passed on September 23, 1910, requiring registration. The fees were $3 for automobiles and $10 for dealers.  For an extra fee, dealers "would be provided with extra plates for all their vehicles."  No Dickinson plates have yet been found.

Fargo (14,331)

An ordinance was passed in June or July of 1906 requiring registration of automobiles and motorcycles for a fee of $2.  Three undated flat metal plates are known:

#101 is white on black with "FARGO" vertically at left, and "NO.

     DAK." vertically at right in a slightly staggered format.

#244 is white on black with "FARGO, N.DAK." arched across the top,

     the number flanked by rosettes!

#250 is white on red, 7" x 14", with "FARGO, N.D." arched across the

     top

Grand Forks (12,478)

An article in the Grand Forks Daily Herald on July 11, 1905, states that the automobile ordinance passed the night before, effective immediately.  Automobiles were to register with the City Auditor and display numbers 4 1/2 inches tall on the rear.  Another article on May 19, 1906, lists the 44 automobiles registered from #101 to #144.  As of April 20, 1909, owner-provided plates were still in effect.  The Grand Forks Herald reported on May 17, 1911, that "The city records show that there are 347 automobiles registered in Grand Forks..."

Jamestown (4,358)

According to articles in the Jamestown Weekly Alert, Ordinance #31 was passed on September 6, 1910, and published on September 8 and 15, 1910.  The ordinance required a city-issued plate with 4-inch-tall numbers (3 inches for motorcycles), "which license tag shall in addition to such number bear the words "Jamestown, N.D."  Registration would expire annually on September 1.  Non-residents were exempted as long as they displayed their home tag.

On September 8, 1910, the Alert discussed the ordinance as follows:  "Under its sections motor vehicles must carry tags with numbers; the individual licenses costs $2.50 cash; dealers receive 5 licenses and tags for $10; additional tags for dealers $2 each; annual renewal fees $1...Auditor Thompson has not received the automobile tags as yet and notice will be given when they arrive."  This infers that plates had been ordered already, so imagine the surprise when the next week's paper reported that there would be no tags!

The September 15, 1910, Alert stated that "The new city automobile ordinance is now in effect...but the tag section will not be enforced.  It is expected that a state law will be passed at the next session of the legislature, in 1911, which law will probably require automobile owners to procure state licenses and tags.  It is not thought fair to force Jamestown auto owners to buy a city license this fall, and next spring be compelled to procure a state license..."

Luckily, there was a change of fortune by September 22, 1910, when the Alert reported that "There was a special council meeting Wednesday night [September 21] at which several matters of interest were considered.  The matter of issuing license tags for autos came up and it was decided to have the ordinance in the matter put into effect this year.  The city auditor was instructed to procure the necessary licenses and they are expected to be ready for all auto owners by the first of next month."  The November 10, 1910, edition mentioned that at the city council meeting on November 7, several bills were approved to be paid, including one for $70.58 submitted by "The Enameled Steel Sign Co." for "251 auto tags."

It seems there was a long delay in starting issuance of these plates.  On March 16, 1911, the Alert announced that "City Auditor Thompson has sold three auto licenses, G. W. Kurtz being the first getting No. 101..."  In the same issue, the following notice appeared:  "The automobile ordinance was amended so that the expiration of the licenses...should be on January 1st of each year instead of September 1st."  City leaders must have felt that since the tags were so late in being issued, they should extend their period of validity to justify the fee.

Further articles reported the funds received each month from automobile license fees.  On April 6, 1911, "City auditor reported collections of $224, of which auto licenses amounted to...$220."  The May 4, 1911, edition listed "The report of City Auditor Thompson for April showing collection of...auto licenses $22.50..."  On June 8, 1911, it stated that "City Auditor A. R. Thompson gave his report for May as follows:  auto licenses $47.50..."

From the above financial reports, assuming that all funds were from individual private automobile licenses and not dealers, we can estimate the following numbers of plates issued:

March 1911    88

April 1911     9

May 1911      19

TOTAL        116

On June 29, 1911, the Alert reported that "If parties who have secured auto license tags from the city for autos, will mail an order to...the city auditor, to draw the refund license money...a receipt will be sent for the same...The refund for license tags will be $1.50 each, the balance being used up to pay for tags, etc."  It is unknown if plates had to be surrended to obtain the refund or not.

Minot (6,188)

An ordinance was passed on August 21, 1906, and published two days later in the Ward County Independent.  Owners of automobiles and motorcycles were required to register with the City Auditor, who issued a license.  "At the same time of issuing the said license the City Auditor will furnish to said licensee a number corresponding with the number of the license, which shall be of metal, with figures thereon not less than three inches in height..."  The plate was to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.  The license fee was $2 for one year, and the cost of the plate was $3, which was refundable upon return of the plate at the end of the year.  The expiration date was not mentioned.  Another article in the Independent announced on September 6, 1906, that "The city auditor has received the numbers for automobile drivers.  The first one to secure his number was Alderman McKoane."

The Ward County Independent of April 8, 1909, published the Auditor's report for April 1, 1908, through March 31, 1909, which showed $39 received for "Automobile licenses."  From this, we gather that 13 licenses were issued that year.  Another article on March 10, 1910, stated that "An ordinance was introduced by the city commission Monday, increasing the cost of automobile licenses to $5."  It is not known if this passed.

No Minot plates have yet been found.

Northwood (769)

City-issued plates are known from 1910 and 1911, both of which are in the same style as plates from Abilene, Kansas, and were manufactured by the J.P. Cooke Co. of Omaha, Nebraska.  Both years' plates are 6" x 8", embossed aluminum over a steel backing, and have "NORTHWOOD, N.D." arched above the year date at top.  1910 plates, black-on-aluminum, #114 to #120 are known, and 1911 plates, blue-on-aluminum, are known from #114 to #119.

Valley City (4,606)

An ordinance, passed June 7, 1909, required a $2 fee to the City Auditor, and a city-issued rear plate.  Numbers began at #1 each year.  Motorcycles were included.  Three plate issues are known:

1. Undated, Black on Aluminum, debossed, #11, "LICENSED" top,

   "VALLEY CITY, N.D." bottom.  (96 plates issued between #1 and

   #122.)  This is believed to be the 1909 issue, although the

   possibility exists that this tag could have been for some

   other type of license prior to 1909.

2. 1910, White on Blue, porcelain, #32 - 146, "VALLEY CITY" over

   "N.D." at top, date bottom, 5 1/2" x 10".  (108 plates issued;

   #150 reported.)

3. 1911, White on Red, porcelain, #128 - 150, same design and size

   as 1910.  (89 plates issued.)