The sun., 1918-09-02
HARDLY
IN VIOLATION OF
GASOLINE RULE
New York Helps Make the
World Safe for Democracy
and Pedestrians.
MILLION GALLONS SAVED
Streets and Highways Recall
Days When Automobile
Was a CuriosityI
MILLION GALLONS SAVED

Public opinion, operating with the
potency Of a Presidential mandate.
whisked private motor cars from the
streets of New York yesterday, with
drawing such luxuries also from all OF
the tempting highways and byways on
one of the most alluring days Of the
year.
At scarcely more than hint from the
Government-merely a statement that
gasolene reserves for the army and the
navy were being dangerously reduced.
and a request that pleasure motoring be
abandoned a few Sundays--car owners
and renters kept their cars in garage
They stayed at home or. II they went
out at all, used Shanks' Mare. or trav-
elled in the conveyances provided by the
poet Shonts.
Observance OF the Fuel Administra-
tion's request tfor Or. GARFIELD was At It
again) was remarkably generous and
am,able. Here and there among hun
dreds of thousands Of possessors OF prt-
yate cars there were thick skinned ana
selnsh souls who rode out callously.
though these were by no means inssn-
sible to the jeers that harried them but
the great majority eagerly acceded TO
the plea from Washington and put their
fun in their pocket.
WILLINGNESS IL Significant.
Figures will reveal In a day or 30. no
doubt, what actual saving was accom-
plished Of gasolene. that must De
hoarded for the tanks and the motor
Iorries of the army and for the destroy
ers and submarines of the navy (not 10
mention a hundred other military uses)'
hut A. C. Bedford. chairman Of the Ma
,ional Petroleum War Service Commit-
,se estimated for THE SUN last night
that at least 900 900 gallons were saved
In and Immediately around new io'N
city alone, and he believed the saving
for the whole district east OF the Missis-
sippi would run to maybe 7'ooo'ooo
gallons.
But the good accomplished could not
be figured altogether on the practieai
aide as Mr.. Bedford noted for he saw
In the smiling unanimity OF the accept
ancs of the request public attitude tnat
NAV he depended upon for evea larger
sacriSces in the future. And among
these sacrifices urgently suggested oy
Mr.. Bedford Is the curtaiiment OF the
use Of private motor cars week days as
well as on Sundays-
Observance Of DR.. Garfield's rideless
Sunday appeal was much more general
than anticipated. This was indicated In
messages received last night from the
section Of the country east OF the MIS-
s,sippi River. The saving in gasolene
Is estimated to have been between seven
hn tQttn
Sunday consumption being more than
10000, 900 gallons. The amount OF gaso-
Iene used by the American armies In
Franco Is little less than 100000
gallons a day.
Every administrative edict or request
in these war days produces interesting
even startling, phenomena In the life OF
a city like New York. as when Dr. Gar
field last January froze all JOY and
caused millions to huddle in a primitive
passion for warmth. Yesterdays reac-
tion to the plea for a gasless day was
accompanied by thousand curious dis
locations of habit. a thousand striking
or amusing variations from normal. One
is so used to thinking OF the motor cal
as a symbol of the twentieth century
the waving OF a magic wand or the NUT
tsring Of some abracadabra no littleo
the twentieth century goes with 1t.
Step Back 10 Last Century.
Yesterday, indeed. one walking In Cen
tral Park, along Riverside Drive. at thu
edge of the Grand Concourse-anywher
that cars were wont to ramp and rave
on the Sabbath--felt translated bacl
nan marvelled at the occasional appear
ance of the unfamiliar conttaption callet
4 automobile.
Not I'm twenty years surely have 81
few passenger cars been seen In tn
streets of New York or In the handsom,
bouievards and parkways leading from
the city to the villages of Long Island
at braving, definite public opinion. rea
desire to serve the nation. a very quicl
and intelligent comprehension of the ne
cessity Of saving gasolene In order tina
the big job of winding up the concern o
Hohenzollern. krupp & Co might tn
more speedily be accomplished con
strained or inspired people with cars I,
ignore them and to take their pleasure fl
simpler. more old fashioned ways
Joy riding stopped literally with tn
effect Of paralysis. This applied no: oaI,
10 the thousands fortunate enough L
oyn thei.' own cars, but to the othe
thousan nds accustomed to hire tourlnl
cars or 20 contribute 20 the receipts O
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