Evening star., 1942-05-12
Public Aid Urgent
In Rubber Crisis
Goodyear Official Decries
Apothy Of Some Drivers
Regarding Tires

| To the Editor Of The Star:
I am becoming greatly concerned over
| the failure Of large section Of the auto
mobile-owning public to take the rubber
situation to heart and I have decided to
take this means Of presenting q view
| point to q number Of the country's lead
ing editors in the hope that it may
contribute to the background knowledge
of those on whom the public depends for
guidance in such matters.
These basic facts are inescapable:
l. This is war Of swift movement.
The mobility of our mechanized equip
ment depends in large measure upon
rubber treadS and tires.
2. Unless our striking force is as swift
as that OF the enemy, we are at distinct
and possibly fatal disadvantage in actual
combat. Rubber therefore becomes as
indispensable as powder and bullets in
the winning Of the war.
8. large percentage of the workers
engaged in our war industries must de-
pend upon private transportation to get
to and from their jobs.
4. The source of 95 per cent of our
normal supply of crude rubber is in
Malaga and the East Indies, now held
by the Japanese.
Now, keeping those four points In
mind, let us think for a moment of the
rubber that is available to us. Our
national stockpile Of crude rubber, which
we accumulated under the direction
OF the Rubber Reserve Corp. before
our source Of supply was shut off, con-
sists Of some 100000 tons. That amount
approximates one years normal con-
sumption in non-military uses. But 1t
is all we have and we can't get any
more from our main source until the
Japanese are driven out or the war
Is over. Furthermore We must share 1t
fairly with our Allied nations.
While that 100000 tons holds out. we
must move with all possible speed toward
the creation Of facilities for the guam
tity production OF synthetic rubber. This
presents problems of great compleMty.
Although our chemists have the know
how and some OF our plants are already
In operation, there is no likelihood that
any Of this synthetic will be available
for tires not used in our war economy
during the next two or three years.
Our scrap piles can be made to yield
something in excess of 350,OOO tons of
reclaim annually for the next three
years. Tires and other rubber products
made from reclaim are inferior, but even
so they will keep wheels rolling, and
control Of this reservoir quite properly
has been taken over by the Government
along with the stockpiles of natural
crude.
There are recurrent reports about in
creasing rubber shipments from Brazil
and other countries of South and Gen.
trail America. This. of course, should
and will be done. But the best attain
able results will be pitifully small and
slow in developing.
Then we hear Of developing sources
through the cultivation of milkweed
and desert shrubs. Here again the best
possible yields will be but drop in the
bucket.
Our greatest single reserve is the mil
lion long tons of rubber now in the
tires Of the 100000 privately-owned
automobiles. It has q vital function to
perform. Our war production and most
other phases Of our internal economy
depend upon the transportation which
is made possible by these privately
owned tires.
Manifestly this reserve must be con-
served just as carefully as our crude,
synthetic or scrap. When the privately
owned tires begin to wear out, privately
owned cars go out of commission and
essential transportation for war workers
and other civilians will suffer. This in
turn will directly affect our war produc-
ton and many other phases of our
national life.
This picture is as clear as it Is un-
pleasant.
The amount Of rubber available for
all purposes is practically fixed and
known quantity. 1t probably is much
less rather than more than the real
needs OF country at war. And we
must share it with our Allies.
There Is not an ounce of rubber
to be wasted. Any one who does waste
rubber, through fast driving, unnec-
essary driving or in any other manner,
is definitely weakening the position of
America and the United Nations.
I realize that the public wants to
believe that "some way" will be found
to cure the situation before the worst
happens. But wishful thinking can't
alter the hard facts. There simply can't
be any material relaxation of existing
restrictions of rubber for civilian use
until we whip the enemy or have him
at the brink Of defeat.
My convictions in this matter are based
upon more than 40 years in the rubber
industry and a close familiarity with
every major step contemplated or being
taken today.
Highways crowded with fast Sunday
drivers, parking grounds filled with cars
whose owners could have used public
transportation facilities, many empty