The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-12

1, rubber. Rubber makes the war
 machine roll, is vital in the opera
 tion of tanks and trucks and planes
 and warships. The Baruch Com
 mittee has warned that the conserv-
 ation of every ounce of rubber we
 have is a vital war responsibility
 that falls upon the government and
 the people alike. If we are to wea-
 ther the current shortage, America
 must use rubber sparingly and care fully-and reclaim all the scrap rub
 Der that can be found.
 Waste fats - here again is shortage brought about by Japan's swift and early victories. Before the
 war, we imported the bulk of our fats and oils from the Pacific area -cocoanut oil and copra from the Philippines, palm oil from the h. dies and Malaya, tung oil from China. To replace these lost sources, the output of hogs and acreage of crops with high fat-yield, such as peanuts, have been expanded rapid ly! In addition, a national fats sal- wage program is under way, with the aim of saving substantial portion of the two billion pounds normal annual waste.
 Nitro Glycerine An adequate supply of fats is es- sential to the war program. Their value in maintaining proper diet for both the armed forces and the civilian population is obvious. Fats and oils are the raw materials from which glycerine, the basic in- gredient of many of our explosives, Is rendered. Ten pounds of waste fat yield one pound of glycerine. With that amount of glycerine as base, two and one-Quarter pounds | of nitro-glycerine can be manufac- tured. Glycerine also is used in gun recoil mechaniSnS, forms a base and protective coating for arma- ments, and Is needed in the manu- lecture of other important war time equipment.
 If every homemaker in America | turns in the used cooking fats and l oils that normally would be wasted, in accordance with the carefully | planned salvage procedure, over a billion pounds year will be added | to the supplies available from the sources.
 Burlap is the material used in bags for potatoes, flour, sugar, ce- ment, feed for livestock, and host of other articles of widespread use. It is made principally of jute, an | import from India, and other Far Eastern countries. There is no do- mestic production of jute. Some cotton plants are being converted to produce a substitute called "osna- ourg", but the armed services and war industry need burlap now.
 Rags Valuable
 All ordinary rags, discarded cloth Ing, sheets, and towels are needed. Several retaining processes con- vert discarded woolen articles into yarn suitable for further and weaving. Cotton, linen. 'ilk, and part-wool rags can be used Or the manufacture of roofing felt, siding, and linoleum. Cotton is the .orm Of understanding, uphols- cry pads. and other non-cloth ma. jer1aIs, can be reclaimed and used again either for similar purposes or CT oclIulCse .r gunpowder. Certain ;otton and linen materials can be lsed in paper making.
 Furthermore, the war effort needs ust plain rags. Airplane and tank 'rewS need rags. Gun crews need ags. Workers in warplants need ags. There are endless uses for an ndleSS quantity.
 Waste paper is not needed for he time being. The call for this material that went out earlier this ear brought in such a large supply hat halt was called. If the paper nill supply drops again, however. as very well may, paper collections i'll begin again.
 The amount of scrap metal, rub CT, fats and greases, and other eeded items that reach the mills his year may well make the diff erence between victory and de- ween victory and defeat in crucial attles to ccaae. Salvage will be one the major responsibilities of the merican home front from now on ntil the war is over.