The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-10-01
Economic . f.
M9hA9hA
National and International Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare

National rationing of gasoline, as
recommended by the Baruch Commit
ltee, is not proposed because there is a
shortage of motor tuel. TO the con-
ltrary, there is an abundance of gaso-
line of all ordinary GRADES, and in the
producing areas the oil companies are
hardput for storage facilities. Gasoline
lrationing is to be imposed, instead, to
save rubber and 10 save rail and
Iwater transportation facilities for
lOther use.
At the present time gasoline is ra-
ltioned in II Eastern states. According
| to Leon Henderson, it will be extended
Ito the balance of the country on pre-
Icisely the same basis That means that
the average motOrsr will be entitled
Ito four gallons weekly enough to
carry him about 60 miles. Supplemental
allowances are given to essential
drivers. Practically all pleasure driv-
ling will be eliminated for the duration.
The effects of this will be felt most
great cities and heavily concentrated
populations, the motor car has not been
NEARLY so necessary as it is in the
West, where distances are vast and
cities are few and far between. Fur
lthermore, public transportation has
naturally attained higher state of
development in the big-population
lareaS. The street car and bus systems,
Ioutsde of the largest cities, are simply
mot adequate to handle the load that
has long been carried by private auto
mobiles.
Drastic restrictions on automobile
luSe will work a veritable revolution in
this nation. West Of the Mississippi,
lWhere distances are great and inter
lurban transportation limited, no one can
estimate the effect Of the slow down
THAT will occur. The motor car domi-
mated our fashion OF living ever since
the First World War. To millions of
people, the family car is practically
las necessary as food and shelter Dur
ling the tWenties and thirties, there was
Iin eyer-increaSing m gra t on away
| from towns and cities into suburbs.
Men and women lived ten or twenty or
more miles from their places of bust
mess Just how these people will get
back and forth now hat car operation
lis 10 be cut to the bone, is an I'M
answered question. IT is impossible for
1 hn ia ,.In Il, fnr
1.-THE reason that there are severe houS-
ling shortages in all areas which have
WAR industries of any kind.
The desirable solution to this prob
lem is to produce enough artificial rub
Der to keep our cars moving. But ii
Seems impossible TO find out Just how
IWelI or badly the synthetic rubber pro-
gram is doing. The oil industry is max
ling progress in The manufacture of
rubber from oil derivatives The tire
companies say that,.they can produce
tires from reclaimed rubber which will
lgiye fair service it driven slowly. 4
start is being made to produce another
kind of synthetic rubber from grain
ldlSollol. iloN'N'i' iiltlt .Ntflln hlllt
question but what he program in gen
leral is still moving too slowly - and
THAT is largely the fault of the govern
ment. No two high public officials have
been able to agree on just what should
be done. AS a result, it will probably
he II long time before anything re
lScnling even an emergency supply of
rubber is available for civilians.
Within the next year without rub
jber, transportation problems will be
come acute. Tires are really beginning
To wear out in volume now, and more
land more ears are going into dead
storage for laCk of rubber. This is go
ling 10 hit farm production in II crlti-
zeal manner. Street car and bus com
IpanicS are doing The best job possible,
for the most part, but they simply
haven't enough rolling stock to meet
| the need. lntcrurban transportation
was abandoned Iou@ ago in many parts
Iof the country, and the tracks We're
torn up. We in America depend al
most entirely ON The motor car for
IShort-haul transport. So the lack of
rubber remains our Number One do
lmostiC problem.
The argument goeS merrily on be
tween the air-pOWer enthusiasts and
those who think that the airplane,
Vital rs ii is, cant win war alone.
a.,