Evening star., 1942-09-05

shortage OF scrap is discussed in
this article by the president OF
the Lukens Steel Co. and chair
man of the American Industries
SalDnge Committee.
BY ROBERT w. WOLCOTT,
Chairman. American Industries Salvage
Committee.
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.-The need
for scrap metal is becoming desper-
ate. We are short of scrap now
We will be shorter still this winter,
unless We beat winter to our rich
sources of scrap, open hearth steel
furnaces will close down and pro-
duction of tanks, planes, ships and
guns will slow up-this at the very
moment when big production push
may win the war
Right now we have only a two
weeks supply of scrap at the steel
mills. We need more-must have
more. The danger we face is new to
Americans, but it is real True, we
are now producing three tons of
steel for every two tons the AXIS can
turn out. But the enormous steel
production has drained off steel and
iron scrap, which makes up half the
content of finished steel.
We've got to build back that
stockpile Of metal scrap, and do it
quickly, America has met every
war challenge up to now. We can
meet this one, too, but only if every
home, every farm, every industry
pours cast-off goods made of iron
and steel into the hungry hearths
OF steel furnaces. The War Pro-
auction Board has launched a ma
tional salvage campaign to bring out
this scrap and hurry it to the mills
Every American can help.
Other Industries in Need.
Other industries face similar prob
lens, for in addition to scrap iron
and steel, increased quantities must
be found of rubber, fats. rags, non
ferrous metals, rope and burlap.
In the steel industry, many OPEN
hearth furnaces will definitely close
down in early winter unless the
national salvage campaign scores a
smashing victory. The enemy we
face here at home is within our
selves-American indifference to
waste. We've been accustomed to
the highest standard of living in
the world. When something broke,
we threw it away and forgot
about 1t.
Today the situation has changed.
There is crying necessity to con-
serve and salvage all metals and
other materials to support our men
on the battle fronts with the tools
pf war. 1t is ironic, but it is true
lack of the things we've thrown
away IN our rich, careless, happy
go-lucky American fashion, can lose
this war.
Suppose we took a drop of only
j per cent in steel production. On
the present basis of operations, that
would mean loss of 100000 tons a
year, the equivalent of 140 cargo
boats of 10000 tons capacity each.
Public Called On. rn
But suppose we don't drop. Sup
pose you and I prevent 1t by going
through our homes and bringing
forth our share of the millions of
tons OF dormant scrap that lies
around, waiting for us to pick it up
and hand it over to Uncle Sam for
war. I mean such things as an
old water heater, discarded auto.
a broken stove, toys, sleds, flatirons,
laWrlmowers-rlo matter how broken
and rusty-they're needed.
We are asked to make a room
to-room survey from cellar to attic,
with an eye open for material that
can be scrapped. Barns, toolsheds.
pasture lots, garages - these are
above-the-ground mines rich with
scrap. Factories now are being sur
veyed to the same purpose by SAL
wage managers. Old street railroads
are being torn up. German cannon
captured in World War I are being
turned over by the American Leg
ion and other groups.
In thousands of communities in the
United States, general salvage
committee has been set up bv the
WPB Conservation Division. In
the 400 principal industrial COM
munities, the WPB is organizing
to seek factory, mine and mill scrap.
1t is essential for every citizen, from
householder to factory manager, to
work closely with these committees.
which function under the war pro-
ouctlon boards, so that precious
time will not be lost in getting in
the scrap.
Dig Out the Scrap.
Victory will be made from steel
Steel must be made from scrap. The
duty Of every civilian is obvious
and clear. Thinking about the Short
age OF scrap is not the answer. The
task is to dig out the scrap wherever
1t may be.
That broken piece of metal that
you turn In may not be the whole
answer to victory or defeat. 1t NAV,
however, supply some soldier at a
machine gun with that extra round
Of ammunition that holds a vital point
1t may be the answer to having the
one extra plane at the right place
at the right time. It may go into
the making of the helmet that saves
some loved one in battle.
This is a war into which we must
pour our every available resource
Salvage is not the whole answer to
victory. But it is one of the con-
ditions we must fulfill if we are not
to lack the equipment with which
to fight. Americans are going tc
have to decide whether our men or
the battlefront are going to get the
weapons they must have to wir
this war.
tReleased by North American Newspape
Alliance, lncl