Evening star., 1942-07-09
Districts Rubber Drive Showing
Based on Many Factors
Apartment Life and Absence Of Industry
Reduce Per Copito Contribution

were not available but census COM
pilations provided no basis for the
conclusion that the ratio here is any
higher than in Boston, for example,
or st. Louis or San Francisco.
Cars Numerous in District.
Similarly, some thought that
Washington has an extraordinarily
large number Of cars per individual
and that there should be, therefore,
a correspondingly large contribution
in tires and tubes Statistics show,
however, that California, a large
rubber contributor, has a car for
every 2.3 persons The Districts
approximate rate is l to 38. Cars
are more numerous in relation to the
population in Ohio and Rhode
Island, for example, in both of which
the ratio is about l to 3.5. The
figure in New York, where dona-
tions are low, is to At.
Dealers and students of the rub
ber trade say that scrap collections
in the past have been centered
around areas near reclaiming plants
where collection and transporta-
ton costs made it profitable for
junk dealers to gather in the waste
material.
These dealers made periodic trips
to tire stores, garages and industrial
sites to pick up scrap. But that
practice has not been in existence
in the West, with the result that
cast-off tires and tubes should be
lying around in far greater quanti-
ties.
Rationing . Factor.
Another factor tending to deter
Eastern contributions is the influ-
ence of gasoline rationing. It's first
effect, it was thought, would be as
a hindrance to the Eastern farm
population in bringing in its scrap.
Chairman William r. Boyd, jr.,
of the Petroleum Council thought
that the prospect of Nation wide
rationing IN the event the Presi-
dents drive should fail spurred
States west of the Atlantic seaboard
to greater effort. A rubber COM
pany official believed that ration
ing produced psychological fac
tor" tending to cause Fasteners to
hang on to their tires more tenaci-
ously.
A Government official said that,
while tire rationing is in effect
throughout the country, the fact
that there are ample gasoline sup
plies in the Western areas would
tend to increase driving. thus in
creasing tire mortality. This, how
ever, would show up more over a
long pull" than during a whiflwind
rubber roundup, he said.
Apathy Is Discounted.
Two possible explanations remain
faulty organization and public
apathy-and officials discount both
of these.
Mr.. Boyd was of the opinion that
the West was better organized and
got off to better start when the
campaign began June Is. Eastern
States have shown a rapid improve
ment, however. There have been
weak spots" he conceded, pointing
out that the drive was organized on
three days notice, but he contended
that operations have been "on the
whole remarkab ble."
District salvage officials believe
that cooperation here on the part
Of civic, patriotic, youth and other
organizations has been splendid ;"
They deny there has been any large
amount of public sleepiness in Civ
ing up rubber articles.
One thing lacking in the Wash
ington campaign-as well as many
other cities-was house toulouse
collection effort. Door, knocking
campaigns on a limited scale in the
District have produced surprising
amounts of rubber. 1t was pointed
out, however, that a thorough COW
erage. Of city in that manner is
difficult to organize on short notice
and District officials sought, by es-
tablishing over LOO collection depots
throughout the area, to provide an
effective substitute.