Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-20


which synthetic rubber is made
from corn-made butylcne glycol
the department said Until tn
process is developed to a pilot
plant or Semi-commercial scale
the chemists are making no pre-
dictionS.
Butylene glycol itself Is a rela
lively rare chemical with Severa
important war USES II also is uSeC
in the manufacture of anti-freez'
and commercial solvents
8 STEPS INVOLVED
The departments new process!
for its production involves the fer
mentation Of plentiful farm crops
such as corn and wheat. 1t alread,
Is being produced on a semi com
mercial scale.
Three steps would be involved
in the production Of rubber from
farm crops by this method-rav
agricultural material 10 butyiens
glycol. butylene gfycoi to buta
diene and butadiene 10 rubber. The
last step Is already known and the
major problem remaining Is con
version Of butyiene glycol to buta'
diene on a commercial scale.
One Of the laboratory officials
said the process means that we
have succeeded in making a cheap
rubberlike substance from Soybear
and corn oil that may fill some OF
the uses of rubber"
RUBBER SUPPLY AGENCY
The announcement came as
members of a Senate agriculture
subcommittee predicted Senate
passage this week Of proposed leg
islatiou for establishment of a rub
Der supply agency to handle syn
thetic rubber production from
farm products.
Chairman Guy M. Gillette Cd
Of Iowa said Senator Elmer
Thomas tD) Of Oklahoma would
bring the measure before the Sen
ate for consideration tomorrow.
Gillette also revealed that his SUBJ
committee has decided to pay nc
attention" to War Production
Board Chairman Donald M. Mel.
sons opposition to the measure.
Senate Republican Leader
Charles L. McNary Of Oregon saic
the bill lis the quickest route we
can travel to get essential rubber
II has a double value in that
il reduces surplus farm commodi
ties and conserves our oil re-
sources"
NELSON OPPOSED
The proposed legislation. de.
nounced by Nelson rs extremely
dangerx." would deprive the WIPE
of much of its control over thu
synthetic rubber program by es'
tahliShing a separate agency tC
utilize farm commodities in max
ing rubber substitutes.
Nelson's criticism was aimed al
a provision which would empower
the $4,000 a year director Of thu
agency to grant priorities on crit
cal materials to firms using agri
cultural products in manufacturing
butadiene.
Nelson has admitted that hi,
butadiene program. using oil. wa,
unsatisfactory; that 'if / were I,
start on this program again.
would allot so per cent Of thu
plants 10 rubber from alcohol"
SHOWDOWN SOUGHT
Meanwhile, Nelson, Arthur p
NewhaIl, the WIPES rubber car
and other WPB officials are re
ported TO be seeking a showdown
among the conflicting claims anc
charges on the rubber situation
Nelson has said that every ounc'
of rubber that can be channeleC
into military production will NEAR
a corresponding smaller loss o
life on the battlefield
Other experts" have testified
before congressional committee,
that there is enough rubber lyinl
around the nation in scrap piles e
take care of all OF the eSSentia
needs with a siZable portion lef
over for pleasure driving"
In a statement released today
Elliott +. Simpson, counsel for tn
House subcommittee on coinage
weights and measures, inveStigat
ing the rubber situation. said:
SHORTAGE MYTHICAL
I'm In favor Of synthetic rub
her as good insurance because
there IL really no rubber short
age, IL IL merely mythical
Keeping up this controversy
over the rubber situation Is hin
dering and impeding the war ef-
fort"
The present stock pile Of crude
rubber is the greatest in history
he said. and millions OF tons o
scrap are available.
He claimed more crude rrlbbeI
could be obtained from rubbel
bearing trees In this herniSpher,
than formerly was imported from
the Far East and that sufficien
rubber could be reclaimed iron
scrap 20 last through the war ant
10 meet postwar requirements.
DafroiT Poultry