Evening star., 1942-11-14
Only 108,098
Register Tires
In District
Figures Indicate D. G
Has Lost 29, 349 Cars
In Six Months

two days under the program t.
bring drivers here In line with thu
Nationwide system, registration
officials reported today.
Although 11,116 more motorist;
signed up yesterday than on Fri.
day, the two-day total fell short o1
earlier estimates and far below the
number that registered for thei,
permanent gasoline ration books ir
July.
Apparently the increasingly heavy
restrictions on automobile drivers
are taking their toll. Between May
when drivers received their first
rationing books, and July, 14,783
cars apparently dropped off District
streets. Totals in the most recent
registration show that another
1885 automobiles have disappeared
since July.
29,349 Cars Dropped.
In six months. therefore, it was
indicated the District had lost
29349 passenger cars.
The biggest rush on both Thurs
day and Friday was at Woodrow
wilson High School, where 1l,3O1
drivers signed up during the days
5,l57 on Thursday and 6,l44 yes
terday.
Yesterdays total at the % schools
deslenated as registration centers
was 59.607 as compared to 4S,491 on
Thursday.
Only $500 applications were with
held because the registrants said
they owned tires in excess of the five
permitted under Office of Price Ad-
minlstration regulations. Registrars
put aside 300 such applications on
Thursday and 1000 yesterday.
Registrars were kept much buster
yesterday than they were on Thurs
day. At a number of places teach
ers continued to receive applications
up to 10 p.m.-an hour beyond the
deadline.
The rush at Central High School
became so great that additional
registrars had to be sent to relieve
the pressure.
Although a steady stream of mo-
torlsts was being handled at most of
the schools during the morning and
early afternoon, the real press of
business didn't begin until 3 pm.
After that, registrars worked at TOP
speed until closing time.
Leary Commends Public.
The cooperation of the public in
submitting good-naturedly to the
third gasoline registration process
within six months was commended
last night by Whitney Leary, Dis
trict price administrator.
1T made possible" he said, "the
opportunity of getting the inspection
certificates into the hands of the
public so that they will be able to
have their cars inspected dur
ing the months of December and
January as required by the regula-
tions.
'The publics cooperation and
the great help received from the
schools have undoubtedly saved the
situation which threatened the fuel
rationing program and the issuance
"a oAPPiSAAiSilodl SuoOllllG IdIlOllS.
Mr.. Leary pointed out that in
many communities, the schools also
were used to handle the fuel oil
registrations, which are going on
simultaneously with the Nationwide
program to bring all American mo-
torists under uniform gasoline and
mileage rationing program. In Bal
tlmore, Mr.. Leary said, school teach
ers have been averaging three hours
overtime per day for the last two
weeks because of the fuel oil pro-
gram.
Handled by Mail Here.
Fuel oil registrations in the Dis
trict are being carried on through
the mail, with the local OPA staff
and large corps of volunteer work.
ers taking care of the details
Local OPA officials in each COM
munlty were allowed to set up their
own system Of registering appli-
cants. In many places, including
Maryland and Virginia, the process
Is being carried on by mail, with
autoists picking up their applica-
ton blanks at filling stations and
garages.
Mr. Leary said this system in the
District would have resulted in con-
siderable confusion because of the
fuel oil rationing program and delay
IN getting motorists prepared for the
nrst of the periodic tire inspections.
These inspections are to begin De-
cember /, and the first must be made
by January 81. Thereafter. every
"a and ID" book holder must have
his tires inspected once every four
months and those holding "B" and
&C" books as well must report to
tire inspection stations every so
days.
The locations of these stations in
the District will be announced with
in the next two or three weeks-in
time for the first motorists to have
their tires inspected on December |.
Warned to Report.
Mr.. Ieary warned these motorists
who had failed to register yester-
day or Thursday to report as soon
as possible to their area rationing
boards so that they will remain
eligible for gasoline rations.
Drivers who register by mail, Mr..
Leary said, stand coed chance of
being deprived of their rationing
privilege because it is doubtful that
area boards can return the inspec-
ton certificates to the drivers in
time for them to comply with the
regulations.
All day long yesterday and Thurs
day drivers could be observed in the
vicinity of the registration centers
kneeling to find the serial numbers
of their tires. In many instances
these serial numbers were on the in
side of the tire and it was necessary
for the applicants to crawl part way
under their cars to find them. A
number of drivers were compelled to
have filling station attendants find
the numbers for them.
Sometimes the numbers were near
" obliterated or entirely non-exist-
ent, as on retreaded tires. In such