Evening star., 1942-07-22
Two Years Normal
Rubber Supply for
Civilians Foreseen
Salvage and New Plan
Of Industry Give Rise
To Hope Of Relief

New developments in the rubber
situation, once considered so critical
that Nation-w wide gasoline rationing
was contemplated as a conservation
measure, today held forth the pos
sibility that essential civilian driv-
ing may be continued for two more
years.
The main new factors were:
l. The report of thu Petroleum In
dustry War Council that the rubbe,
salvage campaign netted 454,155 tons
of rubber.
2. A plan advanced! by the rubber
industry for manufacture of form
of artificial rubber using ingredients
of which there is, for the most part,
no shortage.
3. A prediction by Senator Norris,
independent, OF Nebraska that the
program of synthetic rubber pro-
duction would be expanded from the
800, ,000-ton annual capacity now
planned to 100000 tons.
Problem Still Serious.
Ofiicials emphasized that the rub
ber problem is still one of the most
serious confronting the Govern
ment in it's war effort.
The Petroleum Councils report
of rubber collections from June Is
through July 10 gave the country
its first accurate picture of its avail
able scrap rubber-which may be
reclaimed and used as substitute
for many war purposes.
Washington, the report disclosed,
contributed 1901 tons or 3.29 pounds
per capita; Maryland, 4,447 tons or
4.88 pounds per capita, and Vir-
ginia, 7,155 tons or 5.34 pounds per
capita.
The District was 48th In the list OF
States and Territories in donations
per individual. Maryland was seth
and Virginia 36th.
Aid to Planning.
War Production Chief Donald M
Nelson commented that the volume
of the collection gives us a much
better picture of om. scrap rubber
inventory so that more positive
planning can now be accomplished
on the whole production schedule
1t increases very substantially
the country's stock pile of reclaim
able rubber, he added, but urged
continued efforts to bring in all
metals and remaining available rub
Der to keep essential war pro-
duction plants running to capacity"
In another move to provide new
supplies of rubber, the United States
concluded yesterday an agreement
with Ecuador to buy all the rubber
that country can produce and spare
in the next five years.
Stocks Available Now.
Several hundred tons now in
warehouses will be available i'm
mediately, it was understood.
Similar agreements are in effect
with Brazil, PERT, Nicaragua, Costa
Rica, Columbia and Bolivia.
The Senate today was to take up
the controversy over g. measure, op-
posed by Mr.. Nelson, to establish a
separate agency to promote produc-
ton of synthetic rubber from grain
alcohol
Thiokol, its producers assert, can
be manufactured quickly and in al
most any desired amount. They list
as further advantages that relatively
plentiful and non-strategic materials
are used and that the necessary
plant facilities can be constructed
largely Of cast iron and wood, both
of which are readily available.
DR.. j. C. Patrick, research director
of the Thiokol Corp. of Trenton,
N. j., has said that motorists could
expect between 5000 and 10000 miles
of wear at 40-mile speed from
thiokol retreaded tires. The chemical
compound is manufactured by the
Dow Chemical Co in Midland Mich,
for the Thiokol Corp.