Evening star., 1942-03-14
Roosevelt Asks
.4O.Mi|e Speed
To Save Rubber
Governors Urged
To Fix Limits as
War Measure

President Roosevelt today
asked State governors to limit
automobile speeds to a maximum
of 40 miles per hour and to re-
quire regular inspection of tires
in order to help conserve rubber.
In identical letters to the various
governors, the President pointed out
that the situation in the Far East
makes it very necessary for the
successful prosecution of the war
effort TO do everything possible to
make present supplies of rubber last
the longest possible time.
If individual motorists take prop
er conservation measures for their
own tires, the President said, tires
will last much longer, tires will run
much farther and civilian life will
be less disturbed because of lack of
sufficient transportation facilities"
Would Curtail Waste.
He suggested a maximum speed
limit of 40 miles per hour in order
to curtaE~A~ "sr svfs1sess rubber
caused by fast driving. and proposed
frequent checking &C tires in order
to insure their repair. or, where
possible, retreading at the proper
time"
Stephen r Early, White House
press secretary, told reporters that
I 10 ~
| imply that rubber would be avail
able for retreading of ordinary
civilians tires at any time soon.
The Presidents letter was not sent
| to the District Commissioners. pre-
! suma bly, because the speed limit in
the District already is under the
! suggested 40-mile- -per-hour maxi
mum White House officials we're
uncertain as to whether any special
/ suggestion would be made to District
officials concerning tire inspection.
/ Text of Mr.. Roosevelt's letter to
the State Governors follows:
"As you know, we are doing every
thing possible to conserve rubber.
The situation in the Far East makes
this very necessary for the success
/ full prosecution of the war effort.
1T has been said that large
part of our rubber stock-pile is on
the wheels of the more than 30.000,-
/ 900 motor vehicles of the country.
If this stock-pile is conserved by
the individual motoriSt. as We are
endeavoring to conserve the national
stock-pile. tires will last much
longer, cars will run much farther
and civilian life will be less dis
turbed because Of lack of sufficient
transportation facilities.
Fast Driving Costs Rubber.
Rubber experts agree that fast
driving wastes rubber and that tires
run many more miles when driven
at limited rates of speed. May I
/ suggest that this waste could be cur
/ tailed to the advantage of the indi-
vidual motorist and likewise to the
advantage of the country, if the
/ speed of all motor vehicles were lin
tied to maximum of 40 miles per
hour and if regulations we're pro-
{ lOdulI lIIs CllcCh-
ing of tires in order to insure their
repair or. where possible. retreading
at the proper time. I would greatly
appreciate your cooperation in an
effort to achieve these detectives
throughout the country.
The tire rationing program. so
recently established by the Office of
Price Administration. has been a
marked success and has met with
ready acceptance throughout the
United States. largely because of the
enthusiastic cooperation and par
ticipation on the part of Governors
and their State Defense Councils.
Reduction of speed limits and regu-
lar inspection Of tires constitute an
other important means of Federal
State cooperation in the war effort"