Evening star., 1942-05-09
Run on Gasoline
Closes Many
SfationsHere
Some Sell Entire
Stocks as Motorists
Prepare for Sunday

An unprecedented rush on
gasoline as the Government pre-
pared to put its fuel rationing
program into effect threatened
today to leave Washington with
q gasless week end and to re-
strict motorists who failed to buy
before dealers exhausted their
supplies to a Sunday at home.
A number Of stations closed their
tanks to the public while those still
in operation, with few exceptions,
were limiting customers to from
three to five gallons each.
Meanwhile, Federal officials an
nounced that tentative revisions in
the gasoline rationing program for
the Eastern Seaboard would ex-
empt 81 counties in Maryland. Vir-
ginia. Pennsylvania, New York and
Florida, and all of West Virginia
except for eight counties.
None of the Maryland or Virginia
counties exempted was in the Met
ropolitan area.
Many Stations Closed.
Reports Of stations which had
closed for lack of gasoline in Wash
ington and the nearby area began
to come in at headquarters during
the morning, according to a spokes-
man for Gasoline Retailers of Wash
ington. Inc. This was true par
ticularly of dealers who heretofore
have kept their stations open on
Sunday.
In the face of this situation, the
American Automobile Association
advised motorists not to plan long
distance trips unless they have
full gasoline tank. In Falls Church.
Va. the A. A. A. reported, only one
station had gas on hand up to noon
and this dealer was limiting his sales
to so cents worth per customers
Many District dealers, too, feared
that they would be out of gasoline
by nightfall. Most OF these were
resorting to strict rationing in an
effort to stretch their service to
the public as long as possible.
Stations Shorten Hours.
All dealers except few in widely
scattered outlying areas reported
that they had felt rush of buyers
during the day. But, almost in
variably, those due to close Sunday
had not exhausted their supplies
and expected to be able to meet
limited demands until closing time
tonight.
As another move to meet the
emergency. one large chain Of sta
tions announced that it had reduced
its daily operating period from II
hours to II hours. Under this re-
duced schedule, an official said, its
customers should be able to obtain
a reduced supply from it until May
is, at which time another Today
quota will be available.
Another dealer, with more than
an average supply on hand, said he
was permitting customers to fill their
tanks If they demanded it, but that
in each instance the buyer was asked
to take not more than five gallons.
Other dealers with gas available
reported they were using their own
judgment as to the quantity sold
each customer, filling the tanks il
the need was imperative, but re-
stricting the quota to not more than
five gallons otherwise.
Many Counties Exempted.
Of1icials said the latest proposals
establishing boundaries in which
gasoline would be rationed elimi-
mated 10 counties in New York. &c
in Pennsylvania, one in Maryland, 10
in Virginia and 10 in Florida.
The counties, by States, include:
Northumberland.
Northumberland, Smyth, Washing
ton. Russell, Tazewell, Buchanan
Dickinson, Wise. Scott and Lee.
New York: Monroe, Livingston
Allegany, Orleans, Genesee. Wyo-
ming. Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara
and Chautauqua.
Pennsylvania: Potter. Clinton
Clearfield. Cambria, Somerset. Fay.
cite, Westmoreland, Indiana, Jeffer.
son. Elk, Mexican. Cameron, War.
ren, Forest, Clarion, Armstrong
Erie. Crawford, Venango, Butler
Mercer, Lawrence, Beaver, Allie.
gheny, Washington and Greene.
Florida: Jackson. Calhoun, Cult
Bay, Washington. Holmes, Walton
Okaloosa. Santa Rosa and Escambia
West Virginia: counties not ex
empted, Mineral. Grant, Pendleton
Hampshire, Hardy, Morgan, Berkele.
and jefferson.