Evening star., 1942-05-27

quired strict gasoline rationing in
the East and threats of the same
thing for other sections of the coun-
try to impress the public with the
Importance of saving their tires.
When the President, who Is IA
miliar with all aspects of the ques-
ton, says, therefore, that he thinks
q solution is in sight, it would be
most unfortunate if the public took
this as a signal to keep on using
tires as usual.
The outlook for substitute tires
depends on scientific developments
as we'll as on whether priorities for
the materials needed to build syn
thetic rubber plants for civilian use
can be authorized. Up to now, Off
cial Washington has been concerned
almost entirely with the conserva-
ton of rubber for military purposes.
1t Is clear that as of today there
Is no rubber in sight for civilian
use until after 1943. But there are
several things which may enter the
picture. The scientists may find
way to produce in quantity rub
Der that will be available for tires
to be used at 80 to 35 miles an hour
speeds. This Is contemplated now
but the question of how much ma
terials can be allocated for factories
that are to make civilian rubber de-
pends on how the war itself
progresses.
Question of Steel.
It takes steel, for instance, to make
ships and that's No. l priority.
But it also takes steel to build GER
tain machinery needed in synthetic
rubber manufacture. The same
thing is true Of machine tools.
There may come time when steel
can be allocated for purposes other
than immediate military needs or
when the piling up of goods on
wharves due to lack Of tonnage may
slow up production of certain mill
tary weapons. All this has bear
Ing on when materials for rubber
plants might become available.
The most important aspect. how
EVER, is scientific. There are many
processes. Some are costlier than
others. Some will require certain
basic materials needed in war activ-
tiles, and some can be supplied with
little change-over Of existing plants.
The Governments decision has to
be made as to what processes will
be encouraged and what ones will
be passed over. The military prob
lem has necessitated decision to
push every form of scientific en-
deavor, but when it comes to filling
civilian needs, it is natural that
there should be secondary consider
alton given.
But the political repercussions of
the rubber problem may possibly
force Congress to get behind some
program that can help out the ci-
villains. Members of Congress who
think alcohol that can be made from
grain should be used as a base in
making synthetic rubber already are
pushing that process. The scientists
are not clear yet as to what the diff
ferent programs can do or what the
costs will be. Many laymen in
Washington are offering opinions on
the subject, and there have been
lot of charges and countercharges
concerning delays.
Government Must Decide.
The fact remains, however, that
until some one perfects a process
which can be made at a relatively
low cost and the Government itself
gets behind the quantity manufac-
ture of synthetic rubber for civilian
use, the public had better conserve
very carefully and take most assur-
ances with a grain of salt.
The truth is that today there is
no synthetic rubber in sight for ci-
villains for another couple of years.
Maybe tomorrow or next month
someone will be able to announce
process that will give American con-
sumers tires for use toward the end
OF 1943. But even when process Is
discovered-and some Of the larger
companies think they have it now
1t remains for the Government to
make decisions as to whether it will
finance such manufacture and
whether 1t will set aside certain i'm
portant materials needed either in
the process itself or in the building
of the necessary plants.
AS a long-range prediction, 1t
might be assumed that American in
genuity somehow will solve the rub
Der problem for civilians, particu-