The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-06-19
THE RUBBER SHORTAGE

OF all the war prODlemS VI Ina
terials the scarcity of rubber has
stepped out front as the most SER
ions and bothersome. Like patient
with a wound who develops pneu-
monia, the rubber situation has had
a relapse; doctors are buzzing busily
around the hospital bed, and every
body is worried.
The last sick-room reports go TINS
way: Price Administrator Hender-
son says our supply of crude rubber
will be exhausted by May, 1913; the
Senate Truman Committee declared
there would be no new or reclaimed
rubber for non-essential use for the
next three years; Chairman Jesse
Jones of the RFC stated that only
100000 tons of synthetic rubber
was in sight for 1943, to take care
of our 7OO,O00-ton need; the war
Production Board decreed that all
the synthetic rubber we can make
must go into the war effort. The
WPB added, like a troubled physl-
clan: "The rubber shortage is far
worse than most people seem to
realize.
The prescriptions of the rubber
M. DIS (there are seven official
ones) are harsh and drastic. JOY
riding is out-lawed; sightseeing
buses are banished; the country's
100000 motor trucks are severely
regulated as to loads, mileage and
services; passenger bus lines are
consolidated, runs restricted ana
special tire upkeep prescribed; taxis
and other rubber-tired carriers must
pool resources, accept more pas
sengers and make shorter runs;
the 30,OO0,OO0 private autos must
be shared with others, rationed on
gas, carefully kept and held ready
for Government requisitioning when
and If the moment comes. Rubber
for all transportation purposes-es-
sential, industrial and civilian
must be held down to 10000 tons,
declares WPB. This is 70 per cent
less than used for all civilian pur-
poses in 1941. Not only must the
public forego new golf balls, tennis
balls, hot water bottles and other
articles of rubber until 1914, but
must comb shed, cellar and attic
for every possible piece of old rub
Der to contribute to the Nations
stockpile.
The military need for rubber,
other than for tires, is greater and
more extensive than most OF us
ever dreamed. For instance, a bat
tleship of $4,000 tons requires $780,
900 pounds of rubber-enough to
equip 1000 automobiles with four
tires and a spare. A medium tank
takes 1850 pounds; Flying Fort
ress needs 1850 pounds; lotion
pontoon bridge requires 1900
pounds; the pneumatic RATS carried
by planes use 20 pounds each, and
every gas mask must have 1.S lbs.
of rubber.
Naturally the amount of rubber
used-and the amount left over
will depend on the number of ships,
planes, etc. built. The more the bet
ter. But the more, the less rubber
will remain.
The most hopeful source of a
large and ready supply of rubber
lies in salvaging. Scrap rubber can
be mixed with crude rubber to form
a compound usuable in many mill
tary as well as civilian products.
Jesse Jones estimated the Nations
stock of scrap at from 100000 to
100000 tons. It is being reclaim
ed, he said, at a rate of some
10000 tons a month, but it is hoped
to step up collections to $4,000
tons. Retaining plants process old
tires, tubes, rubber shoes, hose,
bathing caps and various other ar
ticles made of rubber. The flow of
scrap has greatly diminished since
Pearl Harbor, but when citizens
contribute the stream will no
don ht swal1 again Pathfinder