Evening star., 1942-06-16
Rubber
Continued From First Page

were lacking, but private surveys
brought from some station operators
the reply, very little" when asked
about contributions received.
Five service stations picked at
random by The Star reported dona-
tions ranging from 5 pounds to 100
pounds The station reporting the
largest amount said the scrap was
brought in by only three persons.
The average was about 43 pounds
per station.
Five shoe repair shops reported
that not a single individual had
brought scrap rubber to them. al
though all of them were saving the
heels and rubber soles from the
shoes they repair.
approximately $50 service stations,
400 shoe shops, about 80 garages
which are members of the Automo-
tive Trade Association, police sta
tions and fire halls have been desig-
mated as neighborhood depots, where
the scrap, necessary to make q coun-
try-wide inventory Of waste rubber
resources, may be deposited.
On the basis Of the first incom-
plete reports, the filling stations
would gather in around 10000
pounds of scrap day, which, spread
over the 16-day campaign, would
total around 800 900 pounds-far
below the 2y000, ,000- pound goal set
informally by officials Of the District
Salvage Committee.
The figures do not include rub
Der that may have been sold direct
to dealers, such as scrap from in
dustrial plants. In addition, the
accumulations by shoe shops should
net a considerable amount.
The Associated Press reported
that Virginia's campaign got off to
a slow start, but of1cials predicted
it would gain momentum. Reports
from Norfolk. Lynchburg and Ro-
anoke were disappointing, 1t was
said.
In Maryland, the Associated Press
said. initial contributions also were
small, but ofncials anticipated in
creased quantities as the drive pro-
crosses.
Sponsors said the campaign was
launched quickly with little advance
information and that housewives,
storekeepers and others were caught
"off balance
Takoma Park Council Acts.
At Takoma Park, Md, the Town
Council approved a proclamation by
Mayor Oliver w. Youngblood urging
every patriotic citizen to 60 through
his home and place of business to
gather therefrom every available
scrap of rubber and to take such
rubber Immediately to the gasoline
stations in your neighborhood."
In New York, Sol Herzog, counsel
for the Eastern States Gasoline
Dealers Association, said he believed
the initial collections were slow be-
cause this was dumped on the
dealers so quickly and without prep
aration that they were unable to
make any plans"
In Washington, salvage officials
planned a continuation of the effort
to arouse the public to q room-to-
room search Of homes for the hot
water bottles, rubber toys, old shoes
and other scrap rubber, which when
totaled throughout the country, may
decide how much driving motorists
may do in the next few years.
Gasoline rationing may be forced
on the Nation as q means Of con-
serving tires If the volume of scrap
used mainly for retreading-is too
small.
Although contributors are en-
titled to cent a pound for the
rubber they turn in to filling sta
tions, few persons were asking for it,
operators said. The price will not
be paid at other collection depots.
Auto Mats Sought.
One of the most lucrative sup
plies Of scrap rubber appeared to
be the mats covering the floors of
automobile rumble seats and trunk
compartments.
The Baltimore Sun published an
estimate that 10000 tons could be
e6ASoAAC0 tAAOu6AAOut tIlC SOulltTy
from this source and contended the
mats are unnecessary to the opera
tion of The car or the comfort of
the passengers.
Rubber experts at the Bureau of
Standards were doubtful that such
rubber could be used to recap tires,
but said the range of uses for
rubber is so broad that these items
should be contributed nevertheless.
Mats, it was explained, usually are
made of reclaimed rubber and their
utility after a second reprocessing
is far below that of scrap which has
been used only once.
Indicative Of the types of steps
which can be taken by Government
agencies and private business estsb-
lishments to increase the now of
waste rubber was the order Of
George w. Morgan, supply o1icer ut
the Library of Congress.
He asked division chiefs to collect