Evening star., 1942-09-10
Continued From Page 2-X)

the program is tagging behind the
styrene and polymerization capac-
ity. Thus, any delay in getting the
greatest possible butadiene produc-
tion directly reduces the amount of
synthetic rubber that will be pro-
sduced.
No Independent Experts.
The production of synthetic rub
Der represents an investment ex-
ceeding $500 100000 and is one of
the most complicated technical
projects ever undertaken in this
country. Yet, in none of the Gov
eminent agencies has there been a
clearly recognized group of inde-
pendent experts to make the tech
nical decisions. Reliance has been
placed on one part-time technical
adviser aided by committees drawn
from industry.
This technical adviser has testi-
fed that on more than one occa-
sion he requested the appointment
OF an adequate technical staff, in
vain. The committee has found
many evidences of procedures bor-
dering on the chaotic in which nom
technical men have made decisions
without consulting with subordi-
mates nominally in the positions of
responsibility.
There have been many adjust
ments and readjustments in the
synthetic rubber program Some of
these were inevitable. Some appear
to be the result of bad administra-
ton.
Russian Help Not Asked.
One example of inexplicable ad-
mlnlstration that we can mention is
the failure to obtain detailed techni-
cal information concerning the ex-
perience of Soviet Russia in making
synthetic rubber. Russia has been
manufacturing synthetic rubber sue
cessfully for more than 10 years.
Had the offer of the Soviet govern
ment made in February to exchange
fuh information been accepted, it
is conceivable that plants for pro-
ducing synthetic rubber by the Rus
sian processes might well be on the
way to completion.
To date we have no detailed in
formation as to the Russian ex-
perience, nor analysis of Russian
tires. We feel this information
should still be obtained.
Restrictive Secrecy.
One of the more critical battles
that must be won is in the COM
pounding of synthetic rubber. Syn
thetlc rubber requires more time
and effort to fabricate into tires
about one-third less in efficiency is
reported. While tires for light pas
ssenger cars can be made entirely
out OF buna-S, thus far in the manu-
Sfacture of combat and heavy duty
tires, which represent about 10 per
cent of the Army's requirements, a
good percentage of crude natural
rubber must still be used.
AS long as crude rubber must be
mixed with buna-S, we do not care
to cut too deeply into our stocks
of crude RUBBER minimum carry
over into 1914 of 100000 tons is vital.
However, the dissemination of
technical information on the COM
pounding of buna-S to all rubber
to all rubber companies has become
an accomplished fact only in the
last few days. On July 3 of this
year an agreement was entered into
between the Rubber Reserve Co. and
four large rubber companies, by
which Rubber Reserve alone was
permitted to give out information
on compromising to other companies.
!: 1t took six weeks OF repeated effort
FOR the rubber branch of the War
Production Board, desiring to launch
program of education throughout
. the industry, to get this vital in
formation released by the Rubber
Reserve,