SiebenbuÌˆrgisch-Amerikanisches Volksblatt. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1917-1971, 1942-12-10
ECONOMIC HIGH.
LIGHTS

line, as recommended by the
Baruch Committee, is not pro-
posed because there is shortage
OF motor fuel. To the contrary.
there is an abundance of gaso-
line of all ordinary grades, and
in the producing areas the oil
companies are hard-put for stor-
age facilities, Gasoline rationing
is to be imposed, instead. to save
rubber-and td save rail and
water transportation facilities for
other uses.
At the present time, gasoline
is rationed in II Eastern states.
1t will now extended to the ba.
lance of the country on precisely
the same basis. That means that
the average motorist will be EN-
titled to four gallons weekly -
enough to carry him about 60
miles. Supplemental allowances
are given to "essential' drivers.
Practically all pleasure driving
will be eliminated for the dura-
ton OF the war.
The effects of this will be felt
most severely in the West. In
the East, with great cities and
heavily concentrated populations
the motor car has been nearly so
necessary as it is in the West.
where distances are vast and ci-
ties are few and far between.
Furthermore, public transporta-
ton has naturally attained
higher state of development in
the big population areas. The
street car and bus systems, out
side of the largest cities, are
simply not adequate to- handle
the load that has long been car
ried by private automobiles.
Drastic restrictions on auto
mobile use will work veritablc
revolution in this nation. West
Of the Mississippi, where distan-
ces are great and interurban
transportation limited, no one
can estimate the effect of the
showdown that will occur. The
motor car dominated our fashion
of living ever since the First
World war. To millions of peo.
pie, the family car is practically
as necessary as food and shelter
During the twenties and thirties,
there was an ever-increasing mi.
grafton away from towns and
;ities into suburbs. Men and wo-
men lived ten or twenty or more
miles from their places of busi-
ness. Just how these people will
get back and forth now that car
operation is to be cut to the bone,
an unanswered question. 1t is
impossible for them to move
closer to their jobs, for the rea.
son that there are severe hous.
ng shortages in all areas which
have war industries of any kind
The desirable solution to this
problem is to produce enough
artificial rubber to keep our cars
moving. But it seems impossible
find out just how well or bad
y the synthetic rubber program
doing. The oil industry is max
ng progress in the manufacture
If rubber from oil derivatives
The tire companies say that they
AN produce tires from reclaimed
'ubber which will give fair SER
ice if driven slowly. A start is
'eing made to produce another
iind of synthetic rubber from
srain alcohol. However, there
seems little question but what
he program in general is still
moving too slowly-and that is
argely the fault of the govern
nent. No two high public offic-
ais have been able to agree on
ust what should be done. AS a
esult, it will probably be a long
:ime before anything resembling
ven an emergency supply OF
'ubber is available for civilians.
Within the next year, without
ubber, transportation problems
Will hocnr,o ocpta T;roe ,ro ~o,1