Evening star., 1943-03-21

last night. The smaller figures are
based on driving an average of 2
miles in the District and II Eastern
Seaboard States and miles in other
States for inspections, while the
larger figures are computed on the
basis of driving miles in the short
age area and 10 miles in the nom
shortage area for inspections.
Mr.. Smith pointed out that pres
ent tire inspection regulations call
for two year for holders Of "A" ra-
ton books, three a year for "B"
books and four year for &C" books.
In his report, Mr.. Smith suggested
that one inspection a year for "a"
books, two for "B" and three for
"C'' books would be sufficient.
"A" Rations Reduced.
Adjusting his figures to the new
rationing cut announced last week
for holders of "a coupons, Mr.
Smith estimated that in the short
age area drivers could go annually
1,080 miles on an "A" rations, 5.6l6
on b" and 5.6l6 and more on &C"
In the other 81 States the motorists
can drive maximum of 1880 on
"a books, $500 on b" and $500
and up on &C" books.
On the basis of the required num-
Der of inspections and the maxi
mum mileage possible under various
ration book values, Mr.. Smith
argued that the maximum mileage
per tire inspection at present would
be as follows in the II Eastern
States: "A coupons, $40 miles;
b, 1872 miles, and &C" books, 1,73O
miles or more. In the 81 States of
the non shortage area similar fig
ures for each Of the three ration
coupons would be: a." LAO; b"
2,307, and &C." 1870 miles or more.
Certainly" Mr.. Smith declared,
"if one inspection every $40 miles is
required to insure proper care of
the tires of an "A" ration holder
living in the Eastern shortage area,
who at most can drive only 1890
miles per year, one such inspection
every 1872 miles or one every 2,307
miles is not sufficient for a b"
ration holder who can drive 5,6l6
miles or 6920 miles per year, depend
ing on the area in which he lives,
nor is such inspection every 1,404
or more miles or one every l730 Or
more miles sufficient for &C" ration
holder who can drive 5,616 plus miles
or $500 plus miles per year. de-
pending on the area in which he
lives.
Every 5000 Miles.
Before the days of gasoline and
tire shortages. a car owner who
changed tires from wheel to wheel in
order to insure even wear was con-
sidered especially careful if such
changes were made every 5000 miles
or about twice year under normal
mileages of 10000 to 10000 miles
per year"
Gasoline consumption and tire
wear by individual cars, due to un-
necessary tire inspections, consid-
cred for each car is Insignificant
However, when computed on the
basis of the total cars registered in
Just II States in the shortage area,
the volume of gasoline consumed
and the tire wear, reduced to an
equivalent number of tires worn out,
assume startling proportions"
From data from various sources
your committee finds that motorists
in the Eastern shortage area drive
about 2-5 miles and motorists in
the non-shortage area drive about
4 to 10 miles per tire inspection"
On the basis of the 2-mile drive
in the Eastern States and 4 miles
elsewhere, Mr.. Smith then esti-
mated the savings in car miles, gas
line used and the wear for every
inspection eliminated in the short
age area as follows: 20,351 ,878 miles.
l,356,792 gallons of gasoline used.