Evening star., 1943-05-09
Virginia Rationing
Boards Warn Tires
Must Be Conserved
Quotas for Arlington,
Fairfax and Alexandria
Cut Since May Order

Warning that the alarming
scarcity" of grade l and grade 8
tires would not abate until the re-
lease of more recapping camelback
or the appearance of synthetic tires,
officials of the Arlington, Alexandria
and Fairfax ration boards said yes
terday that mounted tires would
have to be conserved or cars would
necessarily be laid up in what they
termed "the most serious crisis we
have reached under tire rationing."
A representative of the tire in
dustry warned yesterday that pros
poets of civilian motorists getting
new tires were mot too rosy" de-
spite recent liberalization of ra-
tioning regulations. He said there
are only about 100000 grade 1 tires
available for the Nations automo-
biles and only about 100000 re-
capable tires available from among
those collected by the Defense Sup
plies Corp. last year.
According to Rubber Director
Jeffers, most civilians will not get
new tires for at least nine months.
Quotas Cut as Much as $50.
Quotas for the three Northern
Virginia boards have been drasti-
cally slashed since the May order
moving grade 2 (Victory) tires up
in the grade l brackets, officials
said, Fairfax suffering 66 per cent
cut and Arlington and Alexandria
SO per cent each.
Pointing out that the Virginia
quotas for grade l and 2 tires had
been cut 16 per cent. J. o. Morgan,
State mileage rationing representa-
tive. said he saw no hope of allie
waiting the scarcity of grade l tires
for the present unless regional and
national Offices were able to release
more through regular channels.
Although dealers may have tires,
he said, there is no knowledge of
the length of time over which they
will have to be dispersed.
Mr.. Morgan advised the use of
grade 3 tires tspares collected last
year., but check here with c. w.
Shacklett, Defense Supply Corp.
Official, shows that the availability
Of that tire is at its lowest level
Immediately usable tires form
only per cent of the 10000 seized
spares in the Washington area
warehouse, Mr.. Shackett said. Eighty
per cent are smooth-tread. recap
pable tires and the remainder are
scrap.
Recapping a Problem, Too.
However, the process of getting a
recapped grade 3 tire in the hands
of an applicant strikes a snag in the
already overtaxed facilities of local
recappers, their inability to obtain
camelback and their natural ten
dency to take retail business rather
than the recapping Of grade 3
tires for dealers, work which they
are compelled to do at 20 per cent
discount.
Mr. Shacklett saw some hope if
the discontinuance of grade 2 tires
released that rubber as camelback
to recappers and if synthetic tires
arrive on the market soon.
Northern Virginia ration officials
emphasized, however. that present
tires must be conserved, spared any
abuse and recapped whenever so
recommended by tire inspector.
Even if certificates are issued from
the small quotas, they warned, there
Is no assurance that tires will be
available. Boards cannot cancel out
standing certificates and issue new
ones on new quotas, nor can they
change grade certificates to grade
!, officials said
Second Tire Inspection Date.
Second tire inspections for C book
or bulk gasoline holders must be
completed by May 81, it was an
nounced, B book holders by June 30
and book holders by September 30.
Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax
boards will be closed to the public
Thursday, officials announced, in
order that personnel can attend
Northern Virginia Ration Board
meeting to be conducted by State
and national officials Issuance and
operation of war ration book 3 will
take up the morning meeting. and
the afternoon will be given over to
panel discussions on all commodi-
ties.