Evening star., 1943-02-28
100000 in D. {. Area
Failed 10 Obtain
Ration Book No. 7
1,l5l 900 Persons Sign
For Coupons Here During
Registration Lost Week

On the basis of estimated popu-
lation and total registration returns
In the District. Alexandria and the
four nearby counties of MARYLAND
and Virginia. there are still nearly
100000 residents Of the WASHINGTON
Metropolitan Area who have not OBJ
tanned their War Ration Book No. 2.
Altogether, about 1,151,000 persons
signed up during the mass registra-
ton which ended through the Met
ropolltan Area on Friday. according
70 final tabulationS made last night.
This total actually was 163 500 less
than registration officials had ex-
pected would apply.
A population estimate of 1850 900
FOR the Metropolitan Area has been
widely used by Federal agencies in
connection with the hospital eX-
panslon program here. Allowing Tor
probable increase. this figure ap-
peared to be consistent with an esti-
mate Of l,202.666 in Ma. 1912. re-
leased by the Census Bureau last
week.
$4,000 Less in District.
In the District alone. the total
number Of books issued was 1851.
about $4,000 less than rationing
officials had estimated.
According to Paul M. OIearv.
deputy administrator Of OPA. regis
tration throughout the Nation to-
tailed about 125,000,000. The lob of
signing up citizens was complete, he
said, in all but 2 few isolated places.
District residents who did not get
their new ration books will be given
a chance to apply for them at their
local boards after March IS How
soon the books will be issued to
them after they apply the District
OPA officer said. depends how busy
the boards are at that time.
Most Of those who failed to reg
lister were believed to be persons liv-
ing in rented rooms or boarding
houses and families who have
stocked up on sufficient canned
goods to see them through for a
substantial period.
Reiterate Warnings.
OPA officials reiterated previous
warnings. however, that the new ra-
ton book also would be necessary
soon for the purchase of meat and
possibly some other items. Further
more, they said it probably will have
to be presented if a third book is
issued, just as presentation of the
No. book is prerequisite to OBJ
tanning the No. 2 book.
OPA officials were generally en-
couraged over the manner in which
the registration was conducted
throughout the country last week.
"OPA received splendid co-opera-
tlon,' said MI. OLeary. Right
from the start the program had
the best kind of support. 1t came
from consumers, schools. newspa-
pers and trade journals, radio sta
tIons and radio networks. from
merchants, OCD workers and from
Chambers Of Commerce and other
civil organizations.
10000 Volunteers Aided.
The OPA official said about
100000 volunteer workers helped
the Nations school teachers in sign
Ing up what amounted to virtually
the whole civilian populace of the
United States.
He said the smoothness and eff
cheney with which the program was
handled could be attributed to the
experience which the schools had
gained through the registration for
the first ration book last Nav and
to the exercise of ingenuity by To-
cal rationing boards and registra-
ton officials, including the teach
ers and school principals.
The OPA said that registrations
had not yet been completed in New
York City, where the load became
so heavy that the time was ex-
tended into this week. In Northern
Minnesota and Michigan. roads were
reported blocked by snow. and local
boards were granted discretion to
sign up residents whenever the
weather permits.