Evening star., 1943-01-31
New Synthetic Rubber
For Public Unlikely
Until Late in 1914
But Reclaimed Supply
Will Lost Long Period,
Officials Indicate
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,

Although there will be no rub
Der for civilian automobile tires
in the portion of the synthetic
program to be rushed to compile
ton under the new top priorities
for plant equipment, officials in
dicated yesterday that the Ma
tion's stockpile of reclaimed
rubber was sufficiently large to
keep essential cars rolling for a
long period,
An estimated six-month supply
of reclaimed is already on hand
officials believe that considerably
more can be cleaned through future
Nationwide salvage drives. In ad-
I ditlon, all returns are yet to be
appraised from the Governments
order of last fall compelling motor
lists to turn in all over five tires
in their possession.
Civilians. however, can expect no
help in the way of new synthetic
rubber until perhaps late in 1914
when the last portion of the rubber
program is expected to be in pro-
duction. Motorists who can show
operation of their cars is essential
will have to limp" along with
recaps and new tires made with
reclaimed material with a little
crude rubber mixed in to hold them
together.
Face Difficult Problem.
Ofhclals admitted they faced a
difficult job in stretching supplies
of reclaimed rubber until such time
as there will be synthetics available
for civilians. A Nation wide ban
on pleasure driving to save rubber
was described as very real possi-
bility, though Rubber Director VIII
liam M. Jeffers said he would not
invoke such an order except as a
last resort. Mr.. Jeffers, however,
Will take no chances and admitted
the action might be necessary next
summer when the public starts
driving. to ball parks, beaches and
other places of recreation"
Meanwhile, Mr.. Jeffers is sched.
uled to appear tomorrow morning
before a House Subcommittee to
explain his charges that Army ana
Navy expeolterS in war plants
whom he called "loafers" have i'm
peded war production.
Mr.. Jeffers will be called as the
flrst witness before a group COM
posed of five members each of the
House Naval Affairs and Military
Affairs Committees selected to in
vestigate his charges.
Chairman Thomason of the sub
committee said Army and Navy
officials will follow Mr.. Jeffers to
the stand. The rubber director
made the charges before the Coun-
Gil of State Governments in Balti-
more last Monday and was quoted
as ready and willing to elaborate
on his accusations before the COM
mittee.
Get ABS Per Cent Priority.
The long standing fight of Mr..
Jeffers to obtain a green light" for
a substantial portion of his rubber
program was ended Friday when
Chairman Donald N. Nelson of the
War Production Board issued a spe-
cial directive giving 1876 per cent of
the rubber program highest priorities
for plant equipment. Plants to be
pushed to completion will produce
452 900 tons annually. The entire
synthetic program calls for facilities
to produce 1,037 900 tons year.
In addition to the portion of the
program which will produce ready
to-use rubber, Mr. Jeffers received
/ help to complete a substantially
larger percentage Of plants to manu-
facture butadiene and styrene. two
raw materials, which are combined
to form buna S rubber. The buna
S type, to be made from alcohol,
! petroleum and natural gas. repre-
sents about 81 per cent of the over
all rubber program.
The $4,000 tons of rubber to be
/ produced annually in the new syn
/ thetic plants will be required for
/ military use and to make tires for
! essential trucks and buses Rubber
! for civilians will come from that
portion of the program which now
/ is without benefit Of high priorities.
MI. Nelson, however, expressed the
opinion that by stepping up pro-
! duction OF valves, instruments, heat
! exchangerS, for which rubber and
the other wal programs compete,
the latter part of the rubber pro-
gram can be put through on sched-
ule.
Butadiene Plant Operating.
Encouragement for rubber Off
cials came from Baton Rouge, La
yesterday with the announcement
that the first plant in the proeIa am
TO make butadiene from petroleum
was in full production. The unit is
capable OF turning out enough oi
the raw material for production oi
rubber sufficient to make 10000
tires annually. The project is oper-