Evening star., 1943-08-14
Gasoline
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tCOnblnueQ from FIRST Page
1t was decided that the better course
would be to retain the ban in the
hope that Eastern supplies could be
built up so as to allow an actual
ration increase.
The Eastern ban may be lifted the
first of next month. Any increase
in rations in this section hardly
can be expected before late in Sep
tember, officials indicated.
While the PWA made public the
new gasoline ALLEGATIONS for the
Midwest and Southwest, the new
Eastern allotment was not an
nounced. 1t was understood to be
slightly more than 10 per cent above
the current daily alloca ton of 328.-
900 barrels. Most of the increase will
60 to buses and other commercial
vehicles. PAW allocated 100000 bar
rels day to the Midwest and 140 900
barrels to the Southwest, reduc-
tion Of Is per cent below June
consumption for both.
Petroleum Administrator Ickes
said the Eastern allotment was not
announced because the supplies
which can be made available de-
pend on the result of the curtailment
program in the other sections.
The ultimate plan of Mr.. Ickes, 1t
was said, is to level of supplies in
all sections of the country so that
the average motorist, including
holders OF all three types of ration
books. can obtain enough gasoline
to drive approximately 5000 miles a
year. Mileage now permitted East
ern motorists under current rations
is estimated at about $500 miles an
nually. The average for the Midwest
is placed at $500 miles a year.
Eastern Driving Cut IS Per Cent.
Mr.. Ickes plans, 1t was said,
eventually to include the entire
country in the "equaliza ton" plan.
Chester Bowles, OPA general man.
ager, indicated the great adjust
ments which must be made when he
said that driving in the East now is
only IS per cent of the 1941 average,
while operation of cars in Texas and
California have been reduced to
only 80 per cent of mileage two years
ago.
'Today's action" Mr.. Ickes said in
announcing new allocations. lis the
logical and inevitable result of a
long range. carefully planned and
diligently prosecuted program for
effecting an equitable distribution of
gasoline supplies for civilian use
throughout the Nation"
Mr.. Bowles, in announcing the ra-
ton cut for the Midwest and South
west, said that If the ban on nom
essential driving in the Eastern
States is observed for the next two
weeks it can be lifted on Septem-
ber l.
Eastern Increase Possible.
ut is our further hope" Mr..
Bowles said. that If sufficient sup
plies can be built up in the East,
some increase in the value of cou-
pons in the II Atlantic Coast States
and the District of Columbia may be
made later in September"
Currently, A rations in the East
are set at about u gallons a week,
while B and c coupons are valued at
21a gallons.
Failure to respect the ban Con
pleasure driving between now and
September l." Mr.. Bowles warned,
must inevitably prevent us from
removing it on that date" He added
that mo one likes" the ban.
The original plan for announce
ment Of the ration changes called
for Mr.. Bowles to make an ex-
planatory radio talk tomorrow
night. He said he would 60 through
with the talk, scheduled for 8:l5
over the Blue Network, despite the
premature announcement. He ad-
mitted it would be difficult to con-
vince the man living next to an oil
we'll in Texas" that it was necessary
to cut his ration.
ODT accompanied the announce
ments of the other agencies with a
statement that essential operations
of buses and trucks would not be
reduced in the Midwest and South
west.
The States In which the ration
coupons will be reduced in value
from four to three gallons are
Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana,
Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Min
nesota, Iowa, Missouri. Oklahoma
Kansas. Nebraska, South Dakota,
North Dakota, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana. Arkansas, Texas and
New Mexico.