Evening star., 1943-03-22
Sa|vagers Fear
Shortage Of Men
To Handle Scrap
Metal Is Reported
DwindIing in Busy
Steel Mill

Fears of a shortage of manpower
in Junk yards processing valuable
scrap for war industries were ex-
pressed here today amid reports of
dwindling stock piles of scrap metal
in the Nations busiest steel mill
areas.
This, in part. explains the re-
opening today of Washington
ialopy collection drive, which is
aimed at rounding up every old
automobile no longer of any value
except for its scrap metal.
Salvage authorities are taking the
stand that the manpower situation
! will become more critical as the
armed services approach their H.
000000 goal this year. and that now
is the time to build up tremendous
stock piles of scrap.
! A spokesman for the War Produc-
| ton Boards scrap metal and rubber
unit said there was a rising fear
. of a manpoWer shortage in Junk
| Yards, although essential workers in
| yards processing war scrap have
! been given occupational deferments.
Surpluses in Two Areas.
He said there was "a definite
need of scrap iron and steel in the
North and Central States and New
England. 1t is in these areas that
the country's largest steel mills are
| concentrated.
| Only in the Southwest and on the
| West Coast are there any surpluses
of scrap metal. These piles are now
being tapped, with shipments going
| to scarcity" areas.
In some areas stock piles have
dwindled to where there is only a
four weeks reserve.
Last years national scrap drives
netted tonnage beyond expectations.
but stocks are falling of. These
programs must be intensified
througout the country, WPB officials
said today.
Local junk yards and scrap proc
essing plants reported a drain Of
aanpower, both to the Army and
higher-paid jobs, survey today
showed.
Significantly, the Herson Auto
Wrecking Co., which will be called
on to process many of the jalopies
wanted in the new drive, reported
that its manager, Nat Herson, 20,
was examined for selective service
this morning.
3-B Classification Refused.
Mr.. Herson, who has been operat-
ing his fathers business for nearly
eight years, was refused 3-B
classification by local draft board
despite the fact the War Manpower
Commission on March l listed es-
sential workers in junk yards as
eligible for deferment. Mr.. Herson
is married. -.ae
Mrs. Chester Gordon, secretary Of
the company, said she did not know
how they we're going to be able to
stay m business with Mr.. Herson
in the Army, She estimated their
force had been cut in half in the
past eight months, with men being
drafted or leaving for better jobs.
Phillip Smith, partner OF Joseph
Smith & Son, the city's largest
scrap professor. said draft boards
were ignoring the VINO order. He
told of losing crane operator to q
Marlboro draft board several weeks
ago. The company requested an
occupational deferment also, but it
was refused. The operator is 10
and helps to support his mother
and two sisters.
Mr.. Smith pointed out that it re-
| quired nearly year to train a Grams
operator.
OF several offers of jalopies re-
ceived by the District Salvage Com
mittee yesterday. one was from
Washington youth fighting in North
! Africa. Marvin Blakney. former
employer of Pvt Edward NJ Risley.
informed Secretary Horace Walker
he had received a letter from the
soldier instructing Mr.. Blakney to
turn over 1884 model car to the
committee.
Mr.. Walker said copies of the new
program, along with coupons for use
in submitting old cars to the COM
mittee, were being mailed out today
to insurance companies, parking lots
and garages.