Evening star., 1944-01-30
Districts Gasoline
Consumption Dropped
36.6 Per Cent in '43
Ride-Shorine Increases
Car Occupancy Slightly,
Highway Report Shows
BY CAMBRIDGE CRIST.

IaSOllne consumption here in the
fiscal year 1943 dropped 1855 per
cent from the preceding year, it
was revealed yesterday in a report
by Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, director
of highways, and despite efforts to
promote car-sharing, there has been
little difference in the number of
occupants in automobiles since Sep
tember. l941.
On the basis of checks made at
strategic points in the city during
morning and afternoon peak-hours.
the average number of occupants of
cars in September, 1941, was 1.68
and in August, 1943. it Yas 1.95 per-
sons. Similar checks Of cars cross
ing the Potomac River bridges show
the average number of occupants
has risen only one-fourth of l per
cent from September, 194l, to Au-
gust of last year.
Based on reports of net taxable
gallons, the figures show that dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 30
l943, gasoline consumption was 1O7. :
551 ,099 gallons, compared with 169,-
SOC. .425 gallons the previous year-a
drop of 36.s per cent.
Further Decline Expected.
During the last six months o1
1943, gas consumption -totaled 49,
1874 ,290 gallons, indicating that
usage for the present fiscal yea,
may be under 100000, 900 gallons
Capt. Whitehurst pointed out that
a comparison of the first half ot
fiscal year 1912 with the first hall
of fiscal year 1914 showed a drop OF
47.33 per cent in the latter period
Figures from seven traffic obser-
vation stations, representing a "a
hour average weekday count of cars
for the months of December in each
of the past three years. show a de-
cline in local traffic In December
1941, the average count for the week
day was 162.047; in December, 1912
it was 109,l12. and last December
119, ,642. Capt. Whitehurst explained:
This reveals a difference of ,6.5
per cent in the total flow of traf-
fic for December, 1912, and De-
cember, 1943, with a greater num-
ber of cars appearing in 1943, al
though the average for the entire
year 1943 is far below that of 1912
This is probably explained by the
sharp decrease in the monthly
average for June and July, 1943
due to the B and C coupons be-
ing reduced in value at that time
from three gallons to two and one
half gallons, and also to the fact
that the general restrictions on
gasoline were not put into effect
until May. 1912.
Years Level Maintained.
There was a relatively rapid in
crease through August to Se1tem-
ber. At this point, a level slightly
above that of the average for the
entire year of 1943 was reached and
has been maintained to the pres
ent date. The figures picture an
average weekday and are not in
dicative of Sunday traffic which
has decreased as much as so PEI
cent at some locations"
"The Potomac River bridge traffic
decline was less than at other loca.
tions due to the construction O.
several huge Office structures il
Virginia and the resultant use O.
private vehicles to assist the loae
when public transportation proved
inadequate"
The figures for Highway, Memoria
and Key Bridges show that in Oc.
tober, 194l, the average number o.
cars during weekday was lis, ,327
in October, 1912, it was 94,013, ane
in october last year, 1882. Tht
Idrop in the three-year period wa.
29.1 per cent.
The seven locations used in max.
ing the various checks-aside from
the bridges-were Wisconsin avenue
at the District line, Georgia avenue
at the District line, Benning roae
at Thirty-fourth street, Anacostis
Bridge, Connecticut avenue al
Klingle Bridge, Rhode Island avenue
at North Capitol street and K street
at Eighteenth street NV