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 CHANGES IN THE VOLUME AND CHARACTER OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC DURING WORLD WAR II

The impact of World War II upon the motor-vehicle industry and the use of the highways was sudden and dramatic. Within a few weeks after Pearl Harbor, Japanese conquests had shut off the supply of crude rubber. Even before that time it had become apparent that the productive capacity of the industry was insufficient to supply the military with mobile equipment and at the same time maintain a high level of production for civilian use. Furthermore, it was imperative that a segment of the industry’s manufacturing capacity, skills, and manpower be converted to the task of supplying the needs of wartime aviation.

WARTIME CONTROLS

To meet these critical conditions a series of decisive steps was taken in swift sequence—but none too soon—by the Federal Government. Tire sale and deliveries were curtailed on December 11, 1941, and tire rationing began on December 30. Production and sales of automobiles for civilian use was terminated in January 1942, and new cars not yet marketed were pooled for rationing. The production of commercial vehicles was subjected to the surveillance of the War Production Board. The Office of Defense Transportation was given the task of supervising wartime transportation. Under these restrictions the allocation of new trucks and busses to civilian use was reduced to a trickle, with the military receiving the lion’s share of production in the form of all types of mobile equipment.

Gasoline rationing, under the supervision of the Office of Price Administration, was instituted in the Eastern States in May 1942. Under the impetus given by the Baruch report the Office of Rubber Director was created, and the synthetic rubber industry grew, slowly but surely, from an infant to a giant. The Baruch report also helped to crystallize a systematic plan for mileage rationing to conserve vehicles, gasoline, and rubber. Under this plan Nation-wide gasoline rationing was put into effect in December 1942, almost simultaneously with an acute gasoline shortage in the East, which forced reductions in the values of the A, B, and C ration coupons issued for passenger cars.

SHORTAGES DURING THE WAR

The year 1943 was one of acute shortages. In gasoline supply these shortages were most severe in the Eastern States; and twice during that year it was necessary to institute a ban on pleasure driving. The campaign of German submarines against tankers and other vessels plying the east coast had virtually cut off this source of supply. The Big and Little Inch pipe lines were not yet completed; railway tank cars were in short supply; and military demands, both domestic and 75