Rubber Out of Rubbish

Returns from the first week of the nation's scrap rubber drive show that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts lags far behind the rest of the nation in per capita collections. The figure for the entire country shows that only one and a half pounds have been collected per person-a woefully small figure. But Massachusetts, on the same basis, has contributed a mere quarter pound-four ounces-for every man, woman, and child. To put it graphically, this means about one worn baby carriage tire for each person. And when one realizes that our nation will be seriously handicapped unless a million tons of scrap rubber are collected, our total returns so far look pretty ridiculous.

Of course, all of the figures aren't in yet. Many filling stations have not turned in any of their rubber, and junk dealers have not made reports on their collections. Nevertheless, the western states have shown what can be done in this drive. California, Montana, and Nevada are in the vanguard in the west. Nevada, with a population almost exactly the size of Cambridge, has collected 653 tons, or 11.87 pounds per capita. There may have been a few more broken-down Model T's in Nevada, but otherwise there is no real reason why Cambridge shouldn't rustle up 600 tons as well. Yet the whole state of Massachusetts has turned in a mere 512 tons.

Now that College is back in full swing again, it is a simple thing for every student to go over his belongings and find any and all pieces of scrap rubber. You'll be surprised how much turns up once you get going. A few pieces of rubber tubing from a chemistry course, a pair of sneakers worn out by four-days-a-week physical training, a used bicycle tire, a rubber seat cushion, an out-of-style rubberized raincoat-there is no end to the number of articles that will come to the surface. It's worth taking two minutes of your time to look over your room. And the Square is crowded with gas stations-you won't have far to walk.