New Rationing System To Start At Midnight

These are some of the hundreds of cars which jammed traffic for hours Tuesday when motorists swarmed into the few gas stations fortunate enough to have gas in a last minute attempt to “fill up” before the new and strict system of gas rationing went into effect. This scene at the corner of Washington and Railroad avenue shows motorists waiting for the station operator to receive his gas, which finally came at 8 p.m.

Today Is the last “gas day” for motorists, and they will packing as much gas as their car tanks will hold and they are qualified to purchase on their ration cards, which will become obsolete at midnight.

Lines of cars were seen at the gasoline stations this morning when they opened, all getting as much as their tanks would hold.

There was a shortage of gasoline for the week-end, and many of the smaller stations ran out of gas last Thursday and Friday, so it was not an uncommon sight to see motorists driving around this weekend to other communities, seeking a Station where they might purchase the now precious fluid.

An order from the government relieved the shortage and this morning most stations had their S ration for this week or period, so there should be sufficient gasoline for today.

On Wednesday, the new rationing goes into effect, an even more drastic curtailment of allotment for gasoline to motorists. All registered car owners have been given an “A” book, entitling them to four gallons of gasoline each week, for the next year. Applications for supplemental rationing books have been made to local rationing boards by those who need more. These books are supposed to be issued 10 days after application.

Some of the local stations had gasoline this morning, but others reported they were “bone dry.” Those that had no gas said, however, that they expected a plentiful supply during the day and should have plenty on hand for the remainder of the day.

Adding to the general confusion of the situation was the fact that phony gasoline rationing books were reported in circulation. These counterfeit books, according to word from the police, arc said to be on sale for $5 in Cambridge.

The FBI probably will be called into the picture.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Norwood Messenger

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