How was gas rationing handled during World War II?
Dear Bob: Poorly. Actually, gas wasn’t what they were rationing at all. The main purpose of the restrictions on gas purchasing was to conserve tires. (And you thought those bureaucrats were stupid.) Japanese armies in the Far East, you see, had cut the U.S. off from its chief supply of rubber. There were four rationing classifications. An “A” classification, which could be had by almost anyone, entitled the holder to four gallons a week. A “B” classification was worth about eight gallons a week. “C” was reserved for important folk, like doctors, and the magic “X” went to people whose very survival required that they be able to purchase gasoline in unlimited quantities–rich people and politicians, for example. Rationing was handled through the federal Office of Price Administration. To get a classification and rationing stamps, citizens appeared at the OPA office in person and swore to the high heavens that they (1) needed gas desperately and (2) owned no more than five automobile tire
— Bob M., Phoenix Cecil replies: Poorly. Actually, gas wasn’t what they were rationing at all. The main purpose of the restrictions on gas purchasing was to conserve tires. (And you thought those bureaucrats were stupid.) Japanese armies in the Far East, you see, had cut the U.S. off from its chief supply of rubber. There were four rationing classifications. An “A” classification, which could be had by almost anyone, entitled the holder to four gallons a week. A “B” classification was worth about eight gallons a week. “C” was reserved for important folk, like doctors, and the magic “X” went to people whose very survival required that they be able to purchase gasoline in unlimited quantities–rich people and politicians, for example. Rationing was handled through the federal Office of Price Administration. To get a classification and rationing stamps, citizens appeared at the OPA office in person and swore to the high heavens that they (1) needed gas desperately and (2) owned no more th
