September, 1980
Gastonia
North Carolina
Ttre^fone
Bennettsville
South Carolina
Bowling Green, Kentucky
textiles
COMPANY
news
By CHIP HURST
Environmental Engineer
Firestone Textiles Company
NC gas plan:
Your comments
invited
• Many of us have heard about the Emergency Energy
Conservation Act of 1979, the legal basis for the President’s
gas-rationing plan. Under this act, gas rationing can become
a reality when gasoline supplies fall short of projected de
mand by 20 percent.
Of course, there can be serious consequences due to
smaller shortages and under this Act each state must de
velop plans to conserve and distribute gasoline supplies
when the shortage is less than 20 percent. North Carolina
had proposed a plan and is asking for public comments.
AS GAS LINES become longer and more frequent during
a shortage. North Carolina proposes to implement more of
the following steps. For a mild shortage;
1. Increase enforcement of the 55 MPH speed limit.
(Nationwide, approximately 50 percent of interstate drivers
exceed 55 MPH).
2. Implement an extensive public information campaign
to promote conservation.
3. Ask employers to voluntarily replace company-
provided free parking with standardized parking rates. Car-
pools would receive reduced rates.
4. Encourage measures which increase gas mileage by
promoting engine tune-ups, proper tire pressure, front-end
alignment, etc. during annual vehicle inspections.
5. Improve traffic flow by replacing some stop signs with
yield signs, removing unwarranted traffic signals, etc.
6. Require a minimum purchase of $5 for 4 to 6-cylinder
vehicles and $7 for 8-cylinder vehicles.
7. Allow gas purchases only on every other day by using
the odd/even tag system (that is to say, License numbers
ending in an even number could buy gas only on even
calendar days.)
8. Employers could have to compress their work week
or increase the number of people riding to work in each
vehicle (carpooling, employer-provided bus, etc.). For a
severe shortage:
9. All vehicles in a household or business could not be
driven for one day each week. A sticker would have to be
displayed showing which day the vehicle could not be
driven.
10. Limit schools to a 4-day week.
What do you think of these measures? Do you have other
and better suggestions? Write the Energy Division, N. C.
Department of Commerce, Box 25249, Raleigh, N. C. 27611,
before October 3, 1980.
THE
FABRIC'S VITAL
Since late 1979, the tire in
dustry has been concentrating
major production developments
on helping motorists and auto
manufacturers meet goals of
getting the most work/travel
from a gallon of fuel. This “tires
rolling smoother” emphasis will
go to 1985.
Design engineers at Firestone
and other manufacturers are
helping to improve fuel mileage
by designing tires to roll more
easily on roads and highways.
It means that a vehicle can
travel a given distance on less
fuel.
Cutting down on tire weight
is another saving factor.
Engineers say that areas to
work in at cutting rolling re
sistance are: Types of construc
tion, tire air pressure, tread
‘Tires rolling smoother’
compounds, and components in
side tires. This includes quality
fabric reinforcements as a vital
part.
RADIAL TIRES can improve
mileage by as much as 10 per
cent compared with conven
tional bias tires at steady high
way speeds. Company engineers
expect that radials will be de
veloped that allow higher air
pressures.
Firestone has been working
with various tread compounds
to learn of rolling resistance,
and is refining the internal com
ponents so they help cut down
rolling resistance.
The radial will continue the
major tire for many years, pre
dicts John D. Kelley, Firestone’s
tire development director. He
said “We see no drastic changes
in tire types over the next
decade. There will be a number
of tire developments, most of
which will center on refine
ments of the basic radial tire.”
Vacation travel, Georgia-
bound? A few September spe
cial events: Pecan Festival, Al
bany, 19-21; Buggy Days,
Barnesville, 20-21; Central Ga.
Fair, Thomaston, 22-27; Cedar
Valley Festival, Cedartown, 27-
28. Early October: Deep South
Fair, Thomasville, 2-6; Apple
Festival, Ellijay, 10-12; Fall
Festival, Jonesboro, 11-12.
Suggestions:
Look around,
think & figure
In September 142 years ago,
Ephraim Morris of Bloomfield,
N. J., was credited for having
invented the first workable
mechanical railroad-car brake.
A breakthrough. John Mc-
Tammany of Cambridge, Mass.,
patented the player piano in
September of 1867. And G. K.
Anderson of Memphis, Tenn.,
patented the typewriter ribbon
in September, 1886.
Think what great contribu
tions these developed ideas have
become.
And how about your ideas
conceived of experience and ob
servation at work? Even the
simplest and most obvious may
have been overlooked. Like, for
example, one Gastonia Firestone
employee recently had an ap
proved suggestion that said; “Do
away with the lights that are no
longer needed on the unused
loading dock.”
Look around. Think and fig
ure. Describe your ideas on Sug
gestion blanks always con
veniently located at or near
your workplace. Share your
ideas. Approved, they can make
a “big difference for the better.”
And you’ll be paid for them.
Every person should believe
in something. I believe I'll go
fishing. —Henry David Thoreau
Recent Deaths—Gastonia •
Mausby E. Hyleman, 73, retired
Firestone Textiles doffer; had 35
years and 6 months company
service. Emory McDaniel, 73, re
tired Shop millwright; had 20
years service.
40
hot meals
FIRESTONE Firestone Textiles-
BUILDING A A Bennettsville is donating the
use of its activities building
as a site for the Marlboro
County Council on Aging
nutritional program.
The building, next to the Firestone plant on State Street,
has been the nutritional site since June 20. Having use of
the spacious building is making it possible for the Council
on Aging to serve more people than in the past.
Each week, some 40 hot meals are served to elderly per
sons daily, Mondays through Fridays. Those participating
are brought to Firestone by bus and other vehicles from
different areas of the county.
The Department of Social Services, Clemson University
Extension, County Health Department and Marlboro County
Recreation Department provide their services to the nu
tritional program.
YMCA award
An ‘Appreciation’ Award
from Gaston County (N. C.)
YMCA was presented to
“Firestone Textiles and its
dedicated employees” earlier
this year. It recognizes
“numerous years of devoted
services to the Gaston
County YMCA.”
Firestone volunteers help
in the annual Y membership
campaign. The last program
at Firestone was led by
Jimmie Lou Hartgrove,
supervisor-inspection in
Quality Control; and Vernon
Carver, manager of Produc
tion Planning and Control.
• With YMCA award plaque:
Tina R. (left) and Jimmie L.
Neal. The Neal sisters are re-
spooler operators in TC twist
ing.
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