U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for June 4

WASHINGTON, June 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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FRIDAY, JUNE 4: SYNTHETIC TIRES

Profile America — Friday, June 4th.  In 1940, a major question facing the nation was — "How do you make tires without rubber?"  War clouds were gathering and the supply of natural rubber from Asia was drying up.  Seventy years ago this week, the first synthetic rubber tire was displayed in Akron, Ohio.  It was made by the B.F. Goodrich Company from readily available ingredients — soap, gas, petroleum, and air, greatly helping the war effort.  Now, natural rubber is used once again to make a huge variety of tires — from lawnmowers to giant earth moving equipment.  Each year in the U.S., we wear out many millions of tires.  The U.S. makes over $13 billion worth of tires annually and imports an additional $10 billion worth.  Profile America is in its 14th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  Kane's Famous First Facts, 5502

2002 Economic Census, NAICS 326211

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 1272

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau