Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-18
SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS
AS TO RED CROSS WORK
Attention Is Also Called to
Criticism of Work by the
Higher Ups

In order that the auxiliaries of Will
lamette Chapter, of Salem, American
Red Cross may cooperate more close,
ly with the chapter in the general
work, circular letter has been issued
by Mrs. Rollin K. Page, secretary, Civ
ing some specific directions. Also
telling the auxiliaries of the criticisms
that have been received by the Chapter
from the authorities higher up. The
circular was issued that members of
the auyiliaries might, in friendly
spirit, give more attention to the thous-
and and one little details insisted on
by the Washington, D. c., authorities.
One suggestion of the circular is that
each auxiliary should have one or two
official cutters who will cut each arti-
Gle by the original pattern and not
from some garment or piece of goods
that has been made.
A tape line may measure inches the
same as yard stick, but sometimes
tapelines are inaccurate and wobble a
little. Where materials are to be meas
ured, they should be laid loosely on
the yard stick, especially towellings
and knitted washrags.
Want Things Pressed.
The Washington higher authorities
ask that all articles brought to head
quarters be pressed as they will then
occupy less room and will pack a
greater number to the box. 1t is the
little things that count.
Surgical garment making is of course
new proposition and many new ideas
are to be suggested. For instance, old
towels and bed spreads should not be
made into wash rags. Headquarters
can use them to better advantage in
the surgical dressing department. as
oakum pads. Sheets may be made in
to handkerchiefs, neatly hemmed, IS
inches square. Pieces of smaller size
may be made into dressing covers.
Headquarters in Salem pays the dray
age and express on supplies from the
Pacific Coast Branch to Salem and
then on finished articles to the points
of destination. But each auxiliary
should lay the cost Of sending its ma
terials TO the headquarters in Salem.
This means only a small expense to
each auxiliary, but would be serious
proposition of the chapter paid all.
If each auxiliary kept the patterns
sent them Seadquarters would be
obliged to have set of each pattern
equal to the number of auxiliaries, and
it must be remembered that the Will
lamette chapter has more auxiliaries
than any chapter in the state. Hence
the request is made in the circular
prepared by Mrs. Page that all patterns
be returned.
Everything Must Fit.
1t would surprise the average woman
to know how absolutely particular all
Red Cross work must be done. If arti-
cles folded a quarter of an inch wrong
aTe sent in, all must be re-folded as
there isn't even a quarter of an inch
extra spcae in the large boxes in which
are sent to San Francisco.
For instances, the instructions for the
making Of head bandages-four tailed
are: "Cut eight inches the width of
the goods, fold lengthwise and cut
along ihe crease 70 inches from each |
selvedge. That means that each of the |
four tails is four inches wide exactly. "
And there must be no variation
For abdominal bandages, the follow
hg instructions are given: These
should be cut one yard and % inches
ong, and folded in two inches at each |
md to make the bandages l 12 yards !
ong. Fold lengthwise, do not turn
n the selvedge but sew the selvedges !
ogether and sew around all four sides.
Fold erosswise once, again and a third /
1. A 4 g
IA inches. OF course all such in
Itruetions would be Greek to a man,
,ut the women know.
A he'd sock must not be pieced on
he toe but may be nieeed elsewhere.
This applies to operating leggins,
Many other instructions and sugges
ions are given in the circular, all for
he good of the cause and for better
so-operation.