Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-12-24
SECRETARY's REPORT OF
ASHLAND'S RED CROSS
Ashland, Ore, Dec. 10, 1918.
Resume OF Work OF Ashland Branch,

Ashland's Red Cross Auxiliary
graduated into the Branch class only
this past spring and the one Direc-
tors Meeting Of Ashland Branch
thus far held took place on June s
last, so that the reports tonight sub
mitted are the first comprehensive
reports rendered by Ashland's Red
Cross Branch as distinct from Ash
lands Red Cross Auxiliary; and COM
prise practically the sum total of her
activities as a Branch.
Ashland Branch began its fnan-
cial career with $272.S3 transferred
10 its treasury from the Red Cross
Auxiliary. Since that time, generous
gifts from friends. the substantial
backing Of the War Chest" and the
splendid enterprise of the Red Gross
Salvage Depot conducted since last
July by the ladies Of the Civic Club,
have kept us more than sufficiently
in funds to fulfill all demands made
upon us.
Our initial activities, sewing, knit
ting, and surgical dressings which
Centered around the original Red
Cross Headquarters, have been broad
ened and reinforced by three very
important supplementary activities,
viz, the Canteen, the Salvage Depot,
and the department OF Home Service
operating under the Jurisdiction Of
Civilian Relief
Under the able direction OF Mrs.
w. l.. MaXey, the Canteen has had /
brilliant career, the value Of its SER
vices having been recognized not
only locally but by Northwestern Red !
Cross Headquarters. Its scope takes
in first aid to sick soldiers as well
as good cheer and refreshments for
the well. More than 80, 900 men have
been ministered to up to date.
Realizing that the Canteen. whose
benefits to enlisted men are render
ed gratis, must have proper financial
backing, the Salvage Depot has de-
voted the lions SHIRE of its astonish-
ingly large receipts to replenshing
the Canteen Golfers. The Salvage
Depot has a handsome. separate
headquarters of its own, with many
department-store features in addi-
tion to its salvage work proper. How
ever, the clerks in this department
store give their services for nothing,
never 90 on a strike. and are always
on the Job; hence, the handsome prof
IFS from this going concern which has
already handed over more than $500
to the Canteen, 5000 for general Red
Cross purposes, and still has bal
ance on the right side.
Civilian Relief. while II has not as
sumed huge proportions with us, has
absorbed a share OF our funds. All
cases have been confidentially treat
cd by the heads Of the Home Service
Department and, bo'ore money has
been paid over. T. II. Simpson, the
head OF Civilian Relief has carefully
investigated the merits OF each indi-
vidual case. Mrs. Myrtle Boslough
was our first secretary of this Home
Service section and, on her resigna-
ton, she was succeeded by Mrs.
Frank Dickey who is at present in
charge. Mrs. Dickey has, also, acted
as the efficient manager Of the sew
eral instruction classes in first aid,
hygiene, nursing, etc., which the To-
cal organization has conducted.
In our sewing section. the end of
the war has shifted the stress from
the hospital supplies which were its
original care. to the making OF gar.
aatnts for Refugees. Under Mrs. ].
n Wagner. Mrs. F. S. Engle. and
Mrs, A. II. Pracht. this department
has rendered q consistently fine &C.
count Of itself.
For the same reason. the end OF
the war. the work of the Surgical
pressihg section is slowing down.
The output OF surgical dressings
from our small Branch. however, has
been remarkable both in quantity
and quality. For this. great credit
10 due to Mrs. A. D. Graham. whose
recent death 10 a sad loss to our local
Red Cross; also. to Mrs. S. B. Nc
Nsir. Mrs. Grahsm's able assistant.
Our Knitting section under the
Joint direction OF Mrs, Ira Shoudy
and Mrs. A. H. Pracht, has been one
OF the most faithfully administered
departments OF our work. Thru lack
OF wool. however. the knitting, too,
hes had to shut down for the time
being.
All Of our Refugee garments, with
the exception OF the Belgian babies
layettes, have been under the super
vision OF Mrs. Pracht; Mrs. Sylvan
Provost and Miss Emily Kaiser being
in charge Of the layettes.
A due proportion Of credit for the
fine showing made belongs to our