Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-06-14
Gulf Div. Amer. Red Cross,
New Orleans, May 81.
Iiss Clara II. Whitney,

securing gauze and other materials
used in the making of surgical Dress.
ings. Hospital Garments and Refu.
gee Clothing in sufficient quantity
to meet the rapid rate Of production
Of the chapters of the past three
months.
The volume of finished dressings
reflects the determination of the
organization to be ready in advance
for whatever demands may fall upon
the Red Cross. Result of all of this
enthusiastic work is that we have
finally reached point where for the
time, in spite of our attempt to reg
ulate the volume, the rate of pro-
duction is outstripping our ability
to secure the needed materials.
The Department of Supplies in
Washington is working in close CO.
operation with the Government, to
see that regular allotments Of ma
terials are secured for Red Cross
work. All orders are in the hands
of the manufacturers, and are prom
Used equal attention with similar
orders from the Government. The
factories which are to make these
materials are having difficulty in Sc
curing the raw materials, that is,
the products from which these ma
terials are made. The making of
all materials will be rushed, but it
js clear that Washington will still
face delay of about four weeks be-
fore the regular allotments will be
coming in from the factories.
Upon orders received from Gov
eminent officials, chapters are re-
quested not to purchase material in
the open market, even though they
are still obtainable. but very prob
ably at exorbitant prices, which
fact tends to prolong the difficulties
now being encountered by Washing
ton. 1t is our duty at all times,
and especially when we are at war,
to cooperate to the fullest. Any
advantage which might be gained
through the earlier completion of
articles by buying locally would
more than offset the disturbance to
the situation which will result
through irregular buying. In max
ing this request of you. we know
you appreciate the position of our
great organization to the Govern
ment, on whose helpful attitude
Washington must depend for the
securing of a regular dependable
supply of all materials.
There is still to be determined by
consultation of our Government and
Foreign Commissions, the rate at
which we should continue to pro-
duce all articles. We are anxious
to cooperate with the Government
in wise conservation of all forms
OF raw material. and our production
must thus be considered from this
standpoint. The production from
now on throughout the country will
be at somewhat lower rate than
has obtained during the past few
months while the present stock of
articles were being built up. Chap
tiers are asked to bear this reduction
in production in mind in making
all of their plans.
The present plan is that by July
1st each chapter in the division will
receive their monthly allotment in
surgical dressings. hospital gar
ments. refugee clothing and knit
ted articles. In making this month
ly allotment to each chapter, we are
going to ask each chapter to become
small factories, that is, each chap
ter will be asked to make only one
type of surgical dressing, only one
article in hospital garments, only
one article in knitting, and only one
article in refugee clothing. For ex-
ample, B Chapter will be AKA wipe
factory, pajama factory, women's
apron factory, and a sweater factory.
All the women in the chapter will
be asked to sew on the articles given
their chapter, and they will be asked
to turn out only a certain number
of each.
Now to get ready for the future,
and to get down to working on a
business-like basis, l am asking you
to have all work cleaned up in your
chapter by June 18th, that is all
material that you have on hand,
either in gauze, in muslin or in
other materials and please have
made up in the different depart
ments, and send them in to Divis-
ional Supply Bureau. as soon as
possible. Then you will be ready
to start fresh when we send you al
lotments, and the material to make
these up with on July LIST.
II you have no material on hand,
please close your work rooms. You
can understand why | ask this, TAX
ing into consideration that we have
no materials here in the supply
bureau, and will have none until
materials arrive for the future allot.