Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-08-02
GREAT WORK OF
THE RED CROSS
One of Greatest Manufacturing
Enterprises in the World, Lin
tied Only By Ability to Sc
cure the Raw Material.

vision to Tazewell Chapter of the
American Red Cross:
The Red Cross today is one of the
greatest manufacturing enterprises
in the world, and the wise direction
of all this energy and enthusiasm
presents many serious problems. We
want every Red Cross worker to un-
derstand the situation as it gradually
develops so that we may have that
cooperation on the part of every one
that goes with true understanding
of Red Cross aims and purposes.
1t was not humanity possible at the
outset to make dependable estimates
of the quantities and relative pro-
portions in which the various kinds
of articles should be produced. 1t
erquired time and opportunity to
study the situation from every angle
SO as to be sure, in the end, that due
weight had been given to all of the
perplexing phases of the problem.
But we can say that everything so
far produced has been Of positive
value.
If there was no limit to the amount
of raw material available in the
country and to the shipping space
which might be needed to get the
finished articles to the point of neeo,
the policy of almost unlimited pro-
duction might be justified. But there
is a very definite limit to resources
both of material and transportation
and so it is not only wise but neces-
sary that we put the entire produc-
ton, as rapidly as possible on the
basis of our best estimates of the
most urgent needs, SO that while we
care for Red Cross requirements ad-
equately we may at the same time be
conserving the country's resources of
material and its transportation ia
cilities now so sorely tried.
The rapidly increasing production
of surgical dressings has taxed the
manufacture of gauze and other ma
terials used, to such an extent that
there has been a serious difficulty in
securing sufficient material to keep
this work going.
Our department of supplies is work
ing in close cooperation with the
Government and we hope, before very
long, to have established regular de-
liveries to all sections.
If Chapters will limit their produc-
ton to the exact kind and quanti-
ties called for by the Division they
may feel assured that the situation
is being we'll cared for.
Definite estimates of the require
ments of hospital garments, refugee
garments, comfort kits, knitted goods
between now anw inter are in hand.
To make the things called for by this
estimate means that more women
than ever before will be required to
give their time to this work. But
the same disciplined effort which has
met the needs of the past year will
answer the new demands. The wo-
men of the coontry must expect TO
respond to sudden change in orders
and accept irregularity in supplies,
as these are necessary outcome OF
war demands and war conditions.
Your chapter will be asned to pro-
duce definite quantities of certain ar
ticles. These allotments will be
changed fro mtime to time as we re-
ceive estimates of requirements from
National Headquarters and you are
urged on all accounts to confine your
production to these definite allot-
ments and to secure. your materials
through our division supply house
The reason for this that we are al
lowed to participate in the purchase
of staple materials ut government
prices, only with the specific under.
standing that chapters refrain from
outside purchases, which tend to de-
moralize market conditions and make
more difficult the Government tasl
of regulating the manufacture ant
marketing of these materials.
There has been nothing finer thar
the unselfsh and devoted way tha
the women of the country have givei
IF their time and skill in making Ret
Cross aid dependable, and we beg
them to remember that our standards
are based on first hand knowledg,
and careful observation of people wh'
are right on the ground. We hope t.
change our standards as little as pos
sible; we hope to have them as sim
pie as possible. They are now meet
ing the test Of real service ever,
day.
We are confident that every loya
member of the Red Cross will d
their utmost to promote the efficienc
of the organization so that we ma
continue to be the greatest relic