Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-07-25
. -Fiags For the NatIon.

"What can You tell about flags that Il
interestingly" was asked of the proprietor
of one of the largest factories in New
York.
"a great deal" he said. ''The trade l:
booming; that't interesting to US. The
Fourth makes the trade lively just now, oi
course; but trade for the last year has been
much better than it was last. Flags form
one of the necessities of life. They are the
most prominent outgrowth of American
enthusiasm. We get married at an altar
draped with the national colors- Sunday
schools parade tie streets and go plcnlck
ing with flags In the hands of the children
Christmas trees are decorated with them.
The advent of book beer or the opening OF
bar-room calls for the use OF the patrio-
tic emblem OF freedom. We nominate
political candidates In fiag-draped halls.
The opening of the great bridge called for
thousands of flags. We honor the memory
Of the soldier dead by decorating their
graves with the flag they fought tor. We
listen to sto1es of the wrongs Inflicted on
the oppressed IN another land In halls
where the stars and stripes are twined with
the emerald field and the harp. Every
thing that excites our emotions sells our
flags. There is no place like America for
flags; there is no flag so beautiful as the
American flag"
''Have you any idea how many flags are
made and sold in yearl"
'.Not very accurate one. They are
made by the million. Our concern turned
out million and quarter last year. There
are dC zens of other hrms turning out other
millions. We fill orders for thousand
gross of the small ones. We keep hundreds
OF thousands constantly in stock. Flags
are perishabIe. When the present excite
ment is over the flags are thrown away.
When the future excitement comes new
ones are bought. They are so very cheap
that no one cares to keep them. Thus we
make small paper flags, one by one and a
half inch large, mounted on pin, that We
sell at thirty cents gross From that
figure the price runs up TO $500 for very
large and elegant silk banner handsomely
embroidered. The largest bunting hses
seldom exceed 36z50 feet in size. Such
flags are used by hoIels. Then there are
the streamers, the burgess or banners with
ships and yachts. Those may be called
side issues to the flag business, but they
are large factor in the trade"
''What do you make your flags of9"
''SLk, bunting, muslin, and paper. Silk
flags are usually made TO order. We keep
a great variety of bunting flags In stock.
These flags are made by sewing the dIf-
ferent colOred clothes together. The bunt-
ing was formerly imported, but a number
OF years ago Gov. Ben Butler. of Massa-
chusetts, made up his mind that he could
make better goods for less money. The
opposition he encountered encouraged
HIM He now sells the best bunting in
the work. tor about $40 apiece. The in
ferlor imported stuff costs S14. The next
cheaper grade OF flags Is made by printing
the colors on the white cotton cloth. We
can print them as large as six feet in
length. They are printed on hand presses
much the same as newspapers Were printed
years ago. All attempts to cheaper the
work by steam power have failed"
''Do you ever make foreign figs :"
Thousands of them. They are wanted
for decorating purposes chiefly. Ships
buy some, but not many. They get them
abroad. The foreign consuls give US orders
for some very elegant flags.
10 what territory do you look for your
trace7"
''The whole country, New York sup
plies the nation. although many flags are
made elsewhere. Here is an order from
Cincinnati. Over there is a bundle for
San Francisco. You can say that in the
new trade, as in great many other things
New YORK city leads the world"