Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-25
A MAGNIFICENT RECEPTION
Awaits Dewey and His Men at New York
Will Cost 100000.

| New York, Aug. 24-Admiral Dewey
is to have a 81 900, 900 welcome when he
reaches New York, next October The
city of New York is to spend $4,000
the state has appropriated s75, 900, and
within a few days a call for public
subscription of another $4,000 will be
| issued. With this s275,O00 to begin
with. the individual citizens of New
York will probably push the figures up
to the 81 900, 900 mark
The best evidence that New Workers
are maxim preparations on a liberal
scale to give vent to their enthusiasm
over the admiral, can be secured by a
glance at the order books of the large
flag. fireworks. bunting and decorating
houses. Already great stocks of flags
have been laid in and more are sought
at almost any price by the retailers.
while bunting and decorations are in
great demand.
Several large sign painting concerns
have practically given up their regular
lines and are either now busy or pre-
pairing to be busy very soon on Dewey
banners and outside decorations. One
large firm has just received an order
Off 500 10x25-foot pictures of Dewey
from Il man who expects to realize a
handsome profit from their sale. Sew
eral of the great retail firms uptown
have already placed large orders for
decorative work and flags, and the
smaller retailers have placed heavy Or
ders for flags, lanterns and fireworks.
Thomas Lloyd, manufacturer of fire.
works and flags. said. yesterday. that
he expected Dewey week to be the
greatest celebration in the history of
this country.
There was heavy demand for flags
during the first part of the war said
he, but if the present outlook is any
criterion. l would advise those who
want flags. decorations or fireworks to
come early and avoid the rush. OF
course. the trade has made all prepara-
tions. but at the same time l doubt
very much if the factories will be able
to turn out the amount of flags that
will be demanded. Remember. New
York is not alone in the welcomeing of
Dewey. but nearly every state in the
Union expects to entertain him for a
few days, and in consequence the flag
industry is being overtaxed. Every
business house in this city will be
decorated. and from requests for bids
several large business houses. l feel
safe in saying that several hundred
thousand dollars will be spent in the
business districts alone. l venture to
predict that nine residences out of 10
will fly a flag of some kind.
A peculiar feature of the demand for
flags last summer, which was the heav-
lest ever experienced, was the demand
for Cuban and English flags. While
the flag of Great Britain is still in con-
demand. the Cuban flag has
become drug on the market.
The people in this country don't want
Cuban flags any more" said a representa-
tive Of the Paine Fireworks Co.. land
The English flag is rapidly losing its pop
ularity. The Americans are getting over
their enthusiasm and are settling down
to the actualities of things. The Stars
md Stripes is more popular than ever,
and within the last few months at least
4 dozen flag factories have sprung up.
Flags run all the way from ) cents a
iozen to $50 each. or even higher
Lanterns promise to be an important
feature Of the Dewey celebration, and
several firms are putting in lines of ex-
,ensive goods. averaging from $3.50 to 80
dozen, wholesale. while the cheaper
ines are heavily ordered.
The committee in charge of the Dewey
celebration is preparing to issue cali
or public subscription Of from $780, 600 to
50. 600 for the Dewey arch, in the event of
he failure of the council 20 appropriate
he money for this purpose. In any event
Continued on page %