The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-01

is attributed by many persons to the public
schools, where the law requires that the
American flag shall be displayed every
school day.
Manufacturers give another reason. They
say travelling statesmen for flag houses
have caused the major part Of the gain.
The growing demand for flags has aroused
competition. A natural result is that
flag makers and dealers do their best to
add to the flags popularity. There is
every indication that IN the Fourth Of
July the sun will look down on the largest
display Of American flags ever seen in this
country.
T~wenty-four hundred stitches a minute
Is the regular speed Of the electrically
driven machine used t. sew together the
red and white stripes Of a silk or wool
bunting American flag. In one hour
skilled fingers and machinery create q
perfect banner Q by 10 feet in size.
This task includes fourteen different
operations and twenty years ago required
q day and a half to accomplish. The last
decade has Witnessed the introduction Of
splicing and cutting machines, as well as
improved sewing machines. These have
revolutonized the flag making industry.
Women play the leading roles in flag
making. Somehow or other 1t seems i'm
possible for men TO acquire the skill that is
natural TO the opposite sex. So only the
heavier and less complicated features Of
the work fall to men.
The first step in making a flag Is to cut
the stripes from hugo rolls Of red or white
silk or wool bunting. Machinery accom-
plishes most Of this, although some oper-
atives, equipped with huge shears. are still
employed.
The stripes are given over to the machine
operatives, by whom they are sew TO-
gether with lightningliks rapidity. The
lockshtch Is used and the thread fed rom
spools, each of which holds "a 900 yards,
The stripes sewn together, the flag Is
ready to receive the union. The union is
the blue field at the left upper corne OF
the flag bearing the ~forty-sx stars, a star
for every State, although most Of the flags
seen for some months will show only forty
five stars.
Stars OF wool bunting flags are Of muslin,
although the union itself Is Of the same
material as the body OF the flag. A star
10 always half the width Of q stripe Of the
flag 1t adorns.
Muslin stars are cut out by machinery
at the rate Of 5000 an hour. A star is FIVE
pointed, each being precisely like its fellow.
As fast as the stars are cut out they are
passed to girls who, standing at long tables,
arrange them on the uniohs. They are
placed in six rows, alternating eight and
seven. Then they are basted in place by
hand and turned over to the machine
operatives.
Placing the union In position follows;
two unions being required for each flag,
one on either side. Stripes and union
Joined, the f1nishers take the flag In hand.
Strong canvas bands are sewn across the
headings, the bands having grommets, or
eyelets, In the corners In the case OF large
flags for stats the halllards run through
these grommets.
Although every year more han 1000 900
American flags are made In the fashion
described they form only q small proportion
Of the total number manufactured. Mill
ions Of printed flags come into existence
every year and their number IL constantly
II the material used is cotton or silk the
Gags are printed from copper rollers, in the
same way that ordinary print goods are
with designs. Muslin flags and
those made Of paper are printed on an
ordinary cylinder press from iron blocks
and heavy eleotrotyies.