Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-16
Friday, November Is, 1905.
Mistellaasuas gsadina.
NAvY's COSTLY BUNTING.
Each Ship Carries Two Hundred and
Fifty Flags.

Each Ship Carries Two Hundred and
Fifty Flags.
Slowed away on every ship Of the
United States navy, from tugboat to
$4,000 ton battleship is a bundle OF
flags shoulder high, and about fifteen
feet long. About half the lot Is COM
posed of foreign flags, which are en-
cased in thick paper bags, with the
name of the country stenciled on the
end of the bag The remaining, In
cluding those for ordinary use, are
not wrapped, but tied in round bum
dies and lettered. The pile contains
ESQ flags, the regulation number each
ship must carry.
The making Of this number Of flags
costs the United States $4,000 al
year, of which $4,000 is paid for ma
terial alone. Each ship has forty
three foreign flags on board constant
N. These flags are 25 feet long and
Is feet wide. With these on board
the ship is prepared TO meet ana
show the proper courtesies which ma
val etiquette demands Of all nations
whose high officials should come
aboard OF whose waters the vessel
should enter while on a cruise.
AS ships quota of flags Is renew
ed every three years. 1t is no small
lob to keep enough flags on hand, and
TO this end Uncle Sam keeps a large
hag making establishment running at
full blast the year round at the Brook
lyn navy yard. Here there are near
iy 100 skilled needlewomen working
every day Of the year. except Sundays
anUI holidays, cutting the vari-color-
ed bunting into strips and sewing and
stitching them together In their prop
er place.
The most difficult part Of the work
is the making of the foreign flags, for
some Of them. be IL known, are fear
fully and wonderfully made. Take,
for example, the flag of San Salvador.
In the back is a belching volcano
pouring forth its lava and white
smoke. On the sides Of the mountain
is the green foliage and shrubbery.
Directly in front is tranquil sea OF
sapphire blue. Above the volcano is
a rising sun, set in design OF over
flowing cornucopias, and diamond
from which the rays are scintllating
In every direction. To the right and
left of the volcano are draped, In va
ried design, banners, which labortous- |
" try to pattern the Stars and Stripes
and yet not show the plagiarism. |
Around the whole concatenation Is
wreath of cactus branches Lovingly
embracing the volcano, while at the
top the date Of the country's inde-
pendence is inscribed.
To make a flag Of San Salvador
costs the United States government
Just $3.50, and when one OF these
flags is placed upon each battlesnip
every three years 1t can readily Dc
seen that the insignificant little re-
public to the south Of us Is really
costing the taxpayers Of the country
more than they would care to admit
Then there is the flag Of China
with its long, crawling, mythical
blood red dragon. To make that nag
costs the government something ike
$40. The flag Of Costa Rica with its
scenic beauty Of mountain and sea-
costs $50, nearly as much as the cost
Hest of them all, that of San Saliva
DOR
The largest flag made by Uncle
Sans fiagmakers is the United States
ensign No. l, which is S6 feet long
and 10 feet wide. 1t costs $40 TO
turn out a flag Of this style.
The presidents flag, while not the
largest, requires the longest time OF
any TO make, as it takes one woman
a whole month to finish 1t. 1t Is
simple design, being blue field with
the coat Of arms Of the United States
in the centre. The life-sized eagle,
with outstretched wings and other
emblems, are all hand-embroidered'
and involve the most patient work.
The embroidery silk used on this de-
sign, which is 10 by IA feet in size'
costs 50 per pound.-Washington
Post.