Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-13

milton shirts; for the red he requisi-
toned on the wife of a private for her
one red flannel petticoat; for the blue
he used an old coat that had been cap
the first battle fought under the legally
defined flag was that fought in defense
of Fort Schuyler.
This was our. first battle flag. Today
the nation supplies to its defenders
Thousands of flags every year, flags
that are made not of shirts. petticoars
and jackets sewed by the clumsy fin
gers of a patriotic drummer boy. but
of bunting that has borne stern chem
ical and physical tests, that has been
cut and sewed by hundreds of experts.
Last year to the army of the United
States there were furnished 1907 storm
and recruiting flags, 342 post flags and
thirty-one garrison flags. For the pre-
ceeding year there had been issued 107t
storm and recruiting flags 355 post
flags and forty garrison flags. These
sewed into big coverlet would reach
comfortably around the United States
and give her the appearance of giant
harlequin.
Each battleship of the American navy
is entitled to $50 flags every three years
though many are renewed oftener thar
this. The majority of these are sigma
flags. though each ship carries forty
three foreign flags, measuring thirty
five by thirteen feet. The cost of the
flags for each battleship Is about $500
no small item in Uncle Sans bill fol
equipments, especially when II is re.
called that he has twenty-seven first
and second class battleships in COM
mission. Besides these there are cruis.
ers, torpedo boats. torpedo boat de-
stroyers, submarines, monitors, gun
tf,tfa o
and receiving ships, some 265 all told
that must have a goodly supply OF
bunting for everyday use and for dress
up occasions. For these naval flags
Uncle Sam uses UP about $4,000 worth
of material every year. pays $4,000 In
wages and produces an average of So.
600 flags Of 4os different patterns.
The material of which the flags 10,
general service are made must stand
severe tests. The navy uses about 49,
COO yards a year for Old Glory alone
and the goods must be of superior
grade. The bunting is American made
II must be all wool and nineteen inches
wide 1t is washed for twenty-foui
hours in soap and fresh water. and
next day given a like treatment with
salt water. Then for ten days 1t Is ex-
posed to the weather, thirty hours OF
sunshine being stipulated. And that Is
not ALL The tensile strength must be
proved, for there are storms to be
weathered and a sixty-mile gale car
whip average cloth to ribbons. A STRIP
of bunting two inches wide must have
strength of sixty-five pounds wher
proved on the testing machine. two
inches of filling must stand forty-fivt
pounds. When the bunting has beer
proved it is given over to cutters anc
sewers, who, by rule and line, cut Out
and make the flags.
The presidents flag requires the mos
time and money among the nationa
designs made at the Brooklyn navy
yard. 1t takes woman working daily
| a whole month to make one. The de-
sign is the United States coat of arms
on a blue field. and as all the stitches
are set by hand and the embroidery
done with silk at SO a pound. each flag
costs a pretty penny when done. 1t II
| the foreign flags that take most time
and money in the making, for as eacf
| battleship must have its quota Uncle
Sam must have them on hand. The
Latin-American republics have flags
that cost a great deal. San SalvadoTs
emblem, with it's landscapes, seascapes
floral collection and cabalistic designs
keeps one woman busy for sixteen days
and costs Uncle Sam s52.50. Germany:
eagle and scroll work is next highesl