The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-11-16

Now that it seems certain that tw,
new states will be added to the Unlol
by March 4. New Mexico and Arizoni
being slated for promotion from terri
tories, the flag factories run by tn,
government are in for some busy
! times. 1t will be necessary first fol
the departments at Washington to de
eide on how the new stars shall be
| placed on the flag. The field of the
flag is becoming crowded with stars
! and it is no easy matter TO rearrange
them so that the section reserved fol-
consultations may not be inartistically
jumbled
The duty devolves upon officials OF
the army and navy departments. who
must meet and decide how the new
stars representing the two new states
are to be placed on the field of the flag.
Then the work of rearranging the field
on all the flags owned by Uncle Sam
will be begun, and a gigantic task it
will be.
Women Make Flags.
The army flags are all remade at the
various government depots, the work
being given to women who are widows
Of army men or the daughters OF vet
Grams with some claim on the govern
ment for employment The naval
flags are usually fixed up by the sail
ors themselves, the sailors being just
ing machine as the women. and as
they have a great deal of leisure time
the sailors manage TO do their own
official needlework, when the flags are
called in for the addition of stars and
the Encouragement of the field of stars
The addition of one star to the flag
sometimes proves an easy task. The
amount Of work involved depends
upon the position of the stars already
on the flag. If there is room at the
bottom of the last row OF stars for the
addition of another then 1t is merely
a matter of adding that extra star. and
this is comparatively easy job. But
the field Of stars seldom lends itself in
that kind manner to the work OF add
ing additional stars. The symmetrical
Of the stars is a matter
of the utmost Importance, and this re-
quires much thought and skill on the
part of the officials to whom is intrust-
ed the work of designing a field with
the extra stars added.
Work of Rearranging.
When the design has been decided
upon the work of rearranging the stars
S begun. If there is an odd star in
he number on the field that star is
lot placed at the top of the column"
10 to speak, and the rest OF the column
eft blank. The odd star is crowded .
n with the others, and this has to be /
lone so that the line of stars that has .
me star more than the others shows |
his fact with as little prominence as /
possible. 1t will be seen that to &C.
omplish this, filling in the stars ar
when there is an odd star on
he field, requires accurate measure
nents. 1t also requires a great deal
f work, for not only must the new
tar be added. but all the old stars
must be ripped off and sewed on again
4 the new places allotted to them on
be field Of the flag.
Cut Off Stars.
The first duty. therefore, when the
esign of the new flag has been sent
ut of the arsenals is to rip off the
tars that have TO be placed in differ
ut positions. This work is done by 1
)ws of women. who are armed with
harp pointed knives. They place I
lie star to be removed on a padded ,
ase that holds the cloth taut. Then
ley carefully rip out the stitches
ntil the star is removed This work
pes on for weeks and sometimes for
onths, for all the flags in the country
ust be rearranged. As the stars are
pped Off they are dropped in baskets 1
Id not used again, new stars being S
wed on to replace the discarded ones. j
The new stars are cut by means Of 5
die. A man with a mallet does moth L
g else all day but smash out stars
ON the material used At each blow u
the mallet a dozen stars are clean L
t from the cloth and are ready for n
e sewing brigade The stars so to L
e sewing machine women, who stitch q
EN- in place as rapidly as the ma n
ines can be made to move. q
Measures Distance. :
Prior to this. however. the most
precaution has been taken nj
insure the placing of the stars in the
hit position. At long table stands q
: man who is perhaps the most i'm 9
rtant part of the flag changing ma :
merry, for upon him depends the IN
,urate placing OF the stars. ~
With his design before him this m
N takes the flag upon which the =,
rs are to be placed and measures II
, distance to the fraction OF an II
h. from star to star and from top
sides Then he chalks on the cloth ST
position in which the stars are to tn
p1o nd tho cav,-f,,sr woman, FOL . -,