Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-06-02
MAKING OUR FLAGS
Uncle Sam Does a Bio Business
In the Bunting Line.
OWNS HIS OWN FACTORIES.

All the Standards Used In the Army
and Navy and on Government Build
inas Are Made at the Brooklyn and
Mare Island Navy Yards.
The making Of over 400 different
kinds Of flags for use Ia the navy, at
army posts and on government build
ings IN the United States is a pretty
big Job. Most Of these flags are made
III the Brooklyn navy yard. where all
up to date shop IS maintained by the
government for the work Practically
all OF the flags for the needs u the
Atlantic coast and interior posts and
buildings are made here Flags re
qulred for the Pacific coast are made
at the Mare Island navy yard
No government ship or building can
10 without It's Stars and Stripes, and
no one connected with the seryice'is
willing TO fly tattered or patched
nag Consequently the flag making in
dustry of the United States govern
meut IS an important one.
ON seeing a b0ttleship In fun dress
ing Is required to be carried In the
ships lockers Such ship is an inspir-
ing sight, In addition to flags for sig
mailing purposes, each battleship must
be equipped with ali extensive array
" nuRs for official occasions IN the
ceremonial outht there are about $50
flags Each battleship carries more
than forty foreign flags each 40 by 10
feet
For It's tag making the government
buys the best bunting but wea Their and
constant use wear out flags. A naval
regulation requires that each ship shall
have "A complete outfit every three years
and ofteuer II needed Nothing but
wool bunting Is used IN the mauufac-
ture " the flags, and It is subjected to
chemical aud physical test before Il
is accepted for use. The first test con
Fists Of soaking the bunting In soap
ANA water and then exposing 1t 10 the
weather for ten days Thirty hours Of
this time the material must be In
bright sunshine II tho bunting stands
this Test then It is accepted aud sent to
the cutting rooms.
These rooms present colorful and
interesting picture. Many modern
Betsy Hoszes may he seen buslly en-
gagged In assembling the flags OF for
eign country OF putting the forty eight
stars ou the Stars aud Stripes Much
~ the sewing IS done by machinery
but many expert needlewomen are
necessary, for the flag master does not
throw away any flag that can be neat
ly meuded 10 DO further service.
All Gags are cat from measurements
arranged ou chalk lines aud markers
ou the floor The FIRST bastlng Is usual
" done on the floor also. AS here strips
ond pieces eau be more conveniently
handled ia this way The final sewing
is done on machines
10 was bat few years ago that Tn
clio Sum decided to make his own
flags To-day be- has specialized
force, with each workman doing the
part best suited TO him Many women
ARE employed Some excel Ia making
stars others in stripes. and some do
their best work ON Il complicated en-
hlem OF "a foreign country.
Machinery is used 10 cut the many
thousands ot stars required on Old
Glory Eight sizes are required vary
lhS FROM fourteen to two inches across
The flax of the president requires the
most labor oud woman takes a full
m"0th iH putting one together This
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