Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-05-18
MAKING OUR FLAGS
Uncle Sam Does a Big Business
In the Bunting Line.
OWNS HIS OWN FACTORIES.

All the Standards Used In the Army
and Navy and on Government Build
ings Are Made at the Brooklyn and
Mare Island Navy Yards.
The making of over 400 different
kinds of flags for use In 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
at the Brooklyn navy yard, where an
up to date shop is maintained by the
government for the work. Practically
all of the flags for the needs Of the
Atlantic coast and interior posts and
buildings are made here. Flags re-
quired for the Pacific coast are made
at the Mare Island navy yard.
No government ship or building can
be without its Stars and Stripes, and
no one connected with the service Is
willing to fly n tattered or patched
flag. Consequently the flag making in
dustry of the United States govern
ment Is an important one.
On seeing a battleship in full dress
one can easily imagine how much bunt-
ing is required to be carried in the
ships lockers. Such a ship Is an inspir-
ing sight. In addition to flags for sig
mailing purposes, each battleship must
be equipped with an extensive array
of flags for official occasions. In the
ceremonial outfit there are about 250
flags. Each battleship carries more
than forty foreign flags each 20 by ID
feet.
For its flag making the government
buys the best bunting, but weather and
constant use wear out flags. A naval
regulation requires that each ship shall
have a complete outfit every three years
and oftener if needed. Nothing but
wool bunting is used in the manufac-
ture of the flags, and it is subjected to
a chemical and physical test before it
is accepted for use. The first test con-
sists of soaking the bunting in soap
and water and then exposing it to the
weather for ten days. Thirty hours of
this time the material must be in
bright sunshine. If the bunting stands
this test then it is accepted and sent to
the cutting rooms.
These Don present a colorful and
interesting picture. Many modern
Betsy Rosses may be seen busily en-
gagged in assembling the flags of a for
eign country or putting the forty-eight
stars on the Stars and Stripes. Much
of 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 mended to do further service.
All flags are cut from measurements
arranged on chalk lines and markers
on the floor. The first basting is usual
1y done on the floor also, as here strips
and pieces can be more conveniently
handled In this way. The final sewing
is done on machines.
1t was but a few years ago that I'm
Gle Sam decided to make his own
flags. Today he has a specialized
force, with each workman doing the
part best suited to him. Many women
are employed. Some excel in making
stars, others In stripes, and some do
their best work on a complicated m
blem of a foreign country.
Machinery is used to cut the many
thousands of stars required on Old
Glory. Eight sizes are required, vary
ing from fourteen to two inches across.
The flag of the president requires the
most labor, and a woman takes a full
month in putting n together. This
flag, consisting of a blue ground with
the coat of arms of the United States
in the center, is hand sewed. 1t takes
days of patient stitching to place the
life sized eagle with its great wings
outstretched. This flag is made in two
sizes, 10 by IA and 3 by 8 feet.
1t is the making of some Of the for
eign flags that taxes the ability of I'm
Gle Sans best workmen. For color
and emblems he has to get special ma
terial. Some of the Latin countries, al
though small In power, have elaborate
flags. The dragon flag of China con-
sists Of 200 separate pieces, which
must be carefully assembled and neat
ly finished. The flag of San Salvador
is very expensive to make.
After each flag is finished by the
workmen a heading is sewed on and
the border is stamped with the nam
of the flag. The master flag maker
then passes on 1t, after which it goes
to the storekeeper of the navy yard
for distribution.-New York Sun.