Telegraphy the sense of a system that can transmit arbitrary messages over arbitrary distances. Lines of signalling relay stations can send messages to any required distance, but all these systems are limited to one extent or another in the range of messages that they can send. A system like flag semaphore, with an alphabetic code, can certainly send any given message, but the system is designed for short-range communication between two persons. An engine order telegraph, used to send instructions from the bridge of a ship to the engine room, fails to meet both criteria; it has a limited distance and
Flags of counties of the United States Flags of counties of the United States The flags of the counties of the United States exhibit a wide variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as widely different styles and design principles. For example, some Floridian and Alabamian municipality flags feature a saltire, due to saltires being used on their state flags. Some Maryland county flags feature the coat of arms of the Calvert family, as it is featured on the Maryland state flag, and due to the Calvert family's prominence in Maryland history. Many counties went decades without a flag, until a certain event, such as