, 1873-07-02
STOP TIE FIREWORKS,

STOP THE FIREWORKS.
Tho approach OF tho National Anniversary Ia
already indicated by tho frequent popping Of
aro-crackor. It is Jet throo days before tho
patriots aro required to prove their 1oyal-
ty by touching of nro-crackors and squbs,
and making other noisy demonstrations
OF thoir patriotism; but tho noiae has
alroady commenced in our public stroots, and,
II 1t incroaacs in anything like tho CUSTOM
ary ratio, by Thursday wo shall undoubtedly
celebrate Fourth Of July with grand blaze as
vol aa noise. Wo haYo now nearly re-
built tho burned portion Of tho city, Wo
have spent nearly two years Of timo
and many millions Of dollars in replacing tho
buildings which woro destroyed by tho Great
Fire. Wo haye got about roady to commence
making great public improvements. Our NOR
chhntB have got back into their stores and ware~
houses. Our banks and insurance Offices havo
resumed buHlneas In their old quarters. We
havc got new city which is tho prilo Of oil our
citizens and the envy Of othor cities. Now ia a
good timo, therefore, to burn 1t up again, aud
destroy in night tho hard labor Of theae yenrs.
Wo have got so much money that we should
hardly miaa tho loss OF Quo or two hum
dred millions, and tho insurance CON-
panios would undoubtedly DO gratifcd to
havo an opportunity to show their aolyonoy, It
is nearly two years Hinco ne have had any fire Of
consequence. because VIC haven't had much Of
consequence to burn. Now wo afo in condi-
ton, however, to make splendid fro. We
have finished buildings full Of goods. Wo hayo
larger hotels than before. We hnyo many un-
lnishod buildings full Of shavings and litter,
and We arc without sufficient supply Of water
in tho business portions Of the city, inasmuch as
ITO are using pipes laid down yoars ago,
when only small supply Of wator WAS
needed. Ne thus hayo all tho conditions for
another disastrous con1lngration, ind no could
mako greater sensation than wo did boforo,
and show that q few hundreds OF millions Of
property moro or less are OF very little account
hero. We probably shouldn't got tho sympathy
or assistance ne had before, for people might
got tired Of tho sensation; but then 1t would
dcmonatsato our disregard for tho values Of this
world, and NC could show more creditors and
mortgages, broken banlss and bankrupt insur-
ance companies than any other city In tho
world, and collection Of ruins which
would throw palmyra I'D Daalbec oil in tho
ahade. Haying tho conditions for o fire,
VIC larc also tho means and plenty Of them.
There aro yearly imported from Ohina to tho
United states about 275, 900 boxeu Of Aro-crack-
ers, which is sufficient to giyo each one Of our
forty millions Of people about two bunchca and
half each Of the intlammablo material Tho
average would give to Chicago about million
bunchos, md, as ono fro~craokor iB o. good a8
million, thore will bs no difficulty in getting up
con1agration upon short order. Thcro ia no
| moro effective agency In amateur incendiarsn
than tho firo-crac1or. Aftor 1t is ex-
plodcd, tho Fragments burn long time,
aud they have u way Of getting into
pilca Of STRAW and shnvings, of straying
into barns, and getting under sidewalks md
! houaos, which ia very insidious. Even IT tho
re-crackora should fail, there la still hopo left
in Roman candles aud rockets. Combining
them oil tQgethor, o suticioncy Of horses Gun
bo scared to kill OF mnim d fow people, numor-
Gus other people can DO badly burned, and no
can have n tirat-class coniingration all in tho
nanc of patriotism. Portland, fcu years ago,
nearly burned itaolf up with 1re-crackors, AMI
is satisfied not to fro them any more. boston,
taking losaon from its grcat tlre, hau also pro-
| hibltel their Use. IIayo We no Lesson
to learn from our own liro? Can we afford
to spend millions Of money to restore tho prop
er.y destroyed two years ago, aud tlon reok-
lessly expose That property to llro for three or
| four days, simply to mako noise aud lulla-
baloo, In order to prove our loyalty7
1t wo arc thus rookloBB, then 1t Ia tho duty of
| Tic Mayor has ample authority In the following
| city ordinance:
No pcraon shall hre Or discharge any cannon, gun,
fowlinglocc, pHto, or firearms Of auy description
re explode, or SGT or any squtb crackerB, or other
thing continuing powder, or other coubus.blo or OK
Iosyo materiul, without permission from tho Com.
.nou Council written permission from tho AIayur,
| which permission shall limit the tno Of sauh
firing aud shnll bo subject to bo ruyood hy tic Mayor
or Common Council ut my time after 1t has beun
granted Any violation horoof shall subject tho party
to 4 fno Of not less tlan "a, nor more thun $40.
Tho above IL q standing ordinance good for
Fourth of July or any otl1or day. Under its
operation, tho prohibition Of fireworks oxtonla
to every day in tho year, and thoy can DO used
OH the Fourth only by oxprcBB permit. II Ia ono
Of those ordinances, however, which has beon 40
frequently ignored On tho National Anniversary
that its oxistenco IL almost unknown. Tho