Middletown transcript., 1876-11-25
Two MILLIONS WASTED.
Some Facts and Figures as to the Cost of
Political fireworks and PROFESSIONS.

Political Fireworks and PROFESSIONS.
When it is remembered that both o
the two great factions hold numerous
meetings every week in the large cite:
during political canvass, it will no,
seem strange that very extensive pyro-
technic attractions are needed to attract
the thousands of people required to
make the gatherings sufficiently large
and imposing-imposing often in a
double sense. What with Roman can
dies, sky rockets. parachute rockets,
revolving rockets, ILLUMINATION floral
bomb shells. campaign salute sh' lis. -
"mines If stars and serpents," ''deto-
mating cannon salutes," ''silver foun-
tains,' colored fires, and the hundred
other design, which 60 to make up a
6rst-class display, the cost of a political
meeting nowadays is considerable -
These fireworks vary in price from 81
to SIS dozen, and twelve dozen do
not 60 very far.
The largest outlays on fireworks of
course occur in years of presidential
elections. Of late years the expendi-
ture, even at those important seasons,
has decreased considerably Very ex-
travagant displays were made in New
York city under the Tweed regime In
1868, for example. the Democats spent
$10,0 on fireworks, for one process
sion. The largest amount spent this
year on single occasion was $4,000,
expended on the great Democratic torch
light procession in New York. two
weeks ago. The Democrats in this city
have not devoted much more than $10.-
600 to all their parades during this
campaign. and the Republicans have
expended little more than $4,000
But the cost of fireworks only repre-
sents portion of the total outlay for
political professions. Every man in
line with cap, cape and torch. repre-
sonts an expenditure of $1.25, SO that
parade of 10000 men will cost about
$37 500 for equipments alone In the
40, ,0O0, 900 of our population, there are
probably more than 100000 boys
and men capable Of marching in these
pageants. If, in the course of Presi-
dental campaign, one individual in
every 20 of these 10, 900, ,000-and this
is a moderate estimate-takes part in a |
procession of this kind, the expenditure
for terches and uniforms would reach
$625, 900 And if to this we add the
cost Of fireworks, the total would pro-
badly exceed $4,000, 900
Competition has sensibly decreased
The once large profit on the manufac-
lure of fireworks The goods are man.
ufactured in the suburbs of New York.
aud at Greenville, N. j. Ordinary fire.
which are produced exclu-
sively in China, are the only fireworks
The price of those is largely
by the duty ($1 in gold) i'm
posed by tho Custom House on every
oox brought into this country. There
ire six large dealers in fireworks in
New York. with an invested capital of
'bout 5000. 900. who ship goods to all
PARTS Of the country for political clubs
md for Fourth of July celebrations.
Great improvements have been made
# late in the manufacture of fireworks.
lost of them are now made by machin-
ry only recently introduced, and many
lew varieties have been lately put upon
he market. America is considered to
cad the world, excepting only China.
D pyrotechnical science. Illustrated
VeeElv.