The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-01
FIREWORKS AND THE FOURTH.
Movement Against House Burning and
Limb SCATTERING PyrOtechnicS.
THE COST In CONGREGATIONS.
curious Anniversary Figurcs-The Law In
BaltimOre-Expericnces Elsewhere

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EIScWucIc
The in which the Fourth of July shall DO
pyroiechnically celebrated is an anxious question
among our property holders and representatives oil in
surancc interests The great nrcs that have occurred
As The result OF tho careless OF hrecrackers, the
alarms that have been given 10 neehborhoods, the
thousands who have suffered from accident. the reck
loss manner in which the small boy has used his
opportuncs-all these ond other Incidents connected
with the celebration Of Independence Day have al
racted the attention OF thoughtful men to tho subject,
and there icelin: work which may eventually
compel greater public protection In country town
village may DO snic enough send up rockets dis
charge Roman candles, fire oil packages Oh dynamite.
explode the scientifically made punches OF modern
and torpedoes that holp swell tho noise OF
the day; but In New York old times have changed
Large values are al stake here. Our thcky crowded
promenades are not adapted 10 the joyful dconation
OF these destructive clements who we want tho
little tako their usual pleasure, the largcr
thought OF set-protection IS ut work. This may be
brought to the practical mind by statistics something
like these which arequo.ed below from the report for
1876 OF tho Committee OF the National Board OF Fire
undcrwrilers:-
EXTRACTS FROM The REPORT.
II 10 the universal testimony OF nro underwriters
and cne engineers OF lire departments that the losses
number than in any previous year Ia their
remembrance. The wide spread feeling OF alarm
and apprehension OF serious conHngratonS on Inc
Ccntcnnal Fourth OF July. influenced the public to
PRECAUTIONS for safcy OF property tho
II is strkingy suggestive OF the dangers to which
property annually exposed that II Is source OF gen.
oral congatuaton that tho total Losses ~ re on the
Fourth OF July consequence OF the discharge Of IRE
works and lrecrackers, was less than hall million
OF dollars.
Because OF the undsputcd fact that the losses by Are
Independence Day ol the present year were less
than any previous year, your committee considered
the present favorable time TO colatc figures, show
ing by ,c and the extent Of other casualties
occasoned by the principal agents OF American cee-
Observation-Disclosures ana nrecrackers. That the re-
turns might be complete we forwarded blank asking
for the desired information, TO all Insurance. COM
panIcs doing business in this country to CHI ct cngin-
GERS and chics OF police In all cities
and towns having population oil over 600 persons;
and have received and present 10 you the ln!orma
ton received from $40 stock companies l49 mutual
companies $50 chief eng neers, I'll chiefs o ponce
IT, will be observed that tho dangers oi fireworks.
when under close scrutiny and guarded ny the awak-
fears OF nation are Of sufficient magnitude 10
demand our serious consideration. Is not Sl54o 14 10
tax upon insurance capital Tor the qualification
OF juvenile patriotism?
the losses as reported were mainly In the North
eastern States. The West was protected by copous
The greater display of fireworks IN the South
occurs during the fall and WINTER at tho time Of Mard
Gras ana Christmas holidays.
FIREWORKS.
Pyrotecncs SO largely into tho admin ,stration
OF many departments OF the government and oil CON-
nercc and their display when properly man pulated
can be maao so sale and afford SO much real 70
citizens OF all ages, that few, any, would wish pro-
hibt their MANUFACTURER; yet in view OF tho danger al
tcndant upon their reckless handling discharge II
i'm nor that sale and oil all fireworks should
be surrounded by most stringent municipal regulation
Wo hold that fireworks should be manufactured
which tho time OF heir discharge cannot be rsgu-
lated to their direction Serpents squibs chasers,
called, which, whcn discharged, arc completely be-
yopd control dangerous, and tho manufacture OF
them should 90 prohibited.
Again. we hold that article OF pyrotcchncs should
be man featured which, alter the Immediate effect de-
DO produced has been secured. leave burning
debris The per oil which rockets and other similar
fireworks are manufactured should De inade incom-
Wo learn from excellent authority that the value OF
fireworks Of American manufacture sold from 1866 10
1876 amounted TO 81 556, 0O0
Your committee have been pleased to learn from
leading fireworks manufacturers that they win
operate limiting the dangers Of their products, and
the American Pyrotechnlc Association have. at our
request appointed committee TO ascertain the wishes
OF our Board, We recommend that this Board appoint
a special committee To confer with these gentemep.
CHINESE CRACKERS AND BARBARisM.
By tho most liberal thought we cannot frame single
argument against imagine n enable opposition
to this committees earnest accommodation that Tho
influence OF the National Board OF Fire Underwriters
be exerted toward securing from Congress bill pro-
nbtng the importation OF Chinese tire crackers.
In appearance beahonsh, the noise OF their discharge
Is destructive OF all rational methods OF celebration,
thor serious effects after their explosion
beyond calculation. Tho invoice value Of all Are
crackers imported since January 1868. Is less than
ST. 500 0O0 and the loss by conhagrations that
peroi traceablc directly to them, amounts to upward
OF SIS COO 00O ana ind that day only OF tho
present year loss occasioned by these nccnd
amounted to twenty-five per cent Of the total invoice
value OF all imported IN 1870 II IS not an exrnvagant
statement that every doilar's worth OF frccrackers
imported into this country has occasoncd direct loss
by FIRE OF more than 800.
WHAT DIR. WILLARD PARKER SAYS
The following is a letter from distinguished phys-
can:-
DEAR sIR-I am glad you making move against tho
absurd Pagan practice OF eelebrsng our nasona esta
which fire anderwri.es think NE insurance
Il not 90.
the large city nei. o .ls aur a S .ay Fl @
order and aa,t to mrae and who regard .hs com
""a ss q the Sick vi" SSsy "a
THE MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE,
Mr. Doyle the Mayor OF Providence writes In ds76:-
control Of the sale Of Fireworks in this city Vested
rs time in city the salc Of arecrackcrs H.
ssSas ss1 ROM "sc ss the strictly
hs result Of which that
there marked absence q on the Fourth q
waite hands The police nspecion vas thoou $, Tar rs
Of lire each but this year only re
on the I'm and one on TIE on oeaTe one a. M
boi.eve that IL the sale OF hecrackers chectuay
would be saved from Dire.
MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES or BALTIMORE
Tho Monumental City has suffered 80 greatly nom
the Of fireworks that tho municipal authorities
obliged 10 take the matter IN hand, and the fol-
loving ordinances were passed.
No person shall cast, throw nre saab. rocket,
explosive prcpar within cty person.
every such offence, shall forfeit and pay
ccrdng IS.
II shall not be lawful for TO sell or
offer within limits Of tho city cracker
squLs rockets other comhusolc nreworks PROVIDED.
however that this section shall apply
such article when sold IN tho original packaSe imported
ever, offender against Of tho vi tis
ti,n shall pay for each and every offence ~.
1t sla be law al any person persons
factnre within tho limits the city sounds.
rockets any other lbustibic hreworxs and every
offender against the provisions OF this section shall forfeit
pay the sum o, $40 for each and every offence.
\ CASUALTY STATISTICS
curious compilation, furnished by tho ire insur-
nncc companies shows that tho amount OF damage In
! 1875 IRON fireworks was $732OI IRON Hrecfackers,
S4s. 12I and IRON gun wads. $50, 2i2, total oil
Sl54 374 or s0i ciiies and towns having ordinances
against fireworks and ccrackcrs there wcr. 81 fatal
casualties Ii serious ana 28S slight VI 27 cities and
towns without such ordinances fatal Z,
the serious rites 2 and slight casgitics LOO.
In view OF the interest excited by The publication q