New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-24
MILLIONS FOR FIREWORKS.
HISTORY, PATRIOTISM AND SURGERY.

| AMERICA LEADING THE WORLD IN FONDNESS
FOR PYRoTECHNIC DISPLAY.
| Is It any indication OF the genius of the American
people, that the United states fireworks than
| all tho other nations In the world togetherf Man.
kinds preference for noise method of expressing
his feelings Is acknowledged fact the love OF dis
play and Of bright colors is also UNIVERSAL and since
fireworks combine the two in the highest state Of per
fiction, the characteristic extravaganza Of Americans
has brought them into great popularity as an almost
Indispensable OF celebrating anything and every
thing, from the Inauguration Of the President down TO
childIen's birthday party. China, Japan, England
Germany and France fireworks for all National
celebrations in large quantities. and IT is not likely
that the amount used here any one Fourth Of July
exceeds that used on Queen Victorla's birthday,
other great festivals of foreign nations but II has
maned for Americans to make fireworks fashionable
and to use them in far creator quantities In the az
gIcgate for bridge openings, railway openings, cleo
ton trumphs frcmens parades plcnics, fairs, exhibit
tons, seaside attractions, regattas and for private
parties among wealthy people, than for National
celebrations.
Tho centre Of the wholesale trade in fireworks in
this city is about Park place. Here the progress Of
the art may be noted how It has risen from the
humble Chinese frccracker still and always the staple
of the trade up through various grades OF giant
crackers, orpedoes, Roman candles, pin wheels flying
serpents, rockets fountains geyscrs, mines, star
showers sauclssons fro flowers and floating animals
and monstrosities up TO tho triumph Of pyrotechnlc
ingenuity and cxtravagance-those great set pieces,
representing cataracts portraits mottos, alegorcai
personagcs etc. etc. from 100 to 300 feet long, and
from fifty feet HIGH and costing each from 800
TO Fl 900 dollars warranted to illuminate tho darkest
night for miles around, dazzle the eyes OF any number
of behodcrs and consume more money In five minutes
than any other contrivance known to man.
AN ITEM OF THE ANNUAL EXPENDITURE.
box of firecrackcrs costs sxtyfve cents In China,
each box containing SEQ crackers neatly packed and
sub-dvIded, all ready for the retail trade million
OF these boxes imported by the trade for last
season and all sold. No doubt the same amount,
that Is, 5G0,OOO0O0 hrecracbers, Will be cracked
away this year Fireworks, especially the noisy kind,
possess peculiar fascination for the coored folk OF
the South and q great fayoritc with them, though
too expensive for lavish use IS Roman CANDLE which
splits scores OF little fiery swapping dragons, which
they call Niger chascrs.'
AS America exceeds all other nations In us lavish
outlay for fireworks, also American manufacturers
exceed those of all other nations in the perfection
extent intricacy and beauty OF their pyrotechnics
The degree of perfection which the rocket has been
brought ia truly remarkable. The beauty OF their |
cOors and the surprising changes they undergo in |
their appearance while up In the SKY provoke many |
a long drawn Ah-h-hl from the most stond behoider,
wLo the height TO which they soar Is only cqualled
by the height to which their price scars, rs year by
year they become larger OoihPhoa'eu' moio
and novel From 25 cents to 81 for one rocket used
to be considered money enough for moments whiz-
zng and sparkling not long ago, now one IS rocket
is Thought 10 BIO not at all ont of the way for the
final effort Of small display and dozen Of them for
$40 are indispensable to celebration Of any pre-
tensions.
The old time pin wheel or catharine wheel has too,
been developed until In Its present gorined state Its
modest proeentor is scarcely recognizable. They
now made OF great size and revolvc rapidly on care
fully prepared swves, showing many giitterng IRE
circles of different colors, band within band, wheel
within wheel. revolving In different directions, now
reversing the motion, all going one way, now all
the other, again each going separate way. and all
the while throwing out dazzling cloud OF frospos
and koeplng this up for many minutes, finally flying
10 pieces with one tremendous bang which Is
much more effective ending than the old way Of
running slowly down till the charred sticks are left
TO Crate on the of tho behoder by their sharp
contrast with tho glory OF the previous moment
MONSTERS FLOATING IN THE AIR
mt plenty OF celebrations take pIace In the day