Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-28

aSos,
larger supplies than ever before, and they are
laying in their stock much earlier. From
present indications there will be at least
$4,000 worth Of explosives used here this
Fourth
''AH sorts Of fireworks this year are higher
priced than usual The Chinese goods have
advanced at least so per cent For example,
frecrsckers that were sold for 81 last year are
now selling so cents higher, and am not sure
but that they will soon sell for 81"
WHY PRICES ARE HIGHER.
''what is the Cause of the increase?" asked
the STAR reporter.
The principle reason he responded sis
the passage of the customs bill imposing
duty on the packing around the fireworks and
another reason is that there is syndicate in
New York that has purchased all available
stock. They gathered in large percentage of
the fireworks and would no doubt have lost
heavily had not Congress come to their rescue.
The Fourth-o.-July stock of explosives is larger
In the north than in any other section for in that
section the day is holiday
that il celebrated more than any
other. In the south it is different. Very few
explosives are sold south of hero for the Fourth
Of July because there is not much celebrating
with fireworks done. People in the south burn
their fireworks during the Christmas holidays,
and theu there is a large demand for fireworks
in that section. There are not many novelties
in the fireworks line this year" he continued,
'but there are plenty of the older pieces which
are beautiful, and which look as though they
could hardly be improved upon"
NOVELTIES OF THE YEAR.
"The whistling Jack is something new and
is a surprising novelty. 1t first exhibits fine
illumination of carmine and emerald fires and
is followed by an explosion of fiery meteors
and dragons. whistllng and screaming, and
terminating with fusilading report. Then
there is the whistling bomb that is manufac-
tured in Petersburg. Va. 1t makes a noise
like the whistle of steam engine and then
e1plodes with report as loud as an ordinary
bGmbshell.
Another new thing is the dynamite cracker
that Is manufactured in Chicago. IL is said to
contain dynamite, and for that reason firm
does not handle them. Probably one of the
best novelties in the line of fireworks is the
baby cracker. 1t is about an inch long and
one thirty-second of an inch in diameter.
Although so very small these crackers make
nearly as much noise as the larger ones. They
are handy for children to carry on picnic par
ties, there being seven hundred in pack that
would take but little room III u lunch basket.
FIRECRACKERs AND ToEPEDoEs.
"Firecrackers," continued the dealer 'tare
sold IN larger quantities than any other kind
OF fireworks. They are not dangerous and the
children like them because they make a noise.
Another reason for liking them is that they can
get more sport out of them for the amount of
money invested than out of any other sort of
explosive. The devil chaser or serpent is an
other explosive for which there is large de-
mand The demand for them is larger than
for any other American firework.
For small children the torpedo has no
equal They are comparatively harmless and
can be exploded anywhere without danger 1t
is said by the manufacturers that if thrown on
the pavement and exploded In powder they
will not set fire TO the powder.
THE TOY PISTOL
ave are not handling the deadly toy
pistol about which so much is heard The
paper caps that are used ON such pistols can,