The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-03
100000 FOR FIREWORKS.
That Amount VIII Be Spent in the Stat.

That Amount VIII BE Spent in the State
of New York Alone.
at may seem TO be rather an exaggerated
assertion, but don't think the expenditure
for fire works that will be used in this State
on the Fourth of July will fall much below
100000" This opinion was expressed by
the manager of a large fireworks concern on
Park place in answer to the question as to
whether the manufacture of pyrotechnics
was increasing.
Notwithstanding all assertions to the
contrary" continued the speaker, the
manufacture is undoubtedly on the increase.
This city is the center of the trade in the
United States, which is mostly done by two
large firms. One of these firms is a CONSOLE
cation of several smaller ones.
Two factories mainly supply the general
demand. One is at Greenville, n. j.. the
other is at Staten Island. There are a few
factories in the West, but they are on COM
paratively small SCALE The trade for the
Fourth of July begins on the 1st of January,
but the great rush for local orders begins
about My 1st and continues up to about
the third week in June.
"PyrGtechnicS may be divided into four
general classes: Roman candles, rockets,
wheels and shells. These are almost eXclu-
svely made in the United States. All the
crackers cnme from China Under the Nc
hlulty Ulll LITTLE Is d uuby VI Oh CtDtS On
box of Chinese crackers containing eight
pounds to a box. They are sold wholesale
at 81 80, including duty, and 1t is marvel
to me how they can be made and sent here
for the money.
1.-The only American firm that know of
who completes in the manufacture OF fire.
crackers has its headquarters in Boston :;
but it was too much of a good thing and did
its work too Well, insomuch that this city
has passed an ordinance prohibiting their
use within municipal limits.
AS to originality 10 pyrutechnic designs,
there isn't much to be said. The goods Of
one year are much the same as those Of an
other. The only chance for novelties is
when they are made up to special designs
sent in by the customer. Now and again
there are some pretty effects produced in
this way.
THE principle on which the four classes
| have referred to are operated being the
same, necessarily retards the idea of nov
city. This principle is simply the forcing
(hy the escape OF gas through a VENT of the
firrwOrk In An opposite direction to that
taken by the gas, which is generated by
chemical cOmposit on during the revolution
of the ignitrd material. Rockets, Roman
candles and wheels are operated by what is
known to the trade as choke
sit NAV be laid down as an invariable
rule that the better the quality OF the chpmi-
Gals employed the better is the artistic effect
produced by the discharge. The factory
chemist must De an artist as well q
scientist, aud upon the combination of these
gu llties depends the measure of success
tnat attends his efforts"
As to cost, one may spend almost any
amount he pleases on fireworks. There are
Illuminated cascades that cost, wholesale,
Sl20 per dozen "a to Sc inches in diametrr) !;
silver crosses at $50 per dozen; Maltese
crosses, $50 per dozen, and palm trees, $40
piece.
Fourth of July emblem. consisting of
an oval medallion upon which the figures
1776-1S91 appear in colors, alone costs S110
per single piece, while the cheapest device
for exhibition purposes IAN illuminated
wheel, for in tance) costs SO.
Here are ID of the prices paid for the
designs specified: Washington on horse
back, larger than life-size, $3.50; baseball
players, supposed TO be the likeneSses of
well-knohn professionals, $50; Washing
ton (not on horseback), Sl60; steam fire en-
CINE, 5000; steamer and horses at full speed,
$500; American c0at-Of-armS, $40; flying
eagle, with shield, $780, InaSmuch as the
largest pyrotechnic design burns itself out
in twenty minutes, the consumption of
the fancy fireworks is costly Indulgence.
One of the newest and it is claimed one
of the most beautiful. effects in firework IL
Elimination, is the Japanese night bomb
shell, which Is discharged from u mortar
There are six varieties in the form of re-
vOlving cascade shells, surprise bouquets,
shooting stars, magic serpents. golden cloud
and willow trees, the set costing S3O.-N.
7, News.