Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-07-02
A FIREWORKS PLANT.
DESCRIPTION OF A LARGE Manu-
FACTORY ON LONG ISLAND.

eight large factories in which fireworks
are made. Aside from these eight con-
Germs there are dozen smaller ones, and
from all combined win come not only
the supply for July 4, but also the enor-
nous supply for the political gatherings
of presidential year. A rough estimate
at the present time indicates that at
least g, 600, 600 will go up in smoke in
1892 in the states alone.
To supply this enormous quantity of
fireworks probably less than 1000 per-
sons are employed.
Down mt Parkviile, near Coney Island,
is q piece of land isolated from any
dwellings, and on it are about thirty
frail, wooden sheds. They look like
dolls houses at distance, and when
close at hand one is amazed TO discover
that they are of the fimsiest character
This is the plant of one of the largest
fireworks firms in the world. 1t does
not require much questioning to learn
the reason which prompts the erection of
such cheap buildings
At some distance from the sheds is a
low solid structure with a heavy oalzen
door This is the magazine in which
the powder is stored while awaiting
acquisitions from the sheds. tone of the
latter, much larger than its neigbors,
was the first visited. 1t is called "the
wet rolling she'd" Half a dozen men
were at work within, each assisted by a
boy, who pastes the sheets of damp paper
for the experienced journeymen 10 roll
He can roll gross Of cases a day. AS
fast as he completes bundle tits strung
up to dry. Ordinarily this would be a
hong process, but it is qaickened by the
heat from a big stove. These Ceases"
vary in diameter from half an inch to
two inches, and they are made for all
kinds Of fireworks, principally, though,
for rockets and Roman candles. Some
Of the former are massive affairs, and
while they are made for the general
trade their cost precludes the use of
them except for extraordinary occasions. |
In the dry rolling shed girls are en-
ployed. The work is light and clean !
and practically unattended by any
risk, as the loading of the cases is CON |
Quoted in a distant part Of the grounds. |
The leases" they make are mainly for /
the large set pieces. The paper is thin |
and is rolled upon delicate steel rods.
The girls are clever and attractive and !
seem to be thoroughly happy in their
out Of the way workshops. In another
shed the paper bombs are made. This
work requires much patience and deli
cacy. The worker has sphere in front
of him and over this he pastes bits of
paper until he has half the sphere made.
Then it is put away to dry, and while
this process is going on he forms the
other half. When both halves are
thoroughly dry they are joined together
and additional strips of paper and glue
complete the bomb, with the exception
of small hole which is left open for the
reception Of the charge.
The work Of filing shells is in the
hands of few men. They labor at
bench and a certain amount of powder
Is poured into the small opening by {
means of funnel. a hammer packs it
tightly, and when finished a time fuse is
inserted. Then the opening is hermet-
cally sealed and the bomb is ready for
use.
Passing from one shed 10 another we
saw at a short distance a substantial
building. In it Is stored the powdered
charcoal, of which tons are used every
year in the manufacture of fireworks of
the cheaper grades. Saltpeter, sulphur
and charcoal are the ingredients used in
squibs and crackers. Colored fireworks
are for the most part made Of chlorate of
potash, shellac and mineral salts.
The next building visited was the one
IN which the large rockets are charged.
On all sides there were the mute evil |
dences Of perfect cleanliness. The floors
had a polish like that Of highly rubbed
marble. The benches were free of dust. .
the windows clean, and the walls glis-
tened like the floor.
"How do You manage to have every
thing 50 cleany' the reporter asked.
Constant watchfulness and personal
safety make it necessary TO have every
thing clean replied the guide. These
floors and the benches are busted every
fifteen minutes. doubt if you can find
a grain Of powder. no matter how small.
anywhere except in the tins provided for
the explosives. Long association with
danger compels these men to exercise the
greatest care"
Don't you require the operatives to
wear felt shoes, OF do you permit them
to wear ordinary shoes
I've have no rule such as you speak
Of. but the workers have an unwritten
rule TO that effect They recognize that
their lives rest in their own hands, and 4
70 they wear light, thin slippers"
Firecrackers, from the ordinary sQuib
you can hold in your hand to the great
giant crackers, are made in the spring ,
when the weather is dry and warm.
Set pieces are usually made on the
Gene of their explosion. The fuses are .
prepared before hand. but ASIDE from !
his the actual completion Of the piece
= not performed until the day OF the