Evening star., 1895-06-08
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH
Dealers in Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Evi.
IDENTIFY Expect Great Enthusiasm.
Numerous Applications for Permits to
Sell - Rules and Regulations That
Should De Read and Remembered.

Dealers in fireworks and explosives of all
kinds are evidently anticipating large sales
between now and the Fourth of July, for
the number of permits for their sale Is far
in excess of any previous year at this
time. More than three hundred permits
have already been issued, and applications
for them are reaching police headquarters
by every mail. This would seem to insure
a lively time for the police and fire de-
partments.
Under the law the discharge of fireworks
or firearms is prohibited, but, as rule,
the police do not interfere with the cele-
bration where the fireworks used are not
especially noisy or dangerous. Maj. Moore
has not been In the habit of issuing any
order to the men concerning the Fourth,
except for them to use good judgment and
prevent as far as possible the destruction
OF life and property. Several years ago, be-
fore Maj Moore was chief, there was an
order for the enforcement of the law is
sued. and the small boys who were driven
into the back sheds set many of them on
fire and caused the constant calling out of
the fire department.
Sensible Restraints Oh Patriotic Ardor
The storing of gunpowder in houses in
quantities of more than thirty pounds is
prohibited, and then the powder must be
kept in tin canisters, with small mouths
and tin tops to fit. The firing of gun,
pistol or cannon in the streets or on pub
lie space or open lot within 900 yards of a
dwelling house is prohibited under a penal
ty of So for each Offense White firecrack-
ers, squibs and artificial fireworks are not
allowed to be set off within 100 yards of a
building, under penalty of from 81 to So.
The Commissioners in dealing with the
subject enacted a regulation requiring a
permit for dealers as follows:
mo fireworks or explosives of any kind
whatsoever shall be manufactured, stored,
kept, or used within the limits of the Dis
trict of Columbia without a license pre-
viously obtained from the major of police
under direction Of the Commissioners, or
except in connection with public works
under the direction of the officer in charge
thereof"
Will Be HOnored In the Breach.
Another section provides against the use
of firearms in these words:
mo gun, rifle, pistol, or other firearm
shall be discharged within the limits of the
cities of Washington or Georgetown or any
suburban settlement within the District Of
Columbia, or in or on any public road or
highway within the said District without
a special permit therefor by the major cf
police: Provided, however. That the pro-
visions of this section shall not apply to
licensed shooting galleries and similar cs-
Establishments between the hours of o'clock
am. and midnight of the secular days of
the week"
The granting of permits has been going
on for several days. and it requires three
Gays in which to get the permit after the
application is made. Heretofore many of
the dealers in fireworks have waited until
the last day before applying for permits,
and some of them called too late. This
year, however. they are not putting it off
until the last minute, and it is thought by
the police that all of them will be issued
in the next few days.