New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-03
HOW FTRECRACKERS ARE MADE

From The Chicago Times Herald.
Already the sound OF the exploding nrecracker Is
heard in the land. and the Fourth OF July APP
proaches still nearer people with weak nerves Will
become more and more apprehensive while the
small boy Will become more nolsiy patriotic
The nrecracker 50 extensively used by Americans
In celebrating Independence Day - Chinese In
vention. and * supposed To have been used In
China in prehistoric times as universally as 1t is
now used In the Flowery Kingdom upon nearly all
ceremonious occasions It's original use is supposed
to have been TO brighten away eyil spirits and In
gardcd az an effective weapon against ghosts and
The average patriot has little knowledge OF how
these Implements OF patriotism made. the
amount OF labor expended on them and the cost OF
tho same. and It Is only Of recent date that any
ono outside Of China has known the exact methods
employed. for the Chinese are secretive about their
An American Consul in China. who has seen the
native manufacturers at work. thus describes the
process 49,, =, 49,, ,
iron rod. which varies In size according TO the
size OF cracker 10 be made. To complete M" roll
Ing a rude machine is used. This consists or two
uprighs supporting an axis. from which Is sus-
ly convex on the lower side There is just room be-
tween this swinging block and the top OF the ia BILE
10 place the cracker As each layer OF paper Is PVT
on by hand the cracker is placed upon the table
and The suspended weight is drawn over the roll
thus tigh enlng IL until no more can be passed UNI
der the weight, For the smallest whip cracker,
the Workman uses for compression. instead OF this
machine a heavy piece OF wood nttcG with han
die IKE thai OF 2 b1c ghnSrea are @ as
ovsr the end OF the bunch forced into the end
OF each cracker with a punch ME the cray ~
heine tamped IN little water Is sprayed on IL:
which makes II pack closer. The powder is poured
I'm M the other end OF the cracker With the aid
OF An awl the edge OF the paper Is turned In at the
upper end OF the cracker. and the fuse is inserted
through this. 49,, - .,.
The ordinary size cracker Is one and one-half
inches in length and fourth OF an inch in diam.
eter In china they can be purchased at cost
~ 50 cents FOR ten thousand. although the best
quality commands twice this price. This Is but
little more than the actual cost OF Manufacture
The straw paper used is OF the cheapest grade.
The powder Is also Of cheap and inferior quality
t.tx In W
every pack: .,, -.,,or n Az. quality
~ na ner il used but even this Is inexpensive
Most OF the frecrackers are made by women ana
children at their homes. and rapid workers are able
70 carr from five to seven cents per day. An ex-
nor, can earn 10 cents while novice receives only
bis hoard for the first four years. The wages PAID
IN this trade are about the same as those paid the
common laborer. 49,, a.. ., -, ,,oL,ro
orecrarkers is more or less dangerous, yet tho
hours OF labor from a. m. TO II p m seven
days In the week - A.. 49,. en-.
toner china has in her hrecracker trade. although
england purchases n small amount For the year
ending June ~ 1897. China exported 1'o''aS pounos
OF crackers. valued at N.bSs,loL