The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-02
MAKING FIRECRACKERs.
Interesting Information Concerning
n Grent Chinese Industry.

Consul General Goodnow at Shang-
hal has made report to the state de-
partment i'm regard to the frecraclSer
industry which contains much inter-
esting information. During the past
year 26,705,733 pounds of firecrackers,
valued at s1,5S4,151 in gold, We're ex-
ported from China, mainly from the
province of Kwangtung. Most of the
merchandise was shipped to New
York, only a small portion going to
England and other countries.
The exports represent, however. only
a small fraction Of the amount manu-
factured and used in China. There are
no large manufactures. The crackers
are made in small houses and in the
shops where they are sold. In the lat
ter places the proprietor of the shop,
his wife Cor wives) and children do the
work. The consul general says no re-
cord is kept of the number made and
sold, and no estimate is possible Of
their cost.
The use of crackers" says the con-
sui general. is universal in China, and
has been as far back as history re-
cords. 1t is most probable that in the
beginning they were used to frighten
frequently an expression of good feel
ing or of ceremonious compliment. They
are used at weddings, births and fu-
nerals; at festivals; religious, civil and
military ceremonies: at New Year: to
salute persons about to make journey,
and in fact. on all occasions out Of the
ordinary routine.
In making crackers only the cheap
est kind of straw paper which can be
| produced in the immediate locality
! where the crackers are made is used
| for the body of the cracker A little
| finer paper is used for the wrapper.
| The powder is also of the cheapest
grade and is made in the locality where
used. For the fuse a paper (calleo
leather" in Shanghai is used, which
! is imported from Japan and is made
from the inner lining of the bamboo.
In other places a fine rice paper is used,
| generally stiffened slightly with buck
wheat-hour paste, which the Chinese
say adds to its inilammablity.
| AT Canton the ordinary size cracker
| q 1-2 inches long by one-fourth of ar
| inch in diameter costs one tael (61
! cents) for 10000 for export. At Shang-
hal one tael will purchase 5000 of the
ordinary size while the largest sell for
So per thousand. These prices are
probably only a shade above the actual
cost of manufacture. The small manu-
facturers sell to Chinese compradores
who buy as agents of foreign firms
and ship the crackers in bundles to
the seacoast, where they are packed
in boxes which cost about four taels
tS2.50) per hundred and hold $50, ,OOt
flrecrackers.
aside from the fact that all the ma
| terial used is native and produced
where the crackers are manufactured
and that transportation does not enter
into the cost, the wonderful cheapness
of manufacture is accounted for by the
kind of labor used and the wages paid.
The items of cost of plant and interest
on it are eliminated by the fact that
the crackers are made in the homes OF
the workmen and in the shops where
they are sold. Tha hours Of labor are
from a. m. to IL p. m, and there are
seven working days in each week
| Four-fifths of the crackers consumed ir
China are made by the families of those
| who sell them, these people, of course,
receiving no wages. OF the paid work, a
very large proportion is done by women
and children, who are paid by the
piece. 1t is estimated that thirty wo.
men and ten men can make 100 Oo(
crackers per day, for which work the
women. will receive cents each and the
mon about Z cents each. An appren-
tice is bound for four years, and dur.
ing that time receives only his board
At the end of that period he will re-
ceive, if he is a fairly good workman
$50 cash per day, or cents in United
States money. An expert at the trade
200 cash per day, OF 10 cents gold.
"Workmen al this trade receive about
the average rate of wages paid here
for common labor. The trade Is con.
sidered unhealthy and dangerous, and
therefore not desirable"