Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1901-06-25
FIRE WORKS SUPPLY
NOT DEPLETED BY THE CHINESE
 WAR.
The Small Boy May Have All the Firecrackers He Has Money
 to Buy.
to Buy.

supply of firecrackers this year. As many of them as usual have been i'm ported for the coming Fourth of July. and the prices of them have not been advanced. On the other hand, the American crackers, which are of Iarg- CT sizes, arc growing in popular favor and their manufacture is showing tendency to rapid increase.
 Small freeraekers, of the sort that sell at cents q pack, will rever be made in the United States, because labor is too high. Their manufacture will continue to be monopolized by the Chinese, who utilize for the paE- pose the cheapest kind of straw paper. A piece of paper 9x30 inches will com pose twenty-one of the tiny eyIiadrie- al bombs The powder is of the poorest grade, and the fuse is from the inner lining of the bamboo. A bit of red clay is forced into one end of each paper tube, and the explosive is poured into the other eGd. The fuses are braided together. a large quick firing fuse is inserted. and the package is finally wrapped in paper for market. Tn China eraeker-maktng is household indHstfg much of the work being done by women and cllil- dren and it is estimated that forty persons can produee 7o0.o0a crackers per diem.
 \ generation ago there were hardly any fireworks that were within the i'm tied means of the average small boy. He might buy half dozen very small roman candles and a few inferior pin wheels to eke out his patriotic cele- bration Of the national holidy. but the choice from his economical view point was very limited. Nowadays, on the other hand, certain firms make a speciality of inexpensive fireworks and supply dealers by the gross with penny goods, ''5-cent goods and "10-cent goods" of this description
 It is really surprising what boy can get in this way for cent With no larger capital he may purchase a 3-inch serpent otherwise known as a "split-devel,' or he may select a "grasshopper" that makes four bangs, 1 an eccentric spinner" an electric fountain a '"crimson frefy," gold en fountain' ruby torch" whist ling bomb" "whistling nigger chaser a jumping jack snake nest" or a flying pigeon.
 For a cent he can buy ,tgunboat" /" which is little boat that conceals q l frecracker. When desired and with the aid of piece of punk, it blows up A spinner spins first one way and then the other, whereas a cracker jack jumps into the air and wiggles in delightful manner \ reporting red torch, likewise for penny. sqaiIts eolored fire and goes bang while the equally inexpensive ptga9n actually flies fifteen or twenty yards The aerasshopper mine" is ike long tape filled with powder as tWisted %. It iumra alarutas'
 31l- Of these charming- thtre5 a manufactured in various sra4 that one may buy them for cent. for nickel OF for dime. a a8rdlas to ones means For=boys ~h9 nave money 10 burn in q literal sensa there are superior and relatively costly small fireworks at 25 cents apiece. in cluding such stimulants Of juvenile enthusiasm as electric volcanoes silver cascades. "bomhette hattae- tes. electric woa]eres end svar ing delvishes
 All or these aaticIe if Vil be ahs served have very attractive namezs which help them to sell Bat many oi them are eHite wonderful ror tla pr.ee. The elctfie volcano gees off much lflta a real volcano only on q small saala and the comet" for 10 cents, Eis1z into inc air and presents fiery an. pearanee similar to that Of tho nys- teriaus celestial vigitaHt eallat bz that name. The whistliae devil goo somewhat like a rocket. Whistlins as it ascends, and finally explodes
 Torpedoes have steadily increased in size and this year are larger thal ever before Some of them are as b.< as Bermuda onions. and go off #ith an appalling bang. They are not ap- nronriata for littln girls