The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-24
IT Will BE NOISY
Dealers in Fourth of July Noise
Are Busy.
Anticipate a Large Sale in
Topeka.
LARGE SUM is SPENT.
Wholesalers Say City Annually
ExplOdes $4,000 Worth.
Only New Thing Is a Small Sized
Bomb.
SUM is SPENT.

Intending purchasers of fire crackers
and Fourth of July supplies will be
gratided to know that there will be no
advance of prices over those which
ruled last year. A rise in prices came
last year a few days before the Fourth
because of the inability of some of the
retail dealers to secure supplies and
locally the prices doomed UP 25 per
cent. This year the factories have been
able to keep up with the demand and
prices will remain uniform. The lid will
be off as usual for the attempt of the
city council to regulate the business
failed.
The Russian-Japanese war has no
effect on the small fire crackers which
are manufactured in the northern part
of China close to the scene of conflict
this year because of the large reserve
stocks which have been kept on hand
but it will materially affect conditions
next year and importers predict an ad-
vance of considerable extent. 1t seems
that a. large number of the factories
suffered by reason of their closeness to
the border of Manchuria and a number
have been entirely destroyed in the hos
Titles
Very few new features are on the
market this year and the only note
worthy one is an aerial pistol torpedo or
bomb which after taking flight in the
air bursts out into prismatic colors. IN
stead of tying the bomb to a, stick and
leaning it against a support prepara-
tory to lighting the bomb is inserted in
pistol and then lighted; twelve of the
bombs and the pistol retail for so cents.
OF course the larger bombs have to be
handled in the old way but for the
smaller kinds it is an effective instru-
ment.
The General Hughes torpedo which
the T. J. Coughlin Hardware company
introduced to the trade in Kansas this
year evidently attests the popularity of
General Hughes over the state for the
supply has not been equal to the de-
mand and Coughlin has sold out MS en-
tire stock to the merchants of Kansas.
The name paid.
Sentiment is working against the
large dynamite firecraekers and the
blank cartridge revolver of cheap con-
struction, both Of which have proved
sufficiently destructive to arouse con-
siderable feeling. The cannon hrecrack-
ers after they are inches in size and
the 10 cent revolver are instruments
which are almost guaranteed to put the
small boy in the hospital
When you thing of investing $4,000
for mere amusement it seems a mighty
huge sum but that and even a larger
amount goes up in smoke and noise in
Topeka on the national holiday. Il
should think said Mr.. Coughlin, who
supplies the wholesale and retail dealers
in the state, that SIS, 200 is about the
peka for fireworks and most of this is
sold in Topeka"
Some of the dealers buy to sell out of
town and some of the stock is not sold
so that the entire $4,000 is not dispos-
ed of locally in one day.
You would be. surprised" said one
dealer. chow much we sell from
street stand in front of our store. We
literally carry the small change away in
buckets. Last year it kept US so busy
making change that we just dumped the
small change down into bucket and
it was full to overlooking"
AT the same time the city council Will
get out it's Ratchet and take the pro-
Verbal, honored swing at the dangerous
cannon f1recracker and the cheap re-
vOlver. For several years the council
has ineffectually tried to pass an or
dinance restricting the sale and use OF
fireworks This year proved no excep-
ton and Two months ago the council
introduced an ordinance but lost out on
a vote But the attempt will be resus-
citated Immediately after the Fourth.
Councilman Green said: There is no
question but what the council will try
to pass an ordinance right after the
Fourth so as to provide for next year
and meet this complaint of the mer-
chants that they have ordered their
goods and would lose if such an or
dinance IS introduced. This is the only
time when such an ordinance can be IN
troduced and refute such argument.