The Washington herald., 1908-07-04
AMERICAN PATRIOTISM
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

catalogues that represent expenditures Of
from 500 to $3.50. selecting their purchases
with judgment that commands the ad-
miration OF the manufacturer.
The great problem which the manufac-
turers have had to consider for a num-
Der OF years is how 70 keep down the rec
cord OF casualties. But there is the fact
that many of the casualties are not
caused by the fireworks themselves. but
rather by the carelessness of those shoot
ing them of There is a disposition on
the part OF some OF the public, however.
not 20 take this into consideration. AS
a consequence, some sentiment has sprung
UP In recent years 10 curtain the cele-
bration of the Gay. For instance, it has
made sufficient headway In many Of the
large cities 20 cause the police authori-
I ties to prohibit the shooting of OF any
large crackers. Roman candles. or rock
cts until the Fourth OF July. This means
serious loss 70 those who manufacture
! the higher grade Of fireworks, because
many of them were shot of the few days
preceding the Fourth, as wei! as on the
holiday itself. The manufacturers, how
ever. have shown a disposition 70 CO.
operate with the authorities for greater
safety.
The shooting of Of fireworks as a means
Of celebration is very old custom. The
Greeks did It many centuries ago. They
celebrated their triumps in war and peace
in this way. The French also celebrated
with fireworks In the early hfties of the
list century they were leaders In the
art OF their manufacture. especially in
the choice Of colors. England then be-.
came the dominant factor in fireworks
/ But to-day the United States outranks
all other nations in the novelty, color
and general effectiveness Of its fireworks.
As consequence, our export trade is
very heavy. There is the general i'm
/ preston, however that China is the great
leader when it comes 10 making hrework.,
but this is wrong. The Chinaman only
manufactures the fireworks that the small
boy shoots off in the streets. What he
/ produces is lacking in effectiveness. The
] japanese are skilled, on the other hand,
| in making daylight fireworks
| one great firewOTk factory is situated
on the outskirts OF Brooklyn. not far
from Manhattan Beach. which has been
] the home Of firework displays for more
than thirty years. The factory covers
| forty acres Of land. II employs five
| hundred men. They make crackers,
/ bombs. and rockets. The most tedious
| branch Of their work IS the preparation
Of the bits Of paper and powder Every
! precaution Is taken 70 prevent the explos-
i've from going of too soon. Most Of the
work. owing 10 it's delicate nature. is done
by hand. The making Of the fireworks
! is done IN small sheds erected on the
ground. Each has room for from three
70 five men who put the parts of the ex-
] har 81
explosive material in the outer shells or
holders is done by hand.
Tissue paper IS the foundation Of every
kind Of fireworks. Layer after layer is
wrapped about the steel or wooden mold
or frame on which the rocket. candle. or
shell is made, until the surface is Just the
right thickness. That gives the cracker
great strength. When the case Is once
made the workers pack In the powder
filed stars or balls. If IL be a candle
or rocket they are filling. they drop the
materials in by hand and then apply
hydraulic pressure 10 force them down
| firmly and tightly so that a strong force
is needed 10 eject them
I The big radio or electric repeating
bomb shells are delicate things TO make
The case is usually pear shaped and
varies in thickness. the larger ones being
made Of tissue paper 10 the thickness OF
nearly an inch. The inside is hollow and
there are carefully packed the powder
and the materials that are 10 produce the
lights. stars, and balls. The repeating
bomb consists Of several smaller bombs
placed one within the other so that as
one eXDlodes the other is ignlted and ex-
plodes shortly after. The outer case OF
the shell is entirely destroyed BY tho
first big explosion.
The men who work in the frework fac.
tory are all skilled and experienced. The,
understand 10 a nicely the art Of com.
bining colors. But the most important
imam in this respect is the chemist. He
originates all the various shades anC
tints. II is said that he often works a.
long as three months just to secure Z
special tint or more perfect color. Il
is also said that he can secure alnos
tevery tint with his chemicals. Another
man Of much importance in the factor,
is the artist. He designs all the exhibi
ton pieces. The carpenter starts then
by building a frame OF wood in square,
Of ABOUT the dimensions OF an inch. The
lartist then draws the pictures accordinl
TO the scale laid out The object to bt
attained is TO get the greatest effect witt
the fewest lines. He also marks wher,
the pins are TO be laid for the color.
and where the colOrs are TO be applied
The picture is then passed TO the fore
men Of the factory. who covers II with
strips OF rattan Pins are then stucl
where the artist has indicated, the colol
garbes applied, and finally the quicl
match is laid over the whole thing. 81
that at the touch Of a spark the mattel
lignites and quickly spreads over the line.
OF the picture. sending il into a glow ot
flame. 1t is possible 10 produce in thi.
way any picture made Of simple lines
Nobody has anything against the legiti
mate fireworks business. The use Of fire
works in celebrations Of such days al
this is appropriate and will continue. Bu
there will come a time when firework
will not be intrusted to children. wheI
only experienced men viii be permitted
to handle them. and when the dangeroui
ones are all discarded for the harmless
and more beautiful 'set pieces" Of tn,
kind which awe the children and thrill
even the oldest heart
Copyright, 1905. By Frederic ]. Haskinl
TO-mOrrOw-First Democratic Con
ranffOn