The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-07
MERCHANTS ASK
FOR Sane fourth
Association Protests Against
Amending Law Forbidding
Use of Fireworks
Statistics Given Show That Old
Time Celebrations Caused
Great Destruction

The Merchants association has take
up the question of safe and sane
fourth and has addressed a letter T.
the board of supervisors, protesting
gainst an amendment to the presen
ordinance which would permit the pro
miseuous use of explosives in Sal
Francisco.
The letter of protest follows:
gentlemen: Noting that there is
movement to amend the present
ordinances SO as to permit the mis-
celaneouS use of frecrackers, ETC.,
again on the fourth of July, the
Merchants association desires to
protest emphatically against any
such change in the laws
san francisco is in no condition
Yet TO run the risk of another large
Hfe being started, particularly in
the Mission Western addition or
North beach district, where wooden
buildlngs predominant, and, after
the experience of a few years ago,
1t would seem most unwise to relax
any precautions that tend TO reduce
the possible number of fires.
NOISY BUT SAFE
Since 1905 San Francisco has had
four fourths of July, during which
the miscellaneous use of firecrack
ers and other classes of fireworks
was prohibited, but where there
was ample opportunity for chill
dren to celebrate the occasion with
the many noise making contriv-
ances invented for the purpose
without causing fires and without
endangering their own lives with
exploding f1recrackers and toy pis-
tolls
The following statement of the
number of fires during the few
ho 1iY1a
ting fireworks was passed and the
number during the last four years
should in itself be sufficient TO show
the wisdom of continuing the ordi-
nance in its present form:
July 1. 1900. IS fires.
July A. 1901. 10 fires.
July 4. 1902 40 fires
July I. 1903 ~ fires.
july 4, 1905 ~ fires
July 4. 1905 10 fires.
The losses are unknown, for the
reason that the records were de-
Stroyed IN the fire of 1905, but they
We're very heavy. In 1905 10 fires
We're burning at one time. and only
good luck regarding weather con-
ditions saved the city from confla-
grafton.
The ordinance prohibiting the
miscellaneous use of fireworks was
passed in 1905. and the following is
the record since that date on the
fourth of July:
1905, 1907, 1908 and 1909, no fires,
no losses and no one injured.
NO LIVES IN DANGER
In addition to the great loss of
property caused by fires resulting
from the miscellaneous use of fire
crackers and fireworks. there
should also be considered the need :
less injuries to children caused by
exploding firecrackers, toy pistols.
etc. Before 1906 the records of the
emergency hospitals We're filled
with lists of persons injured on
each fourth of July, and in some
cases death resulted. On the con-
trary, the fourth of July celebra-
tons of the four years since the
present ordinance has been in force
have passed as we are informed,
without any one being killed or
even injured on account of such
celebrations.
The city is now spending over
$5,000,000 TO protect itself from Sc
rious fires in the future, and for
this reason and also to prevent
needless injuries to persons, we
respectfully urge that the present
ordinance remain unchanged, and
other fireworks be not permitted
Scribed under the present law reg
respectfully,
THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
OF SAN FRANCISCO
r. Fl. SWAYNE, Vice President
L. NJ. KING, Secretary.