The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-06-20
State Fire Marshal Urges a
"Sane" Celebration of
the 4th of July
SHOWS THE NEED OF CAUTION
State Fire Marshal Cites the Law in
Regard TO the Use of Dangerous Fire
works and Demands That all Ofic-
ials of State Insist on Enforcement.

Mayor Dan 0. Head and Chief Of the,
Fire Department Henry Isermann have
received letters from State Fire Mar
shall 7. M. Purtell, urging the city of
Kenosha to join in the general move
ment throughout the state to secure
"sane" celebration of the Fourth of
July. The state fire marshal has is
sued special warning to the people
of the state in regard to the observ-
ance of the day. In his formal no
tice he says:
Independence day is coming. Shall
it be day of death, mutilation, lock-
Jaw, powder poisoning and devastation
by fire, OF shall it be safe and sane,
educational, with healthful games and
amusoments? It is up to each city,
town and village to decide.
All intelligent citizens must realize
that the insane and barbarous manner
of celebrating the Fourth does not
teach patriotism and has nothing to
recommend it.
The revolt against the insane man
ner of celebrating this historic holt
day has brought excellent results.
The deaths and accidents last year
were fewer than in any previous year
on record Still the toll was 81 dead
and 1903 manned or blinded for life.
July 4th, 1908, when fireworks were
allowed in the city of Washington,
104 people, mostly children, were tax
en- to the various hospitals Of the city
for treatment, the following Fourth,
with fireworks strictly prohibited, not
one single person. You can help to
make like commendable record for
your city.
Two years ago this department sent
out an ordinance regulating fireworks.
This was adopted in many cities, and
should DO strictly enforced. The pos
siblo demand Of greedy merchants for
revenue should not Weigh in the bal
ance against the lives and safety Of
children or the safety of property.
Even apart from ordinance or state
law, under the general police powers,
each city can regulate this dangerous
nuisance, and should do so. The least
any city can do is to limit the, use of
fireworks to parks, away from build
rugs, whose frame construction and
saingle roofs are especially liable to
lire.
Fire chiefs and fire wardens should
see that all inAammable rubbish in
yards and alleys is cleaned up before
the Fourth.
municipalities or civic bodies should
provide suitable amusements and exer-
cises for the young, calculated both to
entertain and to instil valuable les
sons of patriotism.
Police officers should be familier
with and strictly enforce the city or
dinances and the state law relating to
Fl ,eworks.
Attention is here called to Chapter
Sl3, Laws of 1911, which reads as fol
lows: "No person shall sell or keep
for sale or manufacture, or bring into
the state for use therein, any skyrock
cts, fireworks or frecrackers, contain
ing pieric acid, pierates, chlorate of
potash compound, dynamite, mixture of
dynamite or other high explosive mix
ture, pellets or tablets compounded of
any of the foregoing or other high ex-
plosive mixtures explosive canes using
blank cartridges or explosive paper
caps, blank cartridge pistols, or any
frecrackere more than three inches in
length and one-half of an inch in di-
ameter.
A penalty of $50 to 800 fine, or one
to six months imprisonment or both
fine and imprisonment is fixed
Attention is also called to Section
4397a of the revised statutes, which
section prohibits the use, sale and pos
session of toy pistols, toy revolvers or
toy firearms, under heavy penalty.
Let the day bring joy, but not loss,
yrief, sorrow and suffering.
4. NJ. Purteu,