Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-06-21
SAVE THE BOYS.
Fourth of July Festivities are not
Only Dangerous but Expensive.

The conservation of the created re-
sources of the state and nation is one
Of the big problems for the American
people to solve. The Minnesota Fire
Marshal department is putting forth
its best endeavors along this line in
persistently calling the attention of
the people of the state to reduce the
annual ash heap by the Elimination of
hazardous fire conditions.
If the people of Minnesota could be
unnecessary fire loss, amounting in
1911 to nearly 100000 fully
seventy per cent of this loss could
have been saved to the people if
proper care had been used. The
stupendous fire waste in this country
every year has been justly termed
"Our National Folly" The annual
per capita fire waste in the United
States is estimated at So. In
Minnesota in 1911 it reached nearly
$500 per capita, while in Europe the
loss was only 33 cents. The sense
of the criminality and immortality of
needless fire waste is not yet fully
realized by the people of Minnesota.
In France for instance, there is law,
dating from the time of Napoleon,
providing that if fire starts in your
house or property and damages the
property of your neighbor you will
,, be held liable to the owner thereof.
In other European countries a heavy
liability rests on the party on whose
premises the fire starts. In this coun-
try the fires are fought bravely by
the fire department. regular and
volunteer, the ashes are viewed when
the waste is completed, the insurance
companies settle the policies and all
is over.
Minnesota will no doubt celebrate
July 4th in a manner which BELTS the
occasion. Practically every village
and hamlet in the state will have on
>, display and for sale the dangerous
and death dealing fire cracker. For
several years a concerted movement
! has been made in the cities of st.
4 Paul and Minneapolis looking to the
:. reduction of loss and property from
= this source to the minimum. And the
- results obtained have been most graft
> flying, demonstrating that it would be
= possible to absolutely eliminate the
fires causd by this agency. The in
surance rates in Minnesota are entire
ly too high and they can ony be mat
6 erially reduced by the people of the
state taking hold of the matter. In
:, preventing or curtailing the use Of
the fire cracker and other sort of fire
, works the mayors and councils of the
! various municipalities of the state
can assist very materially.
The small boy of course enjoys the
fire cracker for the noise it makes and
the element of danger in their use.
From the year 1908 to 1910. 1892
i people of this nation were either killed
O outright or badly wounded by the
q careless handling of fire works. The
4 annual slaughter is fast approaching
4 and it is largely up to the people of
y this state as to the number that will
be sacrificed by this false idea of
q patriotism. The annual property
loss as the result of 4th of July fires
reache astounding figures. These losses
increase the fire tax on the people be-
% cause the insurance companies must
v recoup their losses from those who
II are responsible for them.
ID City and village authorities are
urged to cooperate with the Mime
sofa State Fire Marshal in eliminating
the losses caused by the careless use
of fire works. Aside from the small
J. profit that dealers make in handling
re these wares no one could possibly
IS lose, and the welfare of the masses
!, should not be ieopardized for the bene-
IS fit of few.
II An ordinance or resolution alb.
solutely prohibiting the sale and use
t. of fire crackers or other fire woras
in every municipality in this state is
I'd justifable and would have a most
wholesome effect.
r. Chapter %, General Laws of 1907,
regulate the size of fire cracker anG
e. prohibits the use of blank cartridge
fire arms as follows:
"Section l. Every person wht
shall manufacture, use, sell or keel
y. for sale within this state any blanl
II cartridge pistol, blank cartridge fire
n arms, blank cartridges, caps contain
- ing dynamite and fire crackers exceed
Ak ing three inches in length, and ex
q ceeding one-half of an inch in diamete
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Village authorities and City Coun