White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-14
THE PRICE WE PAY
FOR FOURTH OF JULY

Three little boys died of lockjaw
this year as the result of Fourth of
July celebrations. Twenty-nine per-
sons were killed by other causes
eight by gunshot wounds; thirteen by
fire works; six by powder and tor
pedoes, one by the explosion of a
cannon and n by blood poisoning
following a burn. In addition to
these thirty-two lives lost, there we're
1,131 non-fatal injuries. Two per-
sons We're totally blinded. twenty
two lost n eye each, ten lost legs,
arms. or hands, and forty-six lost
one or more fingers.
This report, which is taken from
the 18th annual summary of Fourth
of July injuries made by the Journal
of the American Medical association,
shows a marked improvement over
conditions in previous years. but the
price paid for the celebration of our
national independence is still far too
hAHhi t1I3AihiA9 d. II . Hdih HtiN
by the lives OF children. In 1903,
when the journal made its first re-
port on this subject. 406 lives were
lost from lockjaw due to Fourth OF
July injuries, while the total number
OF deaths was 466 and the total
number of injuries 1888. In the
eleven years during which these re-
ports have been compiled, u Fourth
of July celebrations have cost 1892
lives and have caused 39.3SS nom
fatal injuries, or a total of 1.2S0 in
juries in eleven years. Nearly forty
two regiments of people have ben in
jured, nearly one-half as many as the
entire standing army of the United
States.
The hopeful feature about the
situation, however, is that conditions
in most of the states show a marked
improvement. In seventeen states,
on the other hand. the number of in
iuries was greater than last year.
four states--Pennsylvania. New York
Missouri aud Connecticut-furnish-
ing g. per cent of the accidents.
Pennsylvania still leads with the
largest number, having 491 Fourth of
July accidents. of which $40 occur
red in Philadelphia.
The prevention of Fourth of July
accidents is largely a municipal prob
lem, as the regulation of the sale Of
fireworks m under the authority
of the city government. The results
of the efforts at municipal control, as
shown by the reduced figures this
year are most gratifying. Prohibi-
tive ordinances were enforced this
year in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago.
Cleveland, Detroit. Newark. Toledo.
Trenton, Washington. and elsewhere.
Restrictive measures were enforced
in New York. st. Louis. Buffalo and
Pittsburg, Philadelphia reported
three deaths and Providence, R. l..
two. No other city had more than
one and many had no deaths and few
accidents. Two.thirds Of all the ac-
cidents occurred in hfty-three of the
largest cities. while thirty-one cities
this year had a clean record.
AS the responsibility of Fourth oi
July injuries and their prevention
rests entirely with city governments,
II is the duty of the city authorities
TO decide whether or not the MAIN
ing of hundreds, the agonlzing deaths
from lockjaw, and the burning TO
death of little children by fireworks
shall continue. If thirty-one cities
can have a clean record, all of the
others can do as we'll. Experience
has shown that restrictive ordinances
are practically impossible of enforce
ment. Prohibitive ordinances, for
bidding the importation and sale OF