Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-07-03
THE FOURTH OF lilly

The newspapers of Ohio have given
such general and able editorial sup
port to the idea of a safe and sane
Fourth of July as to render, almost
superfuous, the issuance of bulle-
tin on the subject by this department.
Since the adoption generally, by
our cities and villages in 1910, of or
dinances, either prohibiting the sale
entirely or strictly regulating the use
of fireworks and the dang&ous ex-
plosives which had come into such
common use, the number of injuries
and deaths incident to the celebration
has. been almost wiped out.
The practical results thus obtained
should be a sufficient guaranty
against reversion to the old order
| to refer to what was once called
"glorious' as the "barbarous" Fourth
1t is not now recalled that there
were any fatal accidents last year but
there were some serious injuries in
Ohio, in those municipalities which
had not provided against such, oc-
currences by protective legislation
1t may be well to recall the number
of casualties which have resulted in
cident to the celebration in years
past. In 1903, throughout the Unit
ed States, 466 people were killed and
1888 injured, and in 1909 there were
215 killed and 5,092 injured. Last
year, after public sentiment had fore
ed the enactment by many cities and
villages of regulatory ordinances, the
number of killed was 81 and injured
1,131.
Quoting from one of our newspa-
pers: "The total number of deaths
in II years, as direct result OF
Fourth of July celebrations, is 1,79z
and the total number of injured, &c.
4S8, making a grand total of 41,280.'
The figures would seem to render
comment unnecessary, being fright
full enough upon their face.
The. Fire Marshal can only urge
upon parents that they see to it that
their children are not exposed to ser
ious injury or possible death, by plac
ing in their hands dangerous explos
ives. He would also especially urge
upon all municipal authorities thaf
they put forth their utmost efforts tt
insure strict observance of theil
Iprohibitive and protective ordinances
A Proper Observance.
In one respect, perhaps, we have
| been at fault in not making greater
befforts to furnish satisfactory substi
tute for the noise and dangers attend
ing the Fourth Many Of our cities
| especially in the East, have worke'
j out plans which have proven highl!
successful. The celebration has beel
taken charge of by municipal authori
! ties in many places and elaborate pro
grams have been carried through. Il
others, committees of citizens hav
taken the matter in charge and sue
ceeded in furnishing splendid enter
tainment for all ages and classes AM
restoring the day to its former glory
In Ohio, this is being done to som
extent in our cities and in nearl
every town there will be found com
munities which have their own plan
for safely and yet interestingly oh
serving the occasion.
The department of Child Hygien
of the Russell Sage Foundation, ha
, devoted considerable effort to sprea
the idea of "a safe and sane Fourth
, and hos issued several pamphlets o.
the subject, making some very inter
, esting and valuable suggestions as t
nroper methods of it's observance
Their publications can be obtained a
nominal cost bv anplication to tn
: Foundation in New York CITY.
JOHN MANLEY,
Asst. State Fire Marshal.
Toledo, Ohio