The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-06-03
EARLY CAMPAIGN
FOR Sane FOURTH
Fire Marshal Issues Urgent Warn
Ing; No Use Losing Lives
FOURTH OF JULY poN'Ts.
SAFETY FIRST.

| Don't buy the dangerous kinds of
fireworks.
| Under no circumstances allow small
children to handle fireworks.
Don't allow your boy To have the
gas-pipe" cannon.
| Toy pistols. blank cartridges, large ar
| dynamite firecrackers or torpedo canes
are dangerous and prohibited by law.
Many thousands of dollars worth Of
property is destroyed each year he
cause of balloons. the type of balloon
which requires a fire underneath to
propel same is dangerous.
| state Commissioner of Insurance
John II. Winship has issued the fol-
| lowing proclamation regarding a sane
| Fourth of July:
1T is now but few weeks until the
newspapers of the country will begin
the publication of the list of those kill
ed and injured, together with the
amount of property destroyed by the
careless use of fireworks and firearms
in the celebration of independence day.
For several years many of the cities
and towns of Michigan and the entire
press of the state as well as through
out the United States have advocated
| a safe and sane Fourth of July.
THE people have begun to realize 10
some extent the awful toll of human
life eXacted by useless and needless
celebrations. The hundreds of children
crippled ana disligured for life each
year is appalling, while property burn
ed, property that can never he replace
ed, runs into the hundreds Of thous-
ands.
statistics show that efforts along
the line of a Safe and Sane Fourth
have not been i'm vain. The following
record for the past four years ought Ia
he of sufficient interest To the people
of Michigan to secure their utmost CO.
operation in helping to make 1914-An
cities sane; killed and injured, none.
1000 Sane cities; killed and in
jured, 5,4O7.
l9l1-91 Sane cities: killed and in
iured. 2,92S.
1912-16l sane cities; killed and in
jured. sos.
l9l3-203 sane cities; killed and in
jured, 1853.
Annually the mayors of our cities
issue procamations concerning the
use of cannon crackers and other dam
gorous noise and fire producers upon
the Fourth But it may he impossible
for any police force TO absolutely en-
force the provisions Of an ordinance.
1T is suggested that the place to
begin is with the sellers Ordinances
which shall regulate or prohibit the
sale of the more dangerous varieties
of fireworks can he enforced much
more easily than can those seeking
To regulate or prohibit their use after
they are once sold.
"A few cities have already absolute
ly prohibited the sale of fireworks, and
the fact that outside of the properly
loss there are from loo to 500 deaths
annually. directly attributable to thes,
dangerous agencie'. Is sufficient Iusti-
llcation for this action.
But the drasic legislation would
not be required If the municipal an
thorities would enforce proper regu-
latory measures. Aud enforcement; &c
these measures can mtre easily b. Sc
cured If the parents III the land will
appreciate the danger and act accord
ingly i'm making their purchases
Parents are urged To back up to the
fullest extent possible all efforts of au-
thorties to lessen the dangers of life
and property. And especially are they
urged to use the utmost care In their
purchases and later in the use of these
joys of the youthful heart.
I'm number of Michigan towns and
cities the past few years Safe and
Sane celebrations have been held. The
use of fireworks in many instances was
entirely done away with. Basket and
picnic dinners were held in the parks.
Good speakers were obtained and out
door sports of all kinds were held. with
the splendid result that not a single
accident was reported from these
towns.
I'm other towns where celebrations
were held, fireworks were used only
IN the evening, the firing OF them
being i'm charge of the chief of the fire
department and his men. a special To-
cation being selected for the fireworks
stand and every precaution taken To
guard against accident or fire.
Dealers throughout the state will
soon be laying in their usual supply Of
fireworks, and the press and local au-
.horities of the towns and cities of
Michigan at this time should call at
ention to the awful records of the loss
IF life and property in former years.
so as to greatly reduce this record for
.914."
SS7-German Emperor laid stone
to inaugurate the Kiel Canal to