Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-21
The Price We Pay.

The account of the American Public
for the Fourth Of July has been bal
anced for another year, and the price,
as usual. is heavy. Three little boys
died from lockjaw as result OF
Fourth of July injuries; sixteen per-
sons, mostly little girls and small chill
dren. were burned to death by fire
from fireworks; five persons were
killed by firearms, six by explosions
of gun powder, guns or torpedoes'
four by cannon and FIVE died from
blood poison resulting from injuries
caused by fireworks. The total num-
Der of deaths resulting from Fourth
of July injuries, according to the
twelfth annual report on this subject
compiled by The Journal of the Amer
lean Medical Association, is forty and
the number injured is 1,466, making a
total of 1906 accidents resulting from
the Fourth of July celebrations.
Among those injured but not killed,
Sc were totally blinded, Is lost one eye
each, is lost legs, arms or hands, and
81 lost one or more fingers. This rec
ord, which reads like a report of a
European battlefield, is unfortunately
not as good as that of last year or the
wear before. In 1918 only 80 persons
were killed and 1,131 injured. and In
1912, while IL persons were killed, only
s47 were injured-the smallest number
reported in the past IL years. Penn
sylvania still leads all the other states,
having had Asst Fourth OF July injuries
to her credit this year, or over rs per
cent of those in the entire country OF
which 241, or about one-half, occurred
in Philadelphia New York had $50
accidents, almost double the number
reported last year. Illinois reported 95
injuries or more than twice as many
as last year, while Massachusetts and
Connecticut had respectively 81 and
II cases-the largest number since 1910.
In Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and
Washington, the number has decreased
to a marked extent.
these statistics have been collected,
42.7ss persons-nearly 4S regiments
have been injured through Fourth of
July accidents.
The responsibility for these condi
tons rests clearly with the city gov
eminent, since the sale of fireworks is
largely subject to municipal regulation.
In the 81 largest cities in the country,
Is persons were killed and 681 persons
injured, the other accidents occurring
in small towns and rural communities.
Many of the cities in the past five
years have adopted prohibitive ordin-
ances. The results are shown by their
comparative immunity from Fourth Of
July accidents. Such ordinances are
now being enforced in Baltimore, Bos-
ton. Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis,
Newark, st. Paul, Toledo, Trenton and
Washington. Restrictive, but not pro-
hibitive measures are enforced in New
York, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Buff
faao. For the last four years, Philadel-
phia has been the only large city hav-
ing more than 100 injuries
In spite of the slightly reduced num-
Der of tetanus Qoekjaw) cases this
year. the returns are somewhat dis
couraging. The increased number of
killed and injured indicates a relaxa-
ton in the enforcement Of the ordi-
nances which were so ably enforced
two years ago. Instead of relaxation
of restrictive measures, the use of fire.
works in the celebration of Fourth of
July should be strictly prohibited. To
kill outright forty persons and to
wound and MAIN 1466 others is not a
very fitting token of our thankfulness
for the Declaration of Independence
signed over a hundred years ago. Is
1t not rather an Acknowledgement that
in this country rowdyism cannot be re-
strained, or that the only way we can
show our patriotism is by riot and
murder? The results of two years ago
show plainly that these evils can be
entirely done away with. 1t is hoped
that the city officials will continue
their prohibitive measures until the
desirable end is attained.
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