Grand Forks herald., 1918-09-03
MAKING OF
FIREWORKS
RE-ORGANlzED
Industry Has Virtually been
Turned Over to the
Government.

Chicago. Sept. 3.-The war has
completely re-organized the American
fireworks display industry which vir-
tually has been turned over to the
government through the United States
Fireworks Manufacturers association.
This association, headed by e. j.
single OF New York. was organized at
the suggestion Of the federal bureau
OF explosives for the purpose Of CEN
tralizing the efforts Of the nations fire.
works manufacturers.
A great variety OF flares, sky rock
cts and star chasers, that perform
weird tricks over No Mans Land,
some of them costing as much as 500
apiece. are being turned out in start
ling quantities by the larger concerns
where day and night crews work
around the clock
And after the war the fireworks
display industry will again be re-
organized, this time on q larger scale
than ever before in peace times," said
G. H. Dufleld, head Of the Thearle-
Duf4eld Fireworks Display company,
successors to the Paine Fireworks
company. "The patriotic display is
becoming more and more popular. but
this class OF trade receives secondary
consideration while the government
work is rushed forward
But after the war these patriotic
displays will naturally be in still
greater demand"
Mr.. Duffield took occasion to correct
what he termed the public misunder-
standing concerning the use of fire.
works.
) 1.-The patriotic displays now in pro-
gress at state fairs do not burn up
materials that could be used in the
production Of munitions. Very little
powder, and only that Of an inferior
grade, is used for these fireworks.
The various colors are produced by
mixtures of chemicals. Only enough
powder is used to carry the flares or
bursting lights into the air. Govern
ment investigation has brought out
these facts"
Hand grenades, aeroplane search
lights, position lights, flares Of brill
liant white magnesium lights. which
are shot from gun 500 feet into the
air and burn thirty minutes, are some
of the articles being manufactured by
the plants,t that were once classed with
toy shops.
Strange tricks are played at night
by the army fireworks squad on the
battle front with American manufac-
tured displays, said j. Saunders Cor
don, president of the North American
Fireworks company here.
Saw sSSA oPAoA0 60AA SAAA46AS, LII 1Ae
stance, is thrown from an airplane
over enemy positions. After descent
of SO feet from the machine a para
chute opens from which is suspended
a brilliant light of 25O,00O candle
power. This light destroys the vision
Of gunners and the airplane is safe
In the black ocean of the sky. This
searchlight weighs Is pounds.
THE Very Light used for getting
quick sight of objects. ascends some
800 feet and burns twenty seconds,
leaving a brilliant trail that reveals
all objects on the ground.
Position lights are used for locat-
Ing the ground Of airplanes or for
ascertaining the position Of squad
ahead in the darkness. Star shells are
fired from a special gun 1000 feet
into the air. On reaching certain
altitude parachute opens and white
light is ignited by which you can read
a newspaper for a mile anywhere be-
low it.
"The signal rocks not only give
light but carry messages. The chain
rocket has a parachute from the tail
Of which six different colored lights
are suspended. Signals are formed by
the arrangement of these lights
Mr.. Gordon predicted that future
developments would enable aerial
photographers to take pictures Of
enemy positions at night.