Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-26

O0SAo awe "oS' APp1ONeO juno 80
WHY ms. DEPT. BANS
DANGEROUS FIREWORKS
Insurance Commissioner q. Wal.
don Smith on Wednesday made the
following statement Of his reasons
for placing the ban on dangerous
fireworks and states that similar ac-
ton is being taken by insurance
commissioners and fire marshals all
over the country. Mr.. Smith said:
This country has a great victory
to celebrate the coming Fourth Of
July. but not with dangerous and
destructive fireworks!
The boys are home. They do not
want ITO hear loud explosions or
smell any gunpowder.
There was enough of that in Eu-
rope to last them their natural lives.
The same rules on fireworks is
sued by this department last year
are in force now.
What 10 Lost
The loss in the United States for
one or two celebrations with fire.
works in one year is $275,OOO.
We need every cent of that money
and other huge amounts we care
lessly burn every day to pay off the
debts incurred in war.
There are lame, halt and blind
people enough Cleft by the under
tow of wary without an added casu-
oil xy 1ic< h1y fnnliCh diSn1o W
Of fireworks July 4.
Let us have the same sane Fourth
we had when this country was in the
grip of a worlds conflict.
(. Then fire prevention men and
women got busy and campaigned
more vigorously than before to stop
the slaughter and let people see the
unreasonablepess of the celebration
in that manner.
List Of Dead Drops
The list of dead dropped to five in
1913. This year it should be zero!
The toy balloon, the chasers and
all fireworks such as will leave a
combustible base are under the ban
Of this department.
A "set-piece" will be allowed only
when SO charged that sparks will
not be thrown a greater distance
than five feet (when such exhibition
is allowed by .ordinance). and it
must not be discharged within 100
feet Of buildings or combustible ma
terial. 1t must be fired by an ex-
pert and all precautions taken
against fire and accident
Dynamite and cannon crackers.
and the deadly toy pistol firing a
blank cartridge, must not appear at
any time.
The wheat is ripening. and hay is
in the barns. A toy balloon may
wipe out a seasons crops. They
should not be made by private peo-
pie, nor should they be manufac-
tured and sold. The. hot air tissue
paper balloon has millions Of dol
lars in fire waste to it's credit.
Menace to Property
Roman candles and skyrockets are
a menace to property and to life, and
change of wind or a misjudging of
the angle at which they are dis
charged may cause a 100000 fire.
Most of the municipalities have
sufficiently strong ordinances to
protect their citizens and their
property from fireworks.
Police chiefs and prosecutors
Should see that such ordinances are
enforced.
Only the small Chinese fire crack
err and the sparkler are possibly as
safe as any kind of fire, and may be
used, provided that they are not
fired within 25 feet Of building and
are fired when some grown person
is watching the children.
long will be allowed and the 1O-cent
Vesuvius fountains are barred.
What. 10 Better
There is more patriotism in the
click Of a spade in the garden than
there is in the roar Of cannon
cracker
There is more beauty in a flower
planted in memory of those who
sleep in Flanders fields than in the
most splendid burst of rocket stars,
which CLEAN for a moment and are
gone forever.
Let Maine have a quiet Fourth.
We have lots to think about this
year.
The fact that every fire marshal
in this country has written Insur-
ance Commissioner Smith. urging
him as fire marshal ex-officio to do
all in his power to keep the ban on
strongly to prevent fire and life loss
and while it is generally known the
bars were to be let down. the large
number Of mayors. selectmen, chiefs
Of police and fire departments all
over Maine have written or tele-