Milford chronicle., 1925-01-02
MILFORD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1925

THE BURNING TO DEATH of thirtythree
children in a small school house, twenty-six by
thirty-four feet in the State of Oklahoma on
Christmas Eve was horrible thing to contem-
plate; but, how many fire traps of the same kind
existing now in Delaware, which await only the
conditions to repeat and bring the horror to our
homes through the old school buildings which
have stood for the greater part of a century?
The school house out in Oklahoma had been US
ed for probably twenty years and was built
without regard for emergencies of this charac-
ter, which has made so many farm homes lodges
Of sorrow on Christmas day of 1924. The
changes of time, bring new methods of celebra-
tiOns and means of making spectacular display
well instructive means of carrying into
effect celebrations of even the greatest of Christ
ian holidays. We not content to do with the
old one-hOrse wagon, or the illumination by the
candles of the past, so it is only right for to
think over what we owe to safety of the children
as well as their education. At all times the
quick thinking men and women are needed in
every gathering where danger from IRE is like
ly to be concealed, but there also must be the
element of safety to be observed, through exits
and other means of escape from schools and all
places where people assemble in large numbers.
IT is NOW CERTAIN that the State Fair at
Wilmington will be abandoned and the property
it owned be turned to other uses. The passing
of agricultural fairs leaves behind very similar
record as that of the State Fair at Wilmington.
The people seem to become surfeited with the |
repetition of amusements offered and the same |
ness of the displays made each year. Horse rae
ing has always drawn large crowds and with
out these the various fairs, either by county or
state management, would quickly fail to attract
sufficient attention to justify even a state from
making appropriations to assist in meeting the
obligations incurred.
Just here it is proper to suggest that the
grounds at the State Fair near Wilmington, be
made available for the establishment of a grand
circuit of racing in the fall of each year; carried
out on the same lines as the icur courses now
operating under the laws of the State of Mary |
land. {
The legislature would have to pass an enaB-
ling act; but, that should be no obstacle to af- S
'Ording thousands of people an opportunity to /
enjoy a sport, which has been established and I
enjoyed by all the people for two thousand c
ears, in one form or another. e
Maryland has received a revenue of nearly 1
light hundred thousand dollars each year from v
he four racing tracks that are operating under a
he laws created by her legislature There is no k
arm to the morals of the people by horse .lac- D
ng legally carried on no more than the chanc- il
ng off of pumpkin at a(school socialfor even
church fair by guessing the number of its o.
eeds. F
The two hundred thousand dollars of revenue W
ach year derived from the racing taxes and Y
ercentages of revenues, would maintain a for
stry department; or, a game warden system
Elective to protect the game from destruction &c
ntirely from the fields of Delaware; or, pay the fe
lterest several millions of dollars of bonds re
II the purpose of rebuilding the public school c.
lildings of Delaware. sa
There will be opposition to any proposition a
this kind that would Glamour at the heels of
'ery legislator to prevent its adoption; but, We
at is no reason why the people should not have At
gal amusement and in a form that will not ed