Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 139, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1919 — FIRE MARSHAL ADVISES SAFE AND SANE FOURTH. [ARTICLE]

FIRE MARSHAL ADVISES SAFE AND SANE FOURTH.

H. H. Friedley, state fire marshal of Indiana, has sent the following letter to the mayors and police officials of the cities of Indiana, in which he asks that all the officials of the city co-operate in keeping a sane Fourth of July: To the Citizens of Indiana: - No doubt there will be a commendable tendency on the part of the American people on the coming Fourth of July to celebrate the return of America’s victorious troops from the world war. Should the celebration be . marked by the discharge of fire-works, firecrackers and other forms of explosives, or by other means? Men who have suffered two years on the battlefields of Europe, we venture to believe, will accept as more in keeping with the full meaning of the day the more quiet and peaceful form of observance. The doctrine that there is no necessary connection between patriotism and the use of fire-works and explosives has been generally accepted in late years, and as a result the destruction of life and property has greatly decreased. To the end that life may not be endangered and property destroyed by such celebrations on the approaching Fourth, the state fire marshal issues this communication calling the attention of the citizens of thia state to the rule spromulgated by that office under authority of the fire marshal law. g| Section 45 of the rules of the state fire marshal of Indiana prohibits the sale of fire-works at retail. Section 46 prohibits the use or discharge of fire-works at any point within the limits of a city or town in the state of Indiana, except at such points as may be authorized by the city or town authorities, upon recommendation of the state fire marshal.

Fire-works or other pyrotechnic displays, if not prohibited by local ordinance, may be given under municipal supervision, provided such displays are held at least one thousand feet from any building. Toy paper balloons and skyrockets are forbidden. Municipal officials are asked to cooperate with the state authorities to see that these reasonable rules and the anti-fire-works ordinances of the various cities and towns are prop* erly enforced.