In our century

In 1910, The American City published one of the first of numerous accounts of city officials’ efforts to improve the safety of Independence Day celebrations. Largely unorganized and unregulated use of fireworks and homemade explosives killed 215 people — many of them children — in 1909 and injured 5,092, according to statistics from the Journal of the American Medical Association quoted in a June 1913 article. To reduce the number of injuries and deaths, many cities launched campaigns for a “Safe and Sane Fourth,” which consisted of organized parades, music and games in parks, restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks, and public fireworks displays managed by experts.

The April 1910 edition of the magazine includes a description of Springfield, Mass.’s successful campaign to organize family friendly civic events for July 4. According to the author, Edward Moree, President Taft and 21 governors had promised the Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise that they would cooperate in efforts to calm July 4 raucousness. The campaigns had to overcome resistance from fireworks vendors, individuals and some community leaders who would claim the organized events were “molly-coddlism.”

The June 1915 edition of the magazine included two letters supporting the idea of making July 4 “Americanization Day.” One letter was addressed to the nation’s mayors from the Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island, Frederic Howe, and suggested that cities organize “citizenship receptions” on July 4. According to the letter, the idea began in Cleveland in 1914 when the “Sane Fourth Committee” invited newly naturalized citizens to a reception and presented each with a small American flag and a button of the city seal with the word “Citizen” on it. Attendees sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and listened to speeches by national, state and city officials. A second letter from Frances Kellor, editor of “Immigrants in America Review,” solicits suggestions for a newly formed National Americanization Day Committee that would support similar events nationwide. “On this occasion, we will all seek together to make this July the Fourt a day of inspiration and fulfillment to all citizens alike.”

Previous “In our century” Stories

• In our century — May 1915
  Cities seize revenue-generating opportunities to provide ice and refrigeration to residents and businesses
• In our century — May 1914
  Officials invest in maps to guide public projects, improve city administration and communicate plans to the public
• In our century — September 1915
  Technology develops to ensure the safe movement of trains, cars and emergency vehicles through city streets
• In our century — July 1914
  Among the early efforts to improve public health, cities invent and seek weapons of mass fly destruction
• In our century — August 1913
  When bond issues fail, cities seek alternative funding for infrastructure improvements and other public projects
• In our century — August 1914
  Cities improve cleanliness and public health by strategically placing public restrooms and encouraging their use
• In our century — December 1914
  Cities begin the tradition of decorating enormous public Christmas trees to celebrate the holidays
• In our century — June 1910
  Government accounting methods and reports mature from vague and incomplete records to standard formats.
• In our century — October 1909
  Investigations into corruption and mismanagement lead to (some) reforms in government policies and operations.
• In our century — January 1913
  Cities experiment with road surfaces and set out methods for funding road construction and maintenance.
• In our century — September 1909
  Limits on outdoor advertising are set through cities’ hard-fought battles over billboard sizes, messages and locations.
• In our century — August 1911
  Fire departments gain authority, modern equipment to prevent and improve response times to structure fires.
• In our century — June 1910
  Street lights become symbols of communities’ economic success, and lighting technology efficiency evolves.
• In our century — September 1909
  With urban growth comes city leaders’ desire to control and direct it for the community’s greatest benefit.
• In our century — September 1909
  Cities embrace playgrounds as valuable public assets for children’s safety, health and social development.
• In our century — September 1909
  Women embrace public causes, work to improve their communities and expand their societal roles.
• In our century — March 1910
  Cities develop methods, mechanisms and regulations for residential solid waste collection and disposal.
• In our century — November 1909
  Occupancy laws and social workers emerge in the early 1900s to clean up inner-city neighborhoods.
• The way we were
  Publisher’s son remembers American City & County‘s roots.