ILLINOIS STATE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION.

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ILLINOIS STATE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION.

The sixteenth annual convention of the Illinois State Firemen’s association was held at Waukegan, with President Frank B. Bolte in the chair. The Rev. W, G. Toll, rector of Christ church, offered the opening prayer, and Mayor Pearce, of Waukegan, welcomed the visitors, B. F. Staymates, statistician replying. The secretary reported 140 departments and eight past officers represented, with $2,395 receipts for the year, and eighty-four departments protected by the indemnity plan. Among the deceased members was former Chief Swenie, of Chicago. The old officers were all re-elected as follows: President, Frank E. Bolte, East St. Louis; secretary, Walter E. Price. Champaign; treasurer, M. T. Quirk, Arcola; statistician, B. F. Staymates, Areola. The vicepresidents are as follows: G. Detrick, Dixon; A. Schoeberlein. Aurora; C. C. Chain, Ruslmell; W. L. Doebler, Princeton; C. D. Devore, Decatur; Peter Kipley, Riverdale; J. J. Doherty, Ottowa; J. D. Hill. Mattoon. The convention was a very successful one. Several very useful and well written papers were read, among them being one on “The conditions of spontaneous combustion,” by Dr. Nesbit. of Waukegan. and another on the “Benefits to the town and its fire department of a good running team,” by Capt. Neales, of La Grange. The next convention will again be held at Waukegan. A trip to Zion City and a visit to Fort Sheridan formed part of the entertainment committee’s program.

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ILLINOIS STATE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION

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ILLINOIS STATE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION

The annual convention of the Illinois State Firemen’s association was held at Aurora on January 13, 14, and 15. It was a most successful meeting, and a considerable amount of important business was transacted, among which was the discussion on the proposal to build a firemen’s home. A paper from former Chief Hale, of Kansas City, Mo., was read, in which he dealt with the subject of the “Federation of Firemen of the United States.” Former Chief Hale commented on the organisations of the foreign countries and stated that, although these were stronger than ours, every indication pointed to the United States national organisation becoming the strongest in the world, as well the best in point of instructiveness and betterment of the service. He appealed to the firemen to forward the work of federation at home. Papers were also read by Captain Simon Kellerman, of Edwardsville, on “The team problem of Illinois;” Professor J. Burtran, of Farmington. Ill., on “Team training rendered practical, simple, and easy;” E. A. Mersch. of Evanston. “Necessity of opening the tournament afield to paid firemen’s contests;” H. A. McDonald, of Clinton, Ill., “Ramshackle fire departments: their remedy.” The annual election of officers resulted as follows: Presi-. dent. E. B. Bolte. East St. Louis: vicepresident, Walter Price. Champaign: treasurer. M. T. Quirk, Arcola: statistician, B. F. Staymates, Clinton. The convention chose Waukegan as the next place of meeting. The tournament will be held at Champaign.

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