STATE FIREMEN’S CONVENTIONS

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STATE FIREMEN’S CONVENTIONS

TRI-COUNTY FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION.

The firemen of the counties of Washington, Warren and Saratoga, N. Y., held their lourteenth annual convention at Schuylerville. It was very well attended. The parade and tournament formed the chief attractions. Among the items of business transacted were the following: Donations of $25 to the State firemen’s Home; $15 to the local library; $15 to the Fire Aid association ot Whitehall, in the parade over twenty departments were represented, and the prizes at the tournament were as follows: throwing a stream from a hand-engine through 250 ft. of hose—Union, Salem, 214 ft. 3 111., prize $300; Rough and Ready, Greenwich, 208 it. ioj/2 in., $200; J. J. Gray, Cambridge, 205 it. 1 in., $K>O. Hose race.—Durkee hose, bort Edwaru, 4s seconds; llibbey hose, bort Edward, 4« seconds; fsevnis hose, Victory Mills, 55 seconds. Erize drill—Union, Ballston bpa (the only competitor; 91% per cent, file lollowmg officers lor 1909-09 were elected: President, Chief John Mack, Glens Falls; vicepresidents, John H. Morgan, Fort Edward, J. H. Arehart, Corinth, Loyal EDavis, Glens balls; secretary, Thomas A. Faterson, Whitehall; treasurer, John J. Morgan, bort Edward; statistician, E. M. Finch, Whitehall. The next convention and tournament will be held at Sandy Hill.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE FIREMEN S ASSOCIATION.

The Twenty-first annual convention of the North Carolina State biremen’s association was held at Wilmington, as it was in 1907, and was largely attended. James D. McNeill, of Fayetteville, president of tile association, was in tlie chair. The address of welcome was delivered by Mayor Springer and was replied to by President McNeill. Chief S. G. Barnard, Asheville, C. U. Harris, Raleigh and Mayor Boyden, Salisbury also delivered addresses. In his annual address the president spoke cheerily and encouragingly of the progress ol the association and its financial prosperity. The new Relief fund was also adverted to as a success. The secretary in his report stated that the membership was as follows: Companies, 08; men, 966; chiefs, 28; assistant chiefs, 23; superintendents of fire-alarm, 5; superintendent of waterworks, 1; cities represented, 34; cities, with the greatest number of companies, 2—Wilmington, and Greensboro, with 5 apiece; cities with the largest number of members, 3—Raleigh, 84, Greensboro, 07, Wilmington, 30. According to Statistician Assistant Chief W. F. Monroe, of Wilmington there are 26 organised departments in the State, maintained at a cost of $96,996.39, with property valued at $350,125.95. These have the following equipment: Steamers, 20; gasoline engine, 1; chemical engines, 4; hand-engines, 3; hose wagons and carts, 72; hose, 65,500 ft.; hook and ladder trucks, 20; paid men, 113; volunteers, 1,040. Of the 632 fires for the year, 104 were caused by defective chimneys; explosions (.33 being lamp), 38; sparks from chimney, 112; matches, 28, seventeen with children attachments; careless and “accidental,” 43; electrical wires, 11; incendiary, 7; unknown causes, 128;, balance from the usual causes; losses paid by insurance companies, $294,853.47. A memorial service was held to commemorate the late secretary of the association, W. C Von Glahn, Wilmington. The association will continue to insist on the 1 per cent of the insurance premiums for its relief fund, and the legislature will be seen again on the subject. The following officers were elected to serve during the ensuing year: President, J. D. McNeill (for his fourteenth consecutive term) ; vicepresidents, Mayor A. H. Boyden, Salisbury, Charles U. Harris, Raleigh; secretary, Chief John J. Miller, Concord; treasurer, Chief R. C. Taylor, Winston—Salem: statistician, Assistant Chief W. P. Monroe, Wilmington. Asheville will be the convention city next year. There was a lengthy parade and a tournament wound up the proceedings.

VIRGINIA STATE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION.

The twenty-second annual convention of the Virginia Stale Firemen’s association will be held at Harrisburg on August 26, 27, 28. The three-days’ entertainment will include the convention proper, a parade, tournament and band concert. The convention, which will meet in the Opera house, will be welcomed by Hon. George E. Sipe on behalf of the city, and George N. Conrad, on behalf of the local fire department. The officers of the association are the following: President, O. B. Roller, senior vicepresident, J. Park Fraley; secretary George C. Cummings; statistician, James H. Duryea; The Rev. C. H. Smith, chaplain; treasurer, T. J. Williams. Reduced rates have been granted on all railroads.

CONVENTION AT JOHNSTOWN.

Johnstown, N. V., was the convention city this year for the Tricounty (Herkimer, Fulton & Montgomery counties) Firemens association. The attendance was large—ninety-live life members, and lifty-eiglit delegates, who were the representatives ot four exempt associations and thirty-four lire companies. The chair was occupied by A. T. Smith, Herkimer, president, who at the end ot the proceedings was presented with a gold badge of the association. Financially, tne association is strong, and its ranks do not fall off in numbers, two companies from Johnstown having been admitted into membership since the last convention. Any active fireman may now become a life member by paying $6 or by an annual subscription of $2 tor three years in succession. Officers for the succeeding year were elected as follows: President, Henry Yops, Fort Plain, President Smith having refused a fourth term; vicepresidents, E. H. Groffnian, Canajoharie, Charles E. Varley, Mohawk, DeWitt A. Hays, Gloversville; secretary, S. J. Hoffman, St. Johnsville; treasurer, Oswald Clayton, llion. A tournament was held on the second day, and, also, a parade. It may be added that the association has furnished a room in the State Foremen’s home at Hudson.

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STATE FIREMEN’S CONVENTIONS

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STATE FIREMEN’S CONVENTIONS

The Thirty-six annual convention of the Minnesota State Firemen’s association was this year held in the opera house at Mankato and was attended by upwards of 700 delegates. The president was Chief N. Kleinschmidt, of Mankato. The mayor delivered the address of welcome, to which Chief E. M. Twiford of Owatonna replied. Hon. A. J. Rockne, of Zemerta, delivered an address on “The duties of the taxpayer to the volunteer firemen,” who as often heroically expose their lines when lighting the flames and rescuing their fellow citizens. Charles E. Vassaly, former mayor of Little Falls spoke on “The duties of volunteer firemen as I see them.” The annual report of Secretary

D. L. Kane, adverted to the very prosperous state of the association, financially and otherwise and its gratifying growth in membership. It regretted the alteration made in 1907 to the law of 1903 (revised in 1905), by which the money paid by the South to relief associations should first be paid to the town or city treasurer, and then by him to the treasurer of the firemen’s relief association. The report advised that the clause in the law allowing municipalities to pay out the money of the two per cent, tax for the equipment and maintenance of the fire department would be better changed into one allowing the use of that money for the relief of sick and injured firemen and their widows and orphans, the municipalities to provide the funds for the other purposes. It also urged the securing of a passage of a uniform pension laid on the lines of firemen legislature for cities of over 50,000, and the exemption of firemen from poll and road tax, the same as members of the National Squad, and an exeption on their personal property assessment of $200, in addition to that allowed all citizens. State Insurance Commissioner J. A. Hartigan spoke on “The Relation of the Insurance companies to the Firemen.” Captain John P. Barrett, of engine company No. 1, of Minneapolis, advocated the use of the automobile in the fire service. Papers were also read on “waterworks in small cities: Which is best direct or gravity systems?” “The best fire-alarms system for volunteer fire departments,” “the use of the 2 per cent, insurance tax in volunteer departments.” “Iron shutters on buildings: Are they an aid or an hindrance ?”—approved; the duties of delegates to the State association convention and to the cities and towns they represent.” The convention was also addressed on various subjects by volunteer speakers. The proceedings throughout were of the most instructive and businesslike character. The officers elected for the ensuing year were the following: President, Chief Charles Wendell, Colquet: vicepresidents, Chiefs L. S. Kent, Alexandria; E. M. Twiford, Owatonna; J. R. Canterbury, Minneapolis; secretary. Captain I). I.. Kane, Minneapolis ; treasurer, Andrew J. Mylcr, St. Paul; statistician, E. F. Kelly, Faribault. Nine new honorary vicepresidents, one to be appointed by the delegates of each Congressional district were created to pay visits to the towns within that district. The next convention will meet at Cloquet. A parade with 9 bands in line and colored electric lights and red fire along the route of march and a ball wound up the gathering.

FOUR COUNTY KIKKMKN’s CONVENTION.

At Mauch Chunk, Pa., the Four-County Firemen’s convention was well attended and a considerable amount of practical work was got through. Among other business a very good paper was read by Chief Sillies, of Bath on “Firemen and their supporters.” The president W.

E. Bleckley performed his duties as chairman admirably. The following officers were elected: President. Chief Burgess John Stiles, Bangor; vicepresident. George Vanbiliard, South Bethlehem; George Savitz, Allentown; Charles F. Miller, Weatherly; John J. White, Stroudsburg; secretary, J. P. McNally, Catasauque; treasurer, T. P. Quinn. South Bethlehem. The convention will meet next year in Bangor. Chief Asa P. Blakslee. president of the local fire department and his men and the local committees, were untiring in their efforts in making the convention what it was—a great success. A banquet followed at the American hotel, covers being laid for ninety. Chief A. P. Blakslee acted as toast master. The speeches on the occasion were all good and iust h-fore the conclusion of the banquet, A. H. Buck, of Catasauque. made an address in which he spoke in words of the highest appreciation of Mauch Chunk’s welcome and concluded by presenting to W. E. Bleckley, the retiring President of the association a handsome brass bedstead from the members. Mr. Bleckley, though taken completely by surprise expressed his sincere thanks in appropriate terms. The parade was a grand success, and the exhibition drills were executed with the extremest accuracy. It was noticeable that during the period of the convention and its accompaniments, the local companies served no free beer at their hose houses, and this point was the subject of enthusiastic comment by many members of the Four-County association. Carrying out this idea has started a precedent in firemen’s recreations.

SIX-COUNTY FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION.

For the fifth time the Six County Firemen’s association met in convention last month. On this occasion the place of meeting was Hazleton, Pa. The members were welcomed by Mayor Smith. The new president is John Spohr, of Hazleton; the next place of meeting will be at Danville.

HUDSON VALLEY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION.

The Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s association recently held its nineteenth annual convention at Ossining, N. Y. The convention, which was in the Opera house, was opened by former Chief F. S. Bieber, of Poughkeepsie. Chairman J. W. Horsfall, of the village fire department, and one of its oldest members, delivered the address of welcome. Pecuniarily the association is well off; numerically it seems strong, 112 companies reporting and 398 members paying dues. The following officers were elected to serve during 1908-09: President, Charles A. Weiant, Haverstraw; vicepresidents, Frank Quigley, Kingston, and Charles M. Buckley, Mount Vernon; secretary, Henry Buxbttry, Hudson ; treasurer, VV. H. Kolts, Kingston. Hudson will be the next place of meeting. A parade followed the convention

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