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.