Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-11
all departments of human industry; but there

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SPEAKER BLAINE's LITTER.
AUGUSTA, Sep. Q, 1874.
Henry T, Morse, Esq, Chief Engineer, &C.
My DEAR SIR When | made an engage
ment to dine with your fire companies and
your guests tomorrow, | had forgotten con-
ditional promise, already existing, to be pres
ent in distant part of the State at the same
time. As the fuifllment of that promise is
now insisted upon, l must beg you to excuse
| me from the dinner.
1t would have been source of great pleas
ure to me to be present and assist, so far as
might, in the hospitable welcome to your
guests from neighborng State. Their good
name and fame have preceded them and they
| are worthy, | am sure, of all the courteous at
| tentions which you can show them.
| l would have been pleased moreover, had
been permitted to be present, to congratulate
you all and still more to congratulate the
community at large, on the immense advance
that has been made in every respect, in the
organization of fire companies aud in their
| mode of operation. 1t is but few years
since their mechanical appliances were rude,
| their organization defective and disj"lnted,
and their attendant roughness oftentimes
terror to the neighborhoods they were relied
| upon to protect. Now all is changed.
| Art and science and the inventive talent
| of the country have combined in the ap-
| plication of electricity and steam, and
the deyouring element is now fought with
agencies more rapid and more powerful than
itself. Naturally and necessarily the men Sc
lected for the government and guidance of
these powerful agents are possessed of char
acter, intelligence, energy, courage and endur-
ance AS distinguished types and representa-
| tiyes of this advanced and honorable class,
| RE n
honored guests, and I desire to say to the
guests themselves that your own companies
| possess in the highest degree the confidence,
respect and regard of this community is. BY
reason of your efficient organization property
| among US feels more secure and lives less eX-
posed to danger.
| With renewed expression of my regret at
not being able to be present at your social
| gathering, l remain
| Very respectfully yours,
| j. u. BLAINE.
| Brief speeches were then made by Hon. f.
F. Pllsbury, Gen. Selden Conner, Howard
Owen, VIM. Penn Whitehouse, Esq, w. II.
Libby, Esq, and S. L. Boardman, of the
Maine Farmer. The speakers alluded to the
improvements that had been made in the fire
apparatus and department Of the country, re-
called "reminiscences, and spoke in hattering
terms of our local fire department. The
speeches were enthusiastically received.
| The President submitted the following
| toast;
| The City Of Newton-may her security and
permanence ever rest upon fire department
like that represented by the Nonantum Steam
Fire Engine Company.
This toast was happily responded to by Mr..
G. J. Curtis, of the Nonan,ums.
The happy company, about TWO hundred in
number, then broke up.
| THE BALL.
| Granite Hall presented beautiful appear
ance in the evening, with its floral and other
decorations, made for the ball, to oe given in
honor Of the visiting fremen. Two large
banners of our country were looped up in
front of the stage and hanging in depending
curve, rested on the east and west galleries.
In the center, where these flags connect, was
the motto of the steamer Cushnoc, displayed
in gilt letters:
| "OUr Duty as our Pride"
| From the center, also, hung a magnificent
basket of flowers. On the stage was NINA
ture or lilliputian fire engine, elegantly dec
GRATED with flowers, apparently all ready 70.
a firemens muster. The foot-lights showed
in illuminated letters, the word
| "NONANTUM"
| Bunting CT red, white and blue was looped
| from the corners and centres of the ceiling.
| The front of the galleries were draped with
the same, and the gas fixtures hung with bou-
quets of flowers. Pictures around the hall
represented the various stages in the progress
of the fire department of the country, from
the old fashioned method of supplying the tub
with buckets of water, to the modern appli-
ances of perfected machinery. The decora-
tons were handsomely done by Messrs. SAT-
ford, Coombs and Swan, assisted by the ID
dies, after a plan suggested by Mr. J. II.
Cochran.
| Dancing begun about nine o'clock, and one
| of the largest and finest parties appeared upon
| the floor that we have ever seen assembled in
| Granite Hall. Excellent music was furnished
are enjoying themselves to the fullest extent
as we write these lines. AS during the day,
so in the evening the best of order prevailed,
and there was not the slightest breach of gen.
tlemanly conduct.
Our GUESTS.
The reputation Of our honored guests, the
IN onantums, preceded their coming. They
are known to be good men and true" both
in their private situations and when called to
their public duties. Since their present or
ganization they have maintained high stan.
dard for character, and are especially guard
ed as to who are admitted to their member
ship. They naturally take great pride in
Steamer No. /, and its fine hose carriage
which they have with them. 1t is said to be
the most elegant carriage in the State, and
the finest one ever turned out by the famous
Zimmerman Mandatory. Chief Engineer
Whipple, who is with the "boys," is one of