The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-09-14


THE NATIONS FIRE DEPARTMENTS,
who have bonored our city with their pres
ence here to-day and speaking, as think
eau, as II owned the entire city, make
this welcome boundless. Welcome as pub
lie enefactors-wecome as practical men
endeavoring 10 elevate the standard and
efficiency OF their respective fire departments
by mutual interchange Of views and by
adding what science and invention may do
TO perfect them. And II Is most creditable
TO you 10 so engage your time In stimulating
each other In the pursuit Of knowledge Ia
your profession.
The store OF science is inexhaustible, and
the wonderful power Of hydraulics are yet
uDfathomed. We know that
JET OF WATER
Is prof scted fsrthest at an angle OF forty
five degrees, and we know that the in
crease OF the capacity OF pipes through
which 1t may pass Is geometricalIy greater
than the arithmetcal increase OF their
dnmeters; that certain inclination is ne
cesssry 10 overcome friction OF even
water; that water is incompressible, or
nearly so; that, yaporized and super
heated, it actually supports combustion,
while carbonic acid gas arrests it; and hence
it Is still n matter OF inquiry as to what
agent-water, steam, gas, or vacuum-iS
best for extinguishing fires; and TO COM
prehend the whole question becomes with
you pleasant duty, considering the ends
to be subseryed OF great public good, and
we trust your efforts may prove success
beyond your most anxious'desires.
Oue thing | hope you will pardon me FOR
referring to, and that is / never could un-
derstand the necessity for
THE GREAT EXCITEMENT
which fremen usually eyince on occasions
of fires. The moment an alarm is sounded
many Of them rush with apparent frenzy,
as II they would run over their own fathers,
IL they happened to be in their way, to
fire. 1t would seem that deliberate action
is wlsest and most likely to give play to our
faculties, and enable US TO calmly survey
emergencies and calculate best the exigency
OF danger; and some training OF the
younger firemen in this regard would pro-
badly be wise.
Much might be said In connection with
the work Of exlinguishiDg fires, but
lengthy discussion OF the questions connect
ed with them would not be appropriate OF
an underwater in the presence OF so many
experienced in such matters, and possess
ing more information OF them. Were IL
possible, we would be reioiced il you could
extend your inquiries to questions rela-
ting TO
THE ORIGIN OF FIRES,
and II practicable to point US to some
remedy OF this feature OF our troubles, as
we'll as yours, and matter Of great embar-
rassment to underwriters in these days. APP
plsuse.l
On motion Of Chief Cronin, Of Washing
ton, the thanks OF the Convention were ten
dered Mr.. Cowardin, and il was ordered
that the address be published in the pro-
ceedings Of the Convention.
Chief Wood, OF Syracuse, said that one
of the greatest enemies the fremen have to
contend with is the cheap insurance given
by underwriters on faultily.conStrueted
buildings.
New Officers.
The Committee on the Nomination OF
New Officers recommended the following,
and they were elected:
For President: G. Watt Taylor, OF Rich.
mond.
For Vice Presidents II. II. Hooker,
Gardiner, Me-. ; Thomas w. Lane, MancheS-
ter, n. H.: IL. L. Bixbv, West Newton,
Mass; George Worrel, Woonsocket, r. l.;
S. G.. Brown, Fair Haven. Conn. l.. 5.
Gibson, Rochester, N. Y; Francis j.
Meeker, Newark, n. j.; William Doton,
Chester, Pa; c. I. Holloway, Baltimore.
Md. (; Martin Cronin, Washington. ID. c.;
George A. Ainslie, Richmond, Va; John
&. Avery, Toledo, o.; j. ID. Paige, Joliet,
ILL.,; Thomas 0'Niel, Kalamazoo, Mich; j.
q. Pendergrast, indianapolis, Ind; II.
Clay Sexton, ST. Louis, No.. Joseph Bun
ker, Cincinnati, o.; William StOckell,
Nashville, Tenn; ii. NJ. Young, Augusta,
Ga; Thomas O'Conner, New Orleans, La.
For Secretary Henry A. Hills, Cincin-
natl, o.
For Treasurer: A. c. Hendrick, New
Haven, Conn.
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT WATT TAYLOR.
A committee having been appointed for
that purpose, Chief Taylor was brought
into the bali; President Green surrendered
the gavel to him, and he spoke as follows:
GentIemen,-I regret my inability TO em-
ploy suitable language TO express my thanks
for the compliment paid and the honor you
have conferred upon one so undeserying as
myself in selecting me as the president OF
this Association. Suffice it TO say that |
feel very grateful, and in accepting the po-
sition 10 which you have elected me must
ask that you will not view me with critics
eve. but With your hearty cooperation aud
support enable me faithfully 10 perform the
duties deYolying upon me as your presiding
officer.
This Association is one which we should
all be proud to be a member OF. Here we
know no North, no South, no East, no
West; here We meet as brothers OF COM
mon country, engaged in a common cause,
banded together for that high and noble
purpose OF devising the best, the safest, and
most expeditions way OF aiding our fellow
men when exposed to that most dreaded OF
sll elements, fire. Upon Us rests heavy
responsibility. Therefore 1t is proper that
we annually meet TO interchange our views,
and by our experiences instruct each other.
III naught else was gained by our meet
ings, this much would be accom-
pIished: that OF more firmly binding
together in bands OF iron, as 1t were,
the bonds Of friendship that should
and, am proud to say, does unite us. In
unity there is strength. United we stand,
divided we fsll. And since our positions
at times attracts the attention Of all, and
our acts are at all times subjected TO the Sc
yerest criticisms, It becomes US by united
efforts TO aid aud assist each other, and IN
the fearless discharge OF our duty we will
attract the admiration, gain The confidence,
and receive the plaudits Of well done, good
and faithful public servants; Let us strive
TO make our meetings more and more In
teresting. Let us employ our minds and
tax all our energies TO render more efficient
service I'm the future than we have done In
the past. Let us emulate the example oil
Those whose lives remind Us
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing, leave behiad US
Footprints 'pon The sands OF time.
The Convention then took recess until
p NJ