Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-07
EXEMPT FIREMEN.
Their Annual Banquet Last Night-Toasts
and Responses.

Their Annual Banquet Last Night-TOasts
and Responses.
The newly-elected officers of the Exempt
Firemen's Association were installed at
their hall last evening as follows Presi-
dent, S. S. Nixon; First Vice-President,
James H. Crone; Second ce-President,
NJ. Steinmetz; Secretary, William Avery;
Treasurer, George A. Putnam; Trustees
Anton Brewer, Frank Swift, Patrick Nash
John F. brennan, John B. Rogers, NJ
Fetherston and Hiram Cook After the
installation ceremonies the society. up
ward of one hundred members, repaired 10
John Haubs' new restaurant, on J street
between Sixth and Seventh, where a
most elaborate banquet was enjoyed.
The menu was most elaborate, consisting
of oysters on the half-shell, stewed
chicken, boned turkey, cranberry sauce,
potato and lobster salads, with side dishes
and entrees, pastry and CONNECTIONS too
numerous to mention, claret and cham
payne wines, black coffee, etc. The tables
were handsomely decorated with fruit and
floral pieces, and everything was served in
the greatest abundance. Ice cream, Roman
punch, imported Havanas, etc, finished
the service. At the head of one of the
tables sat the toast-master of the evening.
George w. Chesley, fanked by the Presi-
dent of the Society, S. S. Nixon, and its
Secretary, William Avery. AT the head of
the other table Samuel Deal, of San Fran
cisco, an oldtime Sacramentan, presided.
After all had partaken of the feast set
before them, which was in quality and
quantity such as would tempt the appetite
of the gods, and tickle the fancy of an cpl
cure, the toast master, Mr.. Chesley, brought
down the gavel and commanded silence
After few preliminary remarks compli-
mentary of the caterer, Mr.. Chesley gave a
brief history of the exempts from their
organization in August, 1872, down to the
present time. They started in with 1856
members, and fund Of 700.
The greater portion of that fund
was raised by theatrical benefits.
Since its organization it has
disbursed over $4,000 in sick benefits,
funeral expenses and charities. Last year
the society disbursed Sl,570. Although it
started in with 335 members it to-day has
but Isl. Mr.. Chesley said 151 seemed a
familiar number to him, Tor that was the
present roll call of the Sacramento Society
of California Pioneers, but the latter organ
lzation started in with a membership of
nearly 1000. He referred with pride to
the Volunteer Fire Department of Sacra-
mento, which he said was composed of
manhood, ever ready to risk life and limb
for the preservation Of property. He paid
high and merited compliment 10 the Off
GERS of the organization and the various
Boards OF Trustees who had guarded its
funds with such financial ability that to-
day its assets amounted to $4,000.
The next thing in order was the regular
toasts, and Samuel Deal was called upon to
respond to :" The city of Sacramento"
Although a resident of San Francisco,
Mr.. Deal spent number of the best years
of his life in this city, and wherever
he goes always has a good word
to say for the Capital City. He said
it afforded him much pleasure to meet with
his brother Exempts, and to be called upon
to answer to the toast, The city of Sac
ramento," for here he formed attachments
that were dearer TO him than all others in
life. He said there was place reserved in
the choicest portion of the mansion beyond
the skies for the people of Sacramento and
good tiremen. Sacramento to-day is city
that demands the respect of The State of
California and for that matter of the whole
Union. Wherever there was need of noble
and self-sacrifcing charity this city always
stood in the front rank. The citizens of
Sacramento had an indomitable will. were
peculiarly energetic, and their ardor could
not be swept away by disastrous confagra-
tons nor drowned out with floods. 1t has
battled successfully with both these ele-
mentS and it stood forth to-day one of the
best built, most prosperous ana beautiful
cities in the American Union. Sacramento
is destined to be the second city on the
Pacific coast and the great interior
trade center of California. For
lew years just past the south
has had the call" enterprising real
estate dealers have been selling climate,
and have built up in the south city whose
only source ofrevenue is the money brought
in from the East This is ephemeral, and
must soon pass away, for city with no
more stable backing must sooner or later
fall back and rely upon her natural re-
sources, and which will not in the case of
Los Angeles support so large population.
With Sacramento how different. Here you
have country teeming with agricultural
soil that will yield abundant haryests,
threaded with running rivers, surrounded
with mountains heavily studded with tim
Der; climate unsurpassed in the world,
and in extent capable of supporting mill
ion of people. Los Angeles lands that are
selling for $500 per acre are not half so
good as lands in this section that can be
purchased for $50. Your days of adversely
have gone by; prosperity is staring you in
the face and some of you Exempts will
live to see Sacramento city the second city
on the coast. They have oranges and
climate in the south, but you have also
oranges and climate, backed up with de-
ciduous fruits, the vineyards of the world,
the golden grain fields that have no equal
on the face of the globe, and the biggest
hearted, noblest people on top of Gods
earth.
The Old Volunteers" responded to by
P. S. Lawson, President of the Sacramento
Pioneers.
The Old Boys" by one of them, N L.
Drew.
The Ladies, responded to in pathetic
and humorous strain by G. W. Chesley.
'Firemen, Past and Present." Martin
Steinmitz.
THE Life of Fireman" Anthony Green.
Song. The Valley Lay Smiling Before
Me-" Thomas Armstrong.
A number of volunteer speeches were
made, and at u o'clock the assemblage
sang "Auld Lang Syne" and dispersed.