Morning journal and courier., 1893-08-04
IVES HAVEN RxCITED

Over the Question as TO Which of
the Fire Companies Shall be h novyn
as No. IAN Exciting Meeting of
the Board of Burgesses Last Rven-
ing-ActiOn Deferred on the Ques-
toA.
The meeting room of tbs warden and
burgesses of the borough of West Haven
was the scene of one of the most exciting
meetings last evening that has ever been
held within its four walls. The principal
cause of the excitement was the discussion
of the momentous question to all West
Haven as to whether the James Graham
Hook and Ladder company or the West
Haven Hook and Ladder company should
be digni6ed by having the appellation No
placed after its corporate title.
The meeting was at all times interesting
and most of the time unusually exciting.
The fight between the two companies has
been long and at times bitter, and the ad-
herents of each have left no stone I'M
turned to advance the interest of their re-.
spective company. After lengthy session
last evening 1t was decided to postpone
the entire matter until the regular session
of the beard in September, and SO the
matter now rests.
1t was an adjourned meeting of the
warden and burgesses, and the members
present were Wardsn Crawford and Bur
gesses ]. Bryant, Henry Russ, Charles T.
Sherman, the present foreman of the
West Haven Hook aud Ladder company,
and Dennis Boyle.
After the pay rolls for the month had
been approved and ordered paid the renew
ing of the contracts for the hydrants and
watering troughs in the borough with the
West Haven Water company was referred
to Warden Crawford with power to act.
Next the much disputed question as to
which hook and ladder company in the
borough shall be called No. l was brought
up for discussion. The James Graham
company had a committee composed of r.
W. French and George P. Thomas to look
after their interests, and of course the
West Haven company had their foreman,
Mr.. Sherman, who is one of the burgesses,
to represent them
A resolution which had been offered at
previous meeting was called from the table
and read. This resolution was to the effect
that the James Graham Company should be
called No. l and the West Haven company
No. 2. This did not meet with Foreman
Sherman's approval, and he quickly offered
the following amendment, viz that the
West Haven company is hereby, after this
date, known as No / and the James
signal for the opening of a very heated dis
cussion, which lasted for an hour and 8
half.
Foremen Sherman said that it was al
ways the first organized company that WAS
entitled to be called No. /, and that there
was no doubt that the West Haven COM
pany was organized first, although the
James Graham company obtained their sp-
paratus and were prepared to do active
duty first.
Mr.. Thomas, for the James Graham COM
psny, said in reply that Foreman Sherman
was an interested party, being also mem
Der of the New Haven company, that the
matter of which company shonld bs No.
was left by the State Firemen's association
to the board of burgesses, and that that as
sscistion would not settle II. he also
ssid that their records swould prove that
| the Graham company was organized hrst.
Mr French also spoke substantially as
did Mr.. Thomas aud made the proposition
that the matter should be left TO a disin-
| terested party to decide-one who would
not be biased and one whom all parties
| would respect.
Mr.. Bryant then suggested that the mat
/ ter should be left over till the next reg ulsr
| meeting, when the full board would be
present. Mr.. Sherman seconded the mo-
ton, saying: al do this in order to be fair
| in the matter"
1t was fually voted by the board to let
the whole matter 20 over till the next reg
ular meeting, which will be held in Septsm-
Der behind closed doors, none but members
of the board to be present.
| The authorities on the eubject say watch
for auroras from now o., rs the period fol-
unusnsl displays of northern lights falls
this year.