The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-07-29
VERMONT FIRE FIGHTERS
HELD A SUCCESSFUL CONTENTION
And Tournament Mt Montpelier and Barre
last Week-New Officers Elected-The
story of the TWO Days In Detail.

SnaOo inc SBNSulu ANNUAL COhNOhtiOh VI
the State Fireman's Association was
called to order by Major o. D. Clark of
Montpelier, the president, in Armory
Hall last Wednesday afternoon. Major
Clark cordially welcomed the delegates
and visiting firemen to the capital Of
the state, and referred briefly to the
former firemen's conventions that were
held in Montpelier in 1860 and 1872.
The committee on credentials made
its report, and, on motion of W. E.
Morse of Burlington, the reading Of the
roll-call was dispensed with and the roll
as made up was declared the roll of the
convention. Printed copies of the re-
port of the convention of 1895, held at
Fair Haven, having been distributed,
the reading of the report of that record
was passed and E. d. Moore of Ben
nington, the secretary, read his report,
which showed that the present number
of life members of the association is
fifty-seven, and ffty-eight companies
have membership, although three in
Burlington have passed out of ex-
istence.
The report of l.. G. Grant of Bur-
lington, the secretary, was next in or
der. This showed S7S5.23 received
from all sources during the past year,
and S343.05 disbursed, leaving a bal
..oo ~, hand Of GQQ1 10
George II. Burch of Bennington, the
statistician, made an exhaustive and
valuable report, which was ordered
printed in full in the minutes. He
showed that one-half of the towns in
the state having a population of 1000
or over have no fire protection, while
in almost every one of these towns the
annual loss by fire is enough to pay for
a good fire department. Mr.. Burch
advised sending to the newspapers of
the state list of the fire losses in such
towns, with estimates of adequate pro.
lection. This report of the statistician
showed the number of fires in the
state during the past year to be 345;
loss, $1,265, 1854; insurance, $685.
The largest were at St. Adams, Swan
ton and Burlington. Burlington and
Rutland have efficient paid fire depart
ments, and volunteer departments ex-
list in Arlington, Barre, Barton, Bellows
Falls, Bennington, Bethel, Brandon,
Brattleboro, Bristol, Chelsea, Chester,
Enosburgh Falls, Essex Junction, Fair
Haven, Ludlow, Lyndonville, Middle
bury, Montpelier, Morrisville, Newport,
Mortified, North Bennington, Pitts
ford, Poultney, Randolph, Readsboro,
Richford, Rochester, Springfield, st.
Adams, st. Johnsbury, Swanton, Yer
gennes, West Brattleboro, West Rut-
land, White River Junction, Whining
ton, Windsor, Winooski, and Wood
stock.
In the absence of D. F. Carmody OF
Fair Haven, national representative,
the report that he had sent was not
read, as it was in the printed record.
Under the head of Report of the
Topic Committee" M. E. Orr of Poult-
ney read paper on The Benefits OF
Thorough Organization" A paper on
"Better Fire Protection in Small
Towns" written by F. M. Tiffany OF
Bennington, was read by L. G. Grant
and George H. Burch of Bennington
spoke on "Qualifcations of Good
Volunteer Department" F. E. Per
kins of Burlington made some general
remarks on the benefits of paid fire
department and urged the necessity Of
building inspector. On motion Of
George H. Burch of Bennington it was
voted that the legislative committee t(
be appointed by the incoming presiden
be instructed to draft bill to be pre-
scented to the next legislature compel
ing all towns in the state to have an in
spector of buildings.
The executive committee was in
structed to have all entries in future
closed at least twelve days before the
annual tournament, to give the trans
portation committee time to arrang
upon as the place for holding the mex
annual convention and tournament.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: President, s. u
Miner of Vergennes; vice.presidents
w. Fl. Lane of Burlington, K. K. Han
mum of Rutland, W. E. Orr of Poult
ney, r. s. Russ of Bennington, o. II
Greene of st. Johnsbury; secretary
E. D. Moore of Bennington; treasurer
L. G. Grant of Burlington; represen
tative to national convention at Sal
Lake City, L. w. Clark OF the Fir,
mans Herald, New York; statistician
George H. Burch of Bennington. Th
committees on topics, transportatio
and legislation will be appointed b
President Miner. 1t was voted to pa
the secretary $3.50 for his services 70
the coming year. The following wer
elected life members of the association
George H. Burch and Charles NJ
Carthy of Bennington, H. l.. Thoma
and Hugh Finnegan of Winooski, T
D. Hope of Poultney and o. D. Clar
of Montpelier.
THE TOURNAMENT.
Barre put on it's holiday attire i
honor of the first fremen's tourn
ment ever held in town. Business wt
practically suspended after ten o'cloc
in the morning and nearly every dwell
ing-house and place of business on tt
line of march was decorated with MOI