The Portland daily press., 1897-08-20

Mayor RandalPS Address of Welcome
4 Valuable Papers Read.
Gospel Mission hall was filed yesterday
forenoon when the convention of the
State Firemen's association was called to
order by the President, Chief NJ N.
Eldridge of the Portland department
Most of the delegates present were in
uniform which gave to the gathering
something of the appearance of meet
ing of military men. The delegates got
right down to business. AS Mayor Ran
dali was out paying his visit to Admiral
Sicard, the address of welcome was not
delivered until the afternoon session.
In Its place the convention listened to the
reports and transacted routine business.
A. J. Cummings of Portland, Chief
Drake Of Gardiner and Chief Estes of
Lisbon Falls, were appointed committee
on credentials. They reported nearly 100
delegates present, including representa-
tives from Portland, Deering, Westbrook,
Lisbon Falls, Bath, Gardiner, Auburn,
Fairfield, Calais, Brunswick and Yar-
mouth. The officers present were: Chief
M. N. Eldrfdge, Portland; Secretary
Frank B. Moody, Woodfords; Treasurer j.
B. Longley. Lewiston; Vice. Presidents
Chiefs Frank Morse, Bath; M. j .Moriarty,
Lewiston; F. W. Peck, Deering; D. W..
Estes, Lisbon Falls; f. II. Welch, Bel
| fast; W. Ell. Totman, Fairfield; G. L..
Goldthwaith, Saco; Executive Committee
Chief d. D. Merrill, Auburn; Capt. Geo.
A. Parshley, Bath; Capt. Geo. A. Dow,
Portland; Seargeant-at-Arms NJ. j.
Holmes, Lewiston.
The board of engineers of the Portland
on exhibits
Chief Leighton of Westbrook, A. e.
Knight of Portland and G. F. Dam of
Portland were appointed an auditing
committee.
At the afternoon session, Mayor Ran
dali was introduced to the delegates and
made the following address Of welcome:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention:
1t affords me more than ordinary pleas
ure to be present today and welcome to
our city this splendid representation of
the fremen Of the State of Maine for /
entertain great respect for this noble body
of our citizens and am interested in
everything that tends to assist them in
their work.
To have been soldier in the service of
our country and to have protected our
country's flag in ymany hard fought
field, is glorious record and a great
honor, and to have entered a burning
building to save human life REQ uires
as much courage and is deserving of
equal praise. All honor to the soldier
who goes forth to fight the battles of his
country equal honor to the firemen who
imperils his life to save our homes and
dear ones from the devastating conflagra-
tion.
The City of Portland has always taken
great pride in her fire department and
especially since the great confagration
Of 1866 we have left nothing undone to in
crease it's efficiency, until today, we can
boast of department. second to none in
the country. It is equipped with all the
modern apparatus for extinguishing fires,
manned by men who thoroughly under
stand their duties and who know no fear.
Led by chief who, though he may have
his equals, has no superior in the land and
for the support of this department, in
cluding hydrants, we annually arpropri-
ate the sum of about $4,000, the largest
amount per capita think of any city in
the United States and in behalf of the
splendid department., and in the name of
all our citizens, welcome you to Port
land and cordially invite you to visit all
our engine houses and inspect the appara
tus contained therein.
After you have done SO / think you will
agree with me that our city is we'll pro-
tected in this respect. also wrote you
to visit all the points Of interest in and
about out city. You will find the seem
cry most beautiful, the inhabitants most
hospitable. / hope you will thoroughly
enjoy your stay while here and when you
depart for your homes carry with you
pleasant memories Of your trip to the
Forest city.
Responses were made by Chief Drake
of Gardiner, W. Fl. Adams of Boston
and Chief Leighton of Westbrook.
Chief Eldridge of the Portland Fire De-
partment made his report as delegate to
the International fire convention at New
Haven.
Prentiss Loring of Portland read pa
per on "The local fire insurance agent
and his position towards the fire depart
ment.
Prof. Allen E. Rogers of Maine State
College, read an address on ''Fire Com
missioners for cities and towns
The paper was briefly discussed by
Mr.. r. n. Little of Portland, Chief Nc
Allister of Calais, Chief Jewett of Fort
Fairfield, Chief A. J. Cummings Of Port
land and Chief Drake of Gardiner.
= The following gentlemen were elected
honorary members: Governor Llewellyn
Powers, Henry T. Barnes, R. 81. Abbott,
Mayor Charles H. Randall of Portland,
W. H. Brownson of Portland, Prof. Allen
E. Rogers and Prof. Benton S. Lanphear
of the State College.
The following officers of the Association
were elected for the ensuing year:
President-Chief M. N. Eldridge,
| Portland.
Vice Presidents-Chiefs Leighton of
Westbrook, Morse of Bath Estes of Lis
bon Falls, Drake Of Gardiner, McAllister
Of Calais, :. Mason of Bangor, Welch of
Belfast.
Secretary-Frank B. Moody of Deering.
| Treasurer. B. Longley of lewiston
FxecutiV6 Com mnjttae-Thrae vears