The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-05
OLDEST IN THE STATE
State Firemen the Guests of Bozs-
mans Volunteers.
THE TENTH CONVENTION
1t Will Be One OF the Most Important in
the History of the State Associa-
tion-Win Overhaul the
Constitution.
Special Dispatch to the Standard,

| Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Bozeman, Sept. 4.-The tenth annual
convention of the State Firemen's as
| ISOLATION will be held in Bozeman the
| last three days of this week, when the
| state firemen will be the guests Of the
oldest existing volunteer fire brigade
in Montana. The local fire department
! Is preparing to entertain the delegate
and their friends in royal style during
the time they are with them. Unfor-
tunately. there are not very many
places of interest in Bozeman. yet the
Gallatin valley, with it's immense fields
| Of ripenng golden grain, its lovely
canyons and shady hooks side the
many streams is surprising pleasant,
| and will undoubtedly prove a source of
| interest to the visitors, who will be
given ample opportunity to enjoy it,
| ABOUT 30 delegates are expected from
the fire departments of the eight largest
cities of the state, who form the asso-
cation, while Livingston has promised
to send big delegation, as she is anx-
lous to have the convention in 1900
The convention of 1899 is likely to be
| one OF the most important in the his
| tory OF the state asSCcia ton. In the
| place of the usual programme of top
| les. President W. G.. Alexander wants
| the convention to take up the matter
| or thoroughly overhauling the constitu-
| tlon ana bylaws, which, he says, great
| ly need reformation. An executive COM
| mlttee, empowered to look after the
rights of the tiremen in the legislature
ana elsewhere, to see that proper laws
for the benefit of the fire laddies are
passed, in fact, to look after their
rights in every way, is another import
| & n h II
recent decision of the attorney general
relative to the exemption act" is like
~ to be criticised. These and other as
important matters will probably make
the business sessions quite lively, and
many heated debates may be expec ted
Since the OrganiZat ton of the State
Flremen's association at the instance
of the "Old Brigade" of Butte there
have been number of changes Most
of the brigades in the larger cities have
become paid departments, but the
Rozeman boys are still volunteers.
Three of its members have served their
city ID years, one of whom is Chief
Alexander, who has held that Office IL
years, the other two being Secretary
Cleaveland and Engineer Ketterer, and
all three attended the first state gath
ering of the firemen in Butte. The
older members of the state association
can tell how they used to fight flames
with leather buckets, home made lad
ders and clumsy trucks and worked the
old hand engines. Many are the yarns,
anecdotes and narrow escapes from the
flames that will be told during recess
or after the business sessions, for fire.
men are good story tellers when they
are socially inclined.
The programme prepared for the con-
ventiOn will be substantially as fol-
lows: On Thursday, as soon as the con-
vention meets in the fire department
rooms in the city hall 1t will be adj
dressed by Mayor Award and the free
dom of the city extended to the visit
ors. After the two business sessions a
drive up the Bridger canyon and a
visit to the United States fish hatchery
is contemplated. On Friday two bust
ness sessions will be held and officers
elected. Then the college buildings will
be visited and the evening devoted to a
grand ball and banquet. On Saturday
the whole day is to be given up to
pleasure and will be spent picnicking
at Ferris Hot Springs, near the West
Gallatin river. one of the prettiest
places on the Gallatin.