Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-24
HEARTY COMMENDATION0 OF AUGUSTA FIRE I
DEPARTMENT BY N aYGR Ml!|cL can AND CITY
OFFICIALS ATT RELIEF ASSN MEETING

stand around and look at the blaze.
but they are into the building and on
top Of the fire at onceoand they know
what they are about because they are,
all building mechanics and are thor
oughly familiar with the construction
Of building.
Chief Small sounded out the need Of
a new and adequate IRE station on the
east side of the river to replace the old
and tumbIe-down structure which Is at
present housing the apparatus. He
called attention to the fact that tnsur-
ance rates in this city are the mini
mum. even with equipment and force
much smaller than is usual in cities of
this size. due to the efficiency Of the
Augusta fire ladies. The chief only
asked Of the mayor and members of
the fire department committee that
they show the city's appreciation OF the
work Of the. men by seeing to 1t that
they were supplied with rubber coats.
hats and boots. to protect them
against the cold and wet that is their
lot when called to fight fire.
Augusta has but one business street
and we can't afford to lose that" said
Chief Small in speaking of the grow
keep up with the growth Of the city.
the fire department.
As a further suggestion as to how
the citizens could increase the eff
cheney OF the department and, aid by
their cooperation. Mr.. Small proposed
that when an alarm call is sounded.
and citizens are driving to the scene
in their automobiles. they take par
ticular notice and endeavor to pick up
the call men Of the department. who
leave their work at the first blast of
the whistle and otherwise must run
the entire distance to the fire. BY the
practice OF a little thoughtfulness in
this respect many threatening blazes
can be snuffed out before they are
spot to manipulate the apparatus.
Two former chiefs of the Augusta
fire department were present at the
luncheon meeting last evening, Charles
Hunt and John A. Buckley. The as
ISOLATION was particularly pleased and
honored in having ex-Chief Buckley
with them because 1t was he who faith
cred the relief association. When CALL
ed upon for remarks Mr.. Buckley in
spired his hearers with his splendid
tribute to the unselfish devotion of the
members of the department to their
| duties. In speaking of the relief as
SOCldtIOH he Sdlu tndC 1t was tHc
| smallest and at the same time the big
gest organization in the city-the
| smallest because it's membership was
confined to the personnel Of the de-
, partment. and the biggest because of
its great purpose in establishing a
fund for the relief of firemen injured
in the performance of their duties, or
for their families in case of need.
| The Fircmen's Relief Association
! held short business session following
the supper meeting. at which the Of
ficers as reported by the nominating
committee were elected to office. 1t
was also reported that the relief fund
had been slightly increased during the
Tast year through the contributions of
the members themselves. Four small
benefits because Of injuries We're paid
out of the fund during 1928.
! The officers who were elected to ad-
minister the affairs of the association
for the ensuing year were as follows
President. Frank Chadwick Of Hose No.
i 2: vice president. Fred Fletcher of
! Hose No. I; recording secretary, Will
! liam Taylor Hose No. ]: treasurer.
| Edwin Baker. Hook & Ladder Co.: di-
| rectors. Charles Hunt, HookS& Ladder.
| David Diplocl Hook & Ladder, Fred
Libby. Hose No. 2. ~