The State Convention.

The State Convention.

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York held its Fifth Annual Convention at Ithaca last week. There were over one hundred delegates present, making a liberal representation of the Volunteer Fire Departments of the State. In points of general intelligence, respectability and character, the delegates were thoroughly representative of the people of the State. There were among the delegates—Firemen in their respective localities—lawyers, physicians, merchants, inventors, and mechanics of all kinds. Among them were over thirty graduates of colleges, while others were .men of wealth, the result of their own industry. It is of such material that the Fire Service of to-day is made up—intelligence and respectability predominating. Rowdyism has been abolished among Firemen—at least, it is the rare exception—and the profession has become one which enlists the services of the best class of our young men. In many places in the State, membership in some Fire Company is one of the requirements of social standing. The Fire Company in the rural districts takes the place of the clubs and reading rooms of the cities. There are sufficient activity and excitement in the Service to make it attractive—more than there is in the militia service—and there is also the consciousness of public benefits conferred. The modern improvements in fire apparatus and appliances have placed intelligence among Firemen far above mere physical endurance. The extinguishment of fires is now regarded as a science, not something requiring merely brute force and muscle. Hence its attractions for active, educated, intelligent men. The Convention that met at Ithaca will compare to its advantage with the average gatherings of business men. So much for the personnel of the Convention.

业务交易,我们的报告显示at all the important questions bearing upon the Fire Service were brought up for consideration. The discussions were both entertaining and instructive, showing a very general familiarity with the subjects. Our report necessarily, for want of space, omits the debates, recording, in a formal manner, the actual business transacted. Very great interest was manifested in the proceedings from first to last, and we are assured that these deliberations of our representative Firemen show a steady improvement from year to year.