The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-06
Fire Protection.

Bell has not been captured
 | Fire Protection.
 Selma has had a great deal of trouble with the water company since the sys- I tenn of water works has been put in The following communication from one of Selma's most wealthy and influential cit izens will be read with a great deal of interest in this city. MT. Lamar, the writer. is an observant citizen and he states many solid, substantial facts in his communication. Here Is what he has to say on the subject:
 To The Advertiser:-Our fire companies, | for volunteer ones, need no adverse criti- cism. In many instances better or more | faithful service could not have been rendered had they been receiving tho maximum pay for their work. Our city authorities seem to desire to spend money | for apparatus for fighting the fires In | fact some has been spent without due consideration to their tax-paying constit- | uents: but with willing and efficient fire department; with hose. trucks. engines, | etc., no fire can be effectually handled | except there be an abundance of water. In the year 1890 our city, by contract, l signed by Mayor and Clerk, entered into an agreement with the Selma Water Com pany duly signed by its officers, ITO fur nish the greatest amount of protection | against fire and an adequate amount of water to consumers said water be whole some in quality" I will enumerate some other agreements. Article 2. The Water Works Company agrees ito discharge, l wherever 1t may be required for the pur | pose of test. or for fire purposes as hereinafter stated, four streams of water from four hydrants, to be selected by the authorities of Selma through five hun | of Q Wh said water works guarantees sufficient pressure to throw water eighty feet per- | pendicularly or 120 feet horizontally from | four hydrants at the same time or to be amply sufficient to throw water over the | highest building in Selma, and to main- tain the same for a reasonable time and | under such conditions as the authori- | ties or engineer of Selma requires, and when fire occurs, and the engineer in | charge of the water works is notified of the same it shall cause sufficient pressure | to put on said pipes at once without delay | to maintain the streams. The Water | Works Company agrees further to have | standing tower that will under the | same conditions as above at all times throw water sxty-five feet high for thir- l ty minutes from four hydrants. Provided further that said franchise may be re- voked or annulled at the option of the | ever said water works fails to furnish a proper and adequate supply of water in the manner and under test and conditions hereinbefore agreed to by the party of the first part and so continue to fail for a period of six months from neglect or in | efficiency and that for every fail- ure on the part of the party of the Wa ter Company, to give a test of its effi- ciency or in case of fire in said Selma to comply fully and particularly set out shall pay a fine for each failure of not less than $50 nor more than $500. " The contract goes on to describe what notice should be given the Water Com pany and by whom for said test and ex- plicitly tells exactly what is necessary to make tests in accordance with and un- der the terms of the contract.
 I have refrained from taking your space for more full detail of the con- tract. It Is understood number of tests have been made at various times. but as they were not made properly they did not stand in court. Those who attend the fires know the Water Company does not
 come up to the requirements. Out of this
 failure numerous suits have been insti-
 tuted all of which have p actically been
 gained by the Water Company on a com
 promise and no additional measures talk t en to prevent the recurrence of failure. My purpose in writing this communica- ? tion is as a taxpayer and a fire insurance 5 policy holder to insist that We get better l protection. I would suggest that the city ' authorities employ the best legal talent
 possible to act with the City Attorney and act under their advice and instruc- tion and demand under the contract bet ter service. Have him or the City Engif neer under his direction to make tests in accordance with all the provisions with out variance, and if they are not up to specifications assess fines or annul the contract. We need better service. Some day our town may suffer heavily from lack of fulhllment of the contract. The insurance companies note the conditions that exist and tax us with higher rates of insurance. Let us not wait until the fire comes to make a kick" but begin
 at once. After fire many of the con
 sumers hydrants flow water thick with
 mud and unfit for any purpose. This l
 understand is the fault of the city in not
 having the hydrants flushed. Some one
 should be paid to do this and the authori-
 ties should see 1t is done in accordance
 with the contract. Our authorities should
 get these matters down to contract basis,
 and not try to huff the Water Company
 who retains competent counsel. Away
 with such litigation. When you assess a 1 fine do it according to contract SO it will
 stand and do not allow hydrant to be- . come SO neglected as to take six men to
 open it and then stream of mud pour
 forth followed by str am of water ten
 feet high and thirty feet horizontally
 and on our people will cease to suffer; l and our rates of insurance will be low
 cred and not become prohibitive to us
 Those in authority should vigorously l ,,ls, f,,- AL