The age-herald., 1901-10-05
THE INSPECTOR
 OF BUILDINGS
New Office Created by Bir-
 mingham City Council
CITY ENGINEER lNSPECTS
Fixed Rules Made to Govern the Con- struction of All Buildings In the Fire LimIts-Flfty-Cent
 Insurance Rate.

The ordinance adopted by the Mayor and Aldermen last Wednesday night "to provide for the creation of the office of inspector of buildings, to define his du- ties, to provide rules for the construc- tion of buildings, to provide for fire es- capes, f1ues, location of stables, and reg ulations within the fire limits; to provide punishment for the violation of the same, and for other purposes" should result in a better class of construction than has been generally allowed in Birmingham.
 The new building law Is the result of conference between the Mayor, the fire and judiciary committees of the Board of Aldermen. representatives of the Board of Trade, and an agent of the Southeastern Tariff Association, at which 1t was agreed that the city would not only increase it's fire department, but adopt building laws, similar to those in force in Atlanta, Augusta, Jacksonville and ether cities having an insurance rate of the first class. With hn improved fire service and the building ordinance such as was prescribed, Birmingham was to have a first-class insurance rating. The city having compiled with all the con- ditions imposed by the Tariff Associa- tion, the cheaper rates are soon to go into effect-a flfty-cent basis rate on mercan- tile property instead of To cents, which has heretofore been in effect.
 The new ordinance provides that the .tA I. -az of buildings. No additional salary at taches to the office.
 Section 6 of the ordinance reads:
 No person or persons shall erect, or cause to be erected within the fire limits of the city of Birmingham, as now estab- lished by ordinance or hereafter may be established by ordinance, any building or addition to a building, the outer walls of which are not composed entirely of brick stone. mortar or other uncomfortable ma terial. Every building erected or built as aforesaid shall be covered or roofed with slate, tin, zinc. copper, iron or other equally fre-proof roofing, and If any building within the limits aforesaid shall be destroyed to the extent of one-half thereof 1t shall be unlawful to rebuild the same unless the outer walls and roof of the portion rebuilt shall be composed entirely of uncomfortable materials. Any person who shall violate any of the pro- visions of this section shall forfeit and pay the sum of $2O and the further sum of $10 for each day the same shall be per- mitted to remain without being made to conform to the laws and ordinances of the city; such building shall be a public nuisance.p
 No person will be allowed to erect any brick, iron or stone building unless the work of construction Is inspected by the inspector of buildings.
 Section nine designates the thickness of walls for business buildings thus:
 For a one-story building. 13 inches; for two-story building r inches for the first story and 13 for the second; for a three-story building, r inches for the first, r for the second and 13 for the third; for a four-story building, 22 inches for the first, IT for the second, r for the third and 13 for the fourth; for a i've story building, 26 inches for the first, 22 for the second, r for the third, r for the fourth and 13 for the fifth.
 The old building ordinance allowed g. inch wall for a one-story building, 13 inches for the first story of a two-story building, and F inches for the fourth and fifth stories for a five-story structure.
 The fire limits of Birmingham on the Northside run from the railroad along Sixteenth street to Third avenue; along Third avenue to Seventeenth street; along Seventeenth street to Fourth alley; east along Fourth alley to Twenty-second street; south along Twenty street to Third alley; east along Third alley to Twenty-third street; south to Third ave- nue; along Third avenue to Twenty-fifth; south along Twenty-fifth street to the railroad. On the s S,uthside: From inter- section of Eighteenth street and railroad south along Eighteenth to Avenue B; east along Avenue B to Nineteenth street; south along Nineteenth street to Avenue D; east along Avenue D to Twenty-first street; north along Twenty first street to the railroad.
 The duties imposed upon the city engi- neer as building inspector are as numer- ous as they are explicit and include the inspection of passenger and freight ele- vators, chimney fues and ranges and furnaces.
 While some landlords and contractors may object to certain of the new building requirements the public will have cause to rejoice, the Mayor says, at this safe- guarding of the citys interests.