The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-15
Joint Committee Discuss Fire
 and Wafer
NOTHING TANGIBLE DONE
Decided to Ask the Board of Trade to Appoint a Committee to Meet the Other Two
 Committees.

Nothing tangible resulted from the joint meeting of the water and fire com mittee of the city council and the special water committee of the Commercial club, which was held in the council room at the city hall yesterday afternoon.
 The members of the two committees discussed the questions of better fire pro- tection and lower water rates, and upon adjourning 1t was decided to ask the Board of Trade to appoint special wa ter committee, and that all three commit tees should meet and again discuss the questions before the next meeting of the city council, which takes place Wednes- day night of next week.
 There were present at the meeting yes- terday Aldermen Harry Jones, chairman; D. R. Copeland, Greener, 5tockmar and Gum of the city council committed, and W. J. Milner. chairman; J. W. Bush, R. M. Goodall and w. N. Malone of the spe- cial committee from the Commercial club.
 Major MlIner Talks.
 Mir. Milner stated that the object of the joint meeting was to confer with the council committee and see if some agree ment could not be entered Into between the city and the water works company whereby the questions of better fire pro- tection and lower water rates could be settled satisfactorily. Continuing, he said:
 We have been suffering for five years now, and if possible we want to have these questions settled. If we can help you In any way to adjust these questions we are here to do 1t. We both may have information that can aid us in what we desire to accomplish This information we can give each other, and after we have put 1t together we perhaps can ar rive at some agreement that will tend to lead to final settlement"
 He said that the committee from the Commercial club was anxious to know If they could do anything to aid the council committee. we feel grateful" said MT. Milner ''for what has already been done in the way of securing filtration plants, and we thank you for :t; but we will thank you still more If you can help us get cheaper water rates"
 He then spoke of the necessity of better fire protection. and said more fire plugs were needed in Birmingham, more fire men were needed in the fire department ard also more fire engines. We can't de- pend on water pressure alone when big fires occur" he added.
 Mr. Milner then in a few words dis cussed the advantages of having muni- cipal ownership of water works sys- tenn.
 Alderman Jones Talks.
 Alderman Jones stated that the com mittee of the council was there to hear whatever might be said by the committee men from the Commercial club, but as the council had not met since the Com mercial club committee had been appoint ed, the committee did not have authority to take any action.
 In discussing the question of protection Alderman Jones said that if the water rate of $55 on each plug he was sure the city would be willing to have additional plugs put in where they were needed and that the city would put in enough plugs to make the Income to the water com pany the same. In other words if the city wanted 300 plugs, and could get them for the same money for which they were now paying for those in use, the coun- ell would be willing to pay for installing them. He explained that no more water would be used. and still the city would be better protected against fires.
 As to the water rates. Alderman Jones said he would be willing to have the city adopt the meter system If he was sure that the cost to the consumers would be less, but that people were always afraid of measurement system.
 He further said that the water works company sent a proposition to the coun- ell in regard to water meters, but 1t had been withdrawn, and that at present there was no proposition of any kind pending in reference to the matter.
 Meters Satisfactory.
 J. W. Bush said that over a hundred tests of meters had been made, and that factory. He said that the practical way to solve the question of whether or not the meter system would be cheaper to the consumer was to make tests. and if it was found cheaper under that system to have 1t.
 No conclusions were arrived at and the discussions were of an informal na- ture
 The committees went into executive session and when an adjournment was taken decided to have another meeting and ask the board of trade to send committee to be present A time for the meeting has not yet been announced.