The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-12
FIRE PROTECTION
 CLOSELY STUDIED Pierce Talks With Mayor and
 Chiet MulIin TO SEE THE ORDINANCES The Inspector for the Southeastern Tariff Association Will Probably
 Test the Water Pressure
 Today or Tomorrow.
TO SEE THE ORDINANCES

The work of inspecting the fire depart ment water mains and other fire protec- tion equipment of Birmingham with a view to a reduction in insurance rates, Is progressing steadily. Yesterday NJ D. Pierce. the special Inspector of the south eastern Tariff association, who has charge of the work, accomplished a great deal, and he expects today or tomorrow to make tests of the water pressure in various parts of the city.
 Among other things Mir. Pierce com pleted checking over the fire plugs and alarm boxes yesterday and has about l finished the map of those appliances which he Is to send to the executive com mitttee of the Southeatern Tariff associa- ton. He has spent considerable time studying the engineers maps showing the water mains, and has obtained much general information in regard to the water supply.
 | Mayor Drennen and MT. Pierce had a short conference yesterday afternoon in regard to tho city ordinances covering the building laws and the handling of ex- plosives in the city limits. MT. Pierce told Mayor Drennen what he was doing in q general way. and that he expected to com plete his report by the end of this week or the first of next week. He was referred to City Clerk Murray for information per taining to the ordinances, but was unable to secure 1t yesterday.
 The Index to the various ordinances is in the hands of the codifyer. and 1t will be day or so before these can be se- cured by MT. Murray, who will then look up the ordinances bearing on the fire protection of the city and hand copies of them to MT. Pierce.
 Calls on Chief MulIIn.
 Mir. Pierce also paid a visit to Chief Mullin, of the fire department, and he and the chief chatted for awhile. MT. Pierce sought little information from the chief as he had already on hand most of what he required. He was mere- | ly asking about additions and improve ments to the department since last Jan uary. when he made very careful in- spection of the fire department. There were few changes to note except the im- provement in the department at head l quarters, where things have been rear | ranged so that a much quicker run can be made. Since January several men were dropped from the department, but they were put back later No new ap- paratus has been bought since that time
 The tests of the fire plugs will be made as soon as MT. Pierce gets around to that branch of the work. They will be made fin several portions of the city some on the Highlands and some in the center of the city. Members of the fire department will assist in these tests.
 Not Enough Fire Plugs.
 Mir Pierce will not discuss what he has found out thus far on this inspection. stating that he could not do so until after the Tariff association had received the report and made 1t public. However, he has found that the fire plugs are too few and far between In all sections of the city, and especially in the business portion where great pressure is needed during fires. As is a well known fact long lines of hose decrease the pressure at the nozzle a large percentage. and by more frequent plugs the long lines will not be necessary. In many cities there are two plugs on every street corner, and one or two fin the middle of each block In the center of the city In the residence portions of a city the size of Birmingham a plug Is generally found on every street corner.
 MT. Pierce has carefully gone over tho water system, the size of the mains ant the pressure. The water mains were larg, enough for Birmingham when the cit, was smaller. but whether all of them ar, adequate now Is question that MT Pierce will discuss In his report. On tn Highlands. 1t is believed by fire depart ment officials, that the pressure is no sufficient to throw A stream of water t the top of a house. or even frequently t the second floor. This has been the ex perience of the department.
 Fire Alarm System.
 The investigation into tho fire alar1 system has shown that many nor boxes are needed. The city is equippe only with 50 or 80 per cent of the nun Der of boxes really needed for a cit covering as much area as Birmingham A majority of the alarms sent to the fir department are by telephone.
 There are city ordinances covering tn storage and handling of explosives 1T side the city limits, and MT. Pierce wi embody these in his reports He cannc get these until the index to the variou books containing the ordinances, are re turned to City Clerk Murray.
 The ordinances which MT. Pierce want in reference to the erection of house are all those touching on the protection of buildings from adjoining property, tn
 protection of building from the hue and whether a house can be occupied ant