The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-02
LETTER TO MAYOR DRENNEN
Fire and Water Committee Makes Re- port on What Has Been Done In Birmingham During the
 Past Months.

 up after Alderman Harry Jones of the Eighth ward. chairman of the fire and water service committee, hade made re- 1 port relative to the local fire depart ] ment.
 | Alderman John W. O'Neill of the Sec ond ward was on his feet complimenting the fire and water service committee on its report and then branched off on fire insurance rates. He said that Stamping Clerk Reynolds of the Southeastern Tariff association with headquarters in Birmingham had informed him that the city council, with less than $5000, can have Birmingham placed on a first-class basis and in this way save insurance payers something like $50,OOO annually. Some Correspondence.
 He referred to certain correspondence between Mayor Drennen and the South eastern Tariff association, when Alder man Jones from the Eighth ward arose from his desk with a large package of correspondence and announced that he had in his possession some eorrespon- dence that might be of interest to Alder man O'Neill." He then read one letter from the association relative to the adop ton by the city of building laws, adding q have another letter here, too, but rather not read it." Mayor Drennen: T will ask the alder man to read the letter he referred to.
 Alderman Jones: "I rather not read 1t. but if you say so I will read it." There were shouts of go ahead, go ahead" heard from all sides and the alderman proceed ed to read the letter which was as fol- lows:
 South Eastern Tariff Association, Atlan-
 ta, Georgia.
 Birmingham. Ala. February 29 1901.
 (Copy)
 Letters to the Mayor. "Hon.A w. NJ. Drennen, Mayor, Birming- ham, Ala
 Dear Sir-In another letter I have set forth in detail additions and improve ments In the fire department of Birming- ham necessary to place the city on first class basis. The association would be glad to carry out the agreement proposed, but of course it must be understood that in the event of pending legislation directed 1 against the Southeastern Tariff asso- citation being enacted into law, the as- sociation will be powerless to carry out its agreement. Very truly, (Signed) CHARLES c. FLEMING. Secretary"
 This, gentlemen, was simply proposi- tion for us to stop legislation in Mont gomery, while the general assembly was in session or to fail to have Birming-. ham placed upon a first class insurance basis. This, gentlemen, is what we are up against"
 The report of the committee on the | fire department follows:
 Report of Committee. 1 Under instructions of the board of mayor and aldermen we make the follow ing statement of facts regarding the con- | dition of the fire department of the city | of Birmingham, beginning May l. 1899, to | June l, 1904, inclusive. This statement is made and published | as matter of record and to give the peo- | pie of Birmingham the true status of | this department that they may be in- formed fully and authenticaly as to the number and character of the stations, | equipments. etc.: Equipment May, 1S99-In service:
 Two steamers, third size. | Four hose wagons. Fifteen horses. Twenty-eight men. | Reserve equipment: | One steamer, second size. | One aerial hook and ladder truck, sixty | five feet.
 This equipment of May 1899, was han died from two fire stations-No. 1 station located at old City Hall corner Nine teenth street and Fourth avenue, north; | No ? station. located at Nineteenth street | and Avenue D, south.
 Equipment June 1, 1904-In service: Four steamers. | One first size. | One second size. | Two third size. Six hose wagons. | One chemical double cylinder engine. | One aerial hook and ladder truck. | Thirty horses. | Fifty-seven firemen.
 Reserve Equipment.
 One first size steamer, one hose wagon. | The present equipment Is handled from six fire stations, as follows: 1 No. 1 station, city hall, corner Nine teenth street and Fourth avenue, north. | No. station, corner Nineteenth street and Avenue D, south. | No station, Five Points. South High lands.
 | No station, Twenty-fourth street. l fdSl E<1u No station, Nineteenth street, North Highlands No. station, Third avenue, West End. l The installation of these additional sta- tions and equipment was as follows: Station No. installed May 1, 1900.
 Station No. installed September 5. 1901.
 Station No. installed September 5, 1901.
 Station No. installed April 1, 1903 Steamer Harry Jones" installed July 1, 1901.
 Chemical engine. installed September 1. 1901.
 Aerial hook and ladder truck installed January l. 1902
 Steamer "Thad Mullen" placed in re- serve May 9. 1903.
 Steamer added to station No. April 1, 1903
 From the above statement will be seen that in May, 1899 the fire department of Birmingham, consisted of two stations only. One on the Northside and one on the Southside.
 Now we have six fully equipped stations or three times as many as in May, 1S99
 Stations Are Distributed.
 These stations are distributed so that they can more thoroughly protect the city. north, south, east, west and center of city. It has been and is still the de- sire of this committee to have the Bir- ningham fire department second to none. We think we have been successful. It is the intention of the committee as the financial co nditions of the city to improve