The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-18
FIRE DEPARTMENT MAY BE INCREASED Lower Fire Insurance Rates Are
 Necessary, However MEETING HELD YESTERDAY Board of Trade VIII Present Proposl- ton From City Council to South
 eastern Tariff Association
 About Rerating.
MEETING HELD YESTERDAY

If the Southeastern Tariff association will place the business section of Bir- mingham on first class fire insurance basis, the City Council will add ma terially to the fire department.
 This was decided upon at a joint meet ing of the finance and fire and water service committees of the City Council. and committee from the Board of Trade which was held yesterday afternoon at o'clock in the council chamber of the city hall.
 A committee from the Board of Trade will communicate with the Southeastern Tariff association, and present the prop osition of the City Council, provided, that body tonight concurs in the report of the two committees, which is thought prob able.
 Improvements Proposed.
 If the business section is rerated, the following improvements are to be made t3 the fire departments:
 First new flrst-elass engine is to be purchased
 Second. An aerial truck with equipment is to be purchased and installed.
 Third. Forty-seven additional fire plugs are to be installed ia the business sec tion.
 Fourth. The aerial truck now in service will remain.
 Fifth. Fire stations are to be installed ia Behrens park and near Lakeview.
 Sixth. Keyless fire alarm boxes are te be installed in the business section.
 Seventh. A building inspector is to be elected.
 The meeting yesterday afternoon was called for the purpose of considering the demand for increased fire protection re- gently made by the Southeastern Tariff association of the City Council as con- dition for making a cheaper fire insurance rate for Birmingham.
 Mayor Drennen, who is ex-officio mem Der of all standing committees of the City Council presided, and City Clerk J.. C. Murray acted as secretary.
 The following were present:
 From the finance committee: Alderman Henry B. Gray, Alderman John c. For ney.
 From the fire and water service com- mittee: Alderman Harry Jones, chairman. Alderman D. R. Copeland, Alderman H. A. Stockmar, and ----erman W. R. Gum.
 From the Board of Trade: R. w. Ew- ing, J. D. Collins, s. P. King Sol Sa- heen, Ferd Marx and Roy Mccullough.
 Edwin S. Moore, James Bailey and War ha Fire Hose company were also present.
 The Matter Discussed.
 Alderman Jones explained the motion made at the City Council recently when the communication of the Southeastern Tariff association was referred to the finance and fire and water service com mittees for joint consideration This is the first time we have considered the matter. gentlemen" said Alderman Jones, land we have no set plans, but would like to hear from you.
 J. D. Collins-We are here at the invl- tation of MT Jones to see If something cannot be done to get a cheaper fire in surance rate. We are all aware that the city of Birmingham is not in a position to meet all of the requirements of the Southeastern Tariff association, but it does seem that something could be done to get a better rating. We thought per haps that Mr. Jones might have some plan to this end.
 Alderman Jones-We appreciate your position and are ready and willing to hear from you who represent the busi- ness men of Birmingham.
 R. w. Ewing-We thought that some plan could be formulated at this meet ing. Probably the best thing that we could do would be to ascertain the cost of complying to some extent to the de- mands of the tariff association. In my opinion it would be better for your finance committee to look into this mat ter. We might, however, ascertain this afternoon what the maximum amount the city could afford to expend in an in creased fire department, and then submit this to the Southeastern Tariff associa- ton and see if the reductions cannot be made.
 Cost of Additional Equipment.
 Alderman Jones then read from a re- cent issue of The Age-Herald statement made by Alderman Gray, showing that the cost of the additional equipment asked for by the tariff association would amount to $4S,200. The maintenance for one year would be sS7,s10, making the total cost for the year. for the additional equipment asked for, $136,060.
 Alderman Jones-According to the statement of the Mayor, made recently, r ~@