The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-22
FURTHER VIEWS ON
 FIRE SITUATION James 6oWron Makes Some Timely Suggestions IDEAS OF MIR. HARDING Thinks Merchants Might Agree to a Voluntary Assessment on Prop.
 erty Inside of the Fire
 Limits.

The need of additional fire equipment was again the most important topic of conversation in. Birmingham yesterday. A number of prominent men discussed the matter, and all agreed that more fire equipment was necessary. Various meth- ods of securing the money with which to purchase the equipment were dis cussed.
 W. P. c. Harding. president of the First National bank. said that in his opinion the additional fire fighting appar- atus was needed. and needed badly In regard to the ways of securing this ap- paratus and maintaining 1t, he said:
 "One method of getting sufficient funds to carry on the city administration would be a special municipal assessment, but I understand that this is not practicable on account of a clause in the consti- tuition of the state The city has to abide by the county and state assessments
 Another method would be to raise the assessments. but if that were done the city would have to pay much more than it's share of the taxes into the state and county treasury. The third method Is by a voluntary tax assessment The mer- chants and business men would save themselves a large amount by this volun- tary assessment It would be much small CT than the additional fire insurance rates they have to pay because the city is not on a first-class basis. This last plan seems to me to be the most practical"
 G. H. Estes.
 'I think, like every one else does, that the fire department should be increased. believe that just at this time it would be better to have spent 5000 for fire equipment than on trees for the parks. We need the equipment more than the trees.''
 Robert p. McDavid.
 "A man should be at the head of the fire department that can demand and se- cure from the City Council the neces- sary equipment. Chief Walton Is an ef- ficient fire fighter and fine man, and has probably done all that could be done with the limited facilities. I believe in having at the head of each department of the city a high-priced man secured from some larger city and familiar with the needs of great city.
 Birmingham has outgrown the pres ent fire fighting department. What the cause of the present inability to sue cessfully check a fire Is, I do not know. But whatever the trouble it should be remedied at once or the citizens will sui fer for the delay"
 T. L. Anglln.
 "The Birmingham fire department needs more men and more apparatus. l am also inclined to believe the water pressure is at fault Until these three things are attended to the fire question in Birming- ham may become serious. I am told that two companies have already withdrawn their business from this city, and others may follow suit. I do not think. how ever. that the underwriting situation will develop into serious proportions.
 Tt is very probable that several new companies that had planned to enter Br. mingham on January l will not do SC owing to the recent heavy fire losses"
 w. B. Leedy.
 q am not well enough informed on the subject to say just what IS the cause of the trouble in the fire department. Il may be inefficiency, it may be lack o1 equipment or it may be too little water l am inclined to think that it is probably all three. I understand that two compa | nies have withdrawn from Birmingham | and that others will likely cut dowr their business. The trouble, whatever i | is, should be remedied at once" Alex T London.
 | What do you think is the matter witl l the Birmingham fire department" wal asked Alex T. London yesterday. "Whats the matter with the fire de partment?" said MT. London. Well, I fee like the fellow who was carrying a loa, of apples to town, when he was overtakei (continued C., Seventh Page)