The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-22

Joel F. Webb.
 T am practically a newcomer In Br- mingham and consequently have not kept up with the evolution of the fire depart ment," said Joel F. Webb yesterday. But I do know one thing, this city has out grown the fire department in all propor- tions.
 "A big town needs big fire department, and l am sure that the city fathers will make ample provisions to meet all of the growing needs'
 Joseph B. Babb.
 Joseph B. Babb, secretary of the Com mereial club, said.
 ''The mayor and board of aldermen will in my opinion take any action necessary to relieve the situation. l feel sure that they are better acquainted with the com ditions than l am, and l am sure that they will meet every emergency, and will take speedy action to enlarge the depart ment sufficient to meet the demands or the growing city,
 ]. w. Altman.
 J. W. Altman, register in chancery, said:
 'I believe that our department as far as it goes is all right but evidently 1t does not go far enough. l have no remedy to offer. but that Birmingham needs larger department cannot be disputed.
 Tt makes no difference how large the fire department is the city is bound to suffer losses from fires so long as fires break out. The insurance companies, am told, figure on a building that is four or five stories high burning up when 1t catches. The insurance companies them selves figure on losses, and why should not the property owners make the same estimates.
 Every effort should be made to have the fire department measure up to the size of the city, but If we had an enslno to every block losses would continue to occur just the same.'
 pr. A. J. Dickinson.
 The Rev. pr. A. J. Dickinson said:
 q favor anything that will give Bir- mingham ample fire protection. This city g rapid growth and development make a large and well equipped fire department an absolute necessity"
 Bowron's Letter.
 James bIutloh iiao "tfssoAA NtfS ing letter to the editor of the Age-Her- aid:
 Dear Sir: Having read the interviews published fin this mornings paper wlth various aldermen on the subject of ire protection, l venture to suggest that the subject needs somewhat broader eonsid- eration than is evidenced in these publi- cations.
 For the better suppression of nre ana protection of property the cooperation is needed, first. of property-owners; sec ond. the underwriters; third. the water company, and fourth. the city.
 l believe that two-thrds of the fires which occur in Birmingham are due to the failure of the property-owners to take proper precautions in building, or of the tenants in managing the property. Stores filled with hay. feed, etc, abutting upon railroad tracks have broken window panes-perhaps no glass at all-and, If provided with iron shutters, they are not closed, so that a spark gains ready &C., cess to the combustble matter. Collec- tions of trash, excelsior, waste paper, shavings, etc., are swept out of buildings and allowed to accumulate in dangerous proximity, waiting for the match or cigar stub to be carelessly thrown away. Open fires are left at lunch time or at night without a wire guard in front waiting for the spark to fly out upon the carpet. Car loads of matches, collections of cart ridges, are stored in large buildings, in stead of being separately housed, or in the cellar. where they may be flooded. Large buildings are constructed without the slightest pretense of fire precaution. and the entire trust of the owner Is placed in the fire department Is it not possible for the city to require certain precautions to be taken inside as well as outside in the fire district? The easiest way to deal with fires is to prevent them. have seen three and four-story buildings of First avenue rebuilt after fire with apertures left in the walls to receive the Joists. re- ducing by one-half the strength and thick ness of the walls. In such cases I submit that the brick walls should be maintained solid, and either iron brackets inserted or brick cornices built out to carry the jofsts, so that in case of fire the floor, If 1t should drop, would have no leverage upon the wall to crack 1t and permit the fire to go through to the next building. In build- ings of a certain size. could 1t not be re- quired that the wooden posts carrying the next flood should be heavily whitewashed and then sheathed in tin. Similarly I sug- gest that in all large stores and ware houses the ceilings should be made either by whitewashing and then timing the un- derside of the floor by stretching a wire netting across the beams and clustering on it. This would infallibly keep the fire from burning upwards quickly. as 1t nat urally does where bare wooden beams and posts become one flaming mass. It has been adequately demonstrated that plas- ter upon wire netting (taking a bond be- hind every mesh) will not crack, and is as great an obstacle to the spread of fire as brick wall To prevent fire from burning downward in building with wooden floors the builder may either in- terpose layer of "mlneral wool" made by blowing steam through molten slag, or, If that be too expensive, the dipping of every plank and beam either into a bath of solution of alum or even common whitewash would materially delay the progress of the fire. as the blanks would char Instead of blazing. and thus give the fire department chance to get in it's work
 If the city has not the power to regu- late these matters or does not wish to use that power, if Is at least open for the underwriters to do so. Heaven helps those who help themselves" and I have little sympathy for fire insurance com panies. If. in the competition for bus iness. they will accept important risks where the owner and the tenant neglect