The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-07
COMMITTEE HAS
 COMPLETED WORK Southeastern Tariff Assn Re- presentatives Made Inspection THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE Organized to Aid the City Officials in Getting Birmingham Back
 to First-Class
 Basis.
THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE

The special committee of the South eastern Tariff association which has been Investigating the fire conditions in Br- mingham for the past two days, has com pleted it's labors and majority of the members returned home last night.
 The result of the investigation is un- known. The members of the committee state that Birmingham will be put on a first class basis as soon as the improve ments specified in the agreement between the tariff association and the board of trade are made The city has already or dered every one of these improvements and they will be installed as rapidly as possible.
 Another result of the visit was the an- nouncement that Chief Hale of Kansas City, who has an almost international rep utation as a fire fighter, has been asked to come to Birmingham and make a thorough inspection of the conditions and suggest possible Improvements. He has accepted the invitation.
 As a result of the conferences it has leaked out that about two weeks ago a score or more of men representing every phase of life in Birmingham, organized in order to render the city officials all aid necessary in putting the city on a first class fire fighting basis
 This body held several sessions and members of the board of aldermen were present. Hours were spent in Investigating the conditions and attempting to find out what was wrong. Conferences were held with the committee from the Southeastern Tariff association at which representa- tives of the city were present. As result of this conference the Mayor and Alder men at the meeting last night postponed the election of chief of the fire de- partment and building inspector until after the visit of Chief Hale and until his report is received.
 The election was postponed at the re- quest of this body of citizens. One of the citizens who has been leading spiri' in the movement, last night outlined the objects of the organization as follows:
 Statements Made.
 ..We realized that the time for action had arrived and we organized and held several meetings. They were kept se- cret as we did not wish anything saic until our plans were in definite shape There were probably score of us at the meetings and we represented every pro l fesson and business interest in Brming | ham.
 "Our object is to find out where th trouble lies and to do all in our power t remedy the evil. We want to secure tn l first class insurance rating for BirminS ham. but first of all we want adequat fire protection. We are not making fight on anyone and we want it distinctl. l understood that we are organized t' render the city officials every aid in o,r power, not to make a fight an ony one. | We had been promised improvement in the fire department for some time, bu they came slowly. We wished to enthus l little ginger into the matter and get tn equipment as soon as 1t could be delivered We found the mayor and members of tn board of aldermen ready to do anything in their power and as result we had sev eral conferences.
 We asked that the election of chic of the fire department and a building in l spector be postponed in order that Chic Hale of Kansas City might come here am render his report in an unbiased manner He is recognized as one of the greates l experts in the country.
 We felt that 1t would be better not t' elect these officers now, but wait untl after the visit and report of MT. Hale ar made. If his report showed incompetence 1 it would be awkward to have to ask an one to resign and would be injuring som ones feelings unnecessarily If his re port Is favorable. which l hope 1t will be i then the elections can be held.
 "The citizens committee is in the mat ter to stay to the end. We have pledge' we intend to give it."
 Tests Made.
 | Yesterday afternoon tests were made o the water pressure at the corner of Ave nue A and Twentieth street, and the were seemingly satisfactory. About tel 1 streams were ldhtH lIOiu tHt pluSS VI that and neighboring corners, and a pres sure of between 80 and 90 pounds wa | maintained.
 test was made with one of the first class engines pumping four streams o water, and according to the committe of the Southeastern Tariff association was not as satisfactory as 1t might hay been. Among other things decrease o 15 pounds from the plug pressure wa shown when the water was allowed to rul through the engine without any engn pressure. It required b pounds pressur in other words. for the water to fore itself through the engine without any o the engine pumps working.
 The four streams of water from tn engine were but little stronger than fou similar streams from the plugs withou engine pressure.
 SETH RtII OCKyS IOR