The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-16

--AA<4gs "A ~ AzkO1f1 4 p AA-Af were unfit for fire service. In return l have received one good horse from the street department.
 While responding to an alarm one or my best horses fell. striking its head on car track and was killed instantly
 At present there are three horses III the hospital
 Since taking charge of the department on August l l have instituted and pro pose to maintain regular drills and ladder practice, which I think will be of great benefit to the man and to the department as a whole.
 The city now has in service BPS fire hydrants.
 Building Inspection.
 During the past year I have had one man from my department to accompany the building inspector of the Southeastern Tariff association on his regular tours or inspection both in the residence and busl- ness sections of the city I think there is much good to be derived from these Inspections as the inspectors have touho and reported numbers of f1ues and cnlm- neys in bad condition, and also nouneo owners to have same repaired at once.
 Buildings-I recommend that englhe house No. 2, located at Avenue D and Nineteenth street, be remodeled ana thoroughly overhauled. The present condl. tion of this building is deplorable ana something should be done to It at once
 Engine house No. 4. located on Twen- ty-fourth street, between Second ana Third avenues, Is entirely too small. recommend that another building Of the same size except that 1t be twenty feet longer be constructed on the north slde Of the present one The quarters at thls station are entirely inadequate to ae- commodate the men and equipment at present stationed there.
 I recommend that the old building used by hose company No. G. located at Third avenue and Fifteenth street be replaced with an entirely new building Some lew months ago the board appropriated S40o for the purpose of repairing this building, but after a thorough investigation l found that 1t would be impracticable 10 expend this amount on it, consequently only made repairs that were absolutely necessary.
 Eauipment-I recommend that the city purchase water tower, same to be placed in service in the down town dis trict This will enable LIS to a great ex- tent to cope with large fires much better than at present and no department is con- sidered frst-cass without this necessary piece of equipment.
 Service Trucks.
 further recommend that the city pur- chase two service trucks, one to be To- cated on the north and one on the south sides of the city, for better protection to the residence districts As 1t Is now we are sadly in need of ladders for this purpose the only ones we now have to depend upon being one 12-foot and one To- foot carried on each hose wagon.
 We frequently have fires on the North and South Highlands necessitating the use of thirty or forty foot ladder, and it is impossible to take the big aerial trucks, which were recently ordered, to these districts, while light service trucks could be used to great advantage both in the residence and business districts.
 I further recommend that the city pur- chase one-third size Metropolitan engine, same to be placed at station No ', To- cated at Avenue IT and Eleventh street We have a vast amount of valuable prop erty to protect in this district, especially on the Highlands and at Glen Iris, and the water pressure there is absolutely insufficient to give the necessary protec- tion without a steamer
 Ten Horses Needed.
 Horses-I further recommend that the city purchase at least ten horses at once, some of this number to relieve old horses that are unfit for this service, and others to relieve good horses now in service which are badly in need of rest. If enough extra horses were kept on hand at all times to relieve the regular horses after several consecutive runs it would be a great saving to the city as it would considerably 'lengthen the lives of these horses We should also have a suitable place near the city where all sick, dis abled and rundown horses could be kept and properly cared for. I do not believe that the cost of maintaining such a place would be as large as the amount paid annually to veterinary surgeons and for horse hire.
 Fire Hydrants-I recommend that fire hydrants be placed on every corner in the residence sections of the city, especially on the North and South Highlands, as they are every two blocks apart in these sections and in many localities from three to five blocks apart.
 Overhead Wires-I recommend that the city compel, as soon as practicable, all street railway companies, electric com panies and telephone and telegraph com- panies to place their wires underground in the congested district of the city, As they are at present there is hardly a building in the down town district where we can raise our ladders without their coming in contact with these wires and endangering the lives of the men. Some precautions should be taken in regard to this at once.
 Telephones.
 Telephone System-As we have very few fire alarm boxes. the majority of alarms are received by telephone. All of the tele- phones at the several stations are con