The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-02

Two aerial trucks-one as new as truck could be, the other remodeled un- til it is as good as new-were placed Tn commission yesterday by Chief Bennett of the fire department.
 The new truck, an S5-foot extension, is at headquarters in the city hall building, where it occupies the central space in the main hall, and the other is at station No. on Eighteenth street and Ave nue D.
 The aerial truck is one of the finest, latest and most complete ever turned out of the factory for any city. It weighs a good many tons and two horses cannot start it to rolling but they can keep 1t rolling after it has once commenced and until it strikes grade A team of three heavy horses, suitable for hauling such a weight have been secured and the necessary harness and shaf,sr are already here The three horses and the ripple harness will be inaugurated today or to- morrow, but in the meantime just pair of horses are being used. A full crew for the truck will be organized within the next day or two.
 The truck carries ten ladders with total of 35s feet. In other words if all the ladders were stretched out they would be more than a block long. To begin with there is one S5-foot ladder, the main part of which is 45 feet long and the ex- tension 40 feet. This ladder is attached to the truck and is lifted by means of cranks. Then there is one oo-foot ladder which is not attached to the truck. q 4o- foot ladder, two 35-foot ladders, one 26- foot ladder, one 20-foot ladder, one 30- foot ladder, one 1S-foot and one 14-foot ladder.
 All these ladders are so fastened to the truck that they can be pulled out in a second and most of them are of convenient length for raising rapidly to the second, third and fourth story win dows of buildings The larger ladder can be raised in a few seconds-less than half minute-and will reach to practically the top of any building in Birmingham at present
 Beside the ladders the truck Is equip ped with buckets for carrying out debris. It is also equipped with sledge hammers, crow bars,aa and patent appliances for
  bles somewhat an old time battering ram. It is of steel and there are hand holds arranged along the side of the shaft so that six or eight men can secure good grip on it and swing it with great power against a good facing The head is so shaped that it will smash a good facing with ease
 Two men can raise the long ladder. There is a crank on either side of the drivers seat and man grasps each and raises the ladder by turning the cranks. A few turns hosts the ladder. Two wheels, one on either side raise the extension to the required height, where 1t locks, and the turn-table at the bottom can be turned so that the lad der may be put into any window or changed in any desired direction.
 A patent brake clamps the front axle of the truck when the ladder is to be raised, holding it so that it cannot budge an inch Immense coil springs inside cy- flinders steady the long ladder as it is raised, balance the enormous weight and made it easy to manipulate ''H ladder.
 The seat on the rear where the man who steers rthe machine sits is also of latt. and improved patent. and files out of the way when a spring Is touched so that there Is no delay in raising the ladder.
 one of the two life nets purchased sev- eraI months ago is kept on each of the trucks in large basket made for that purpose This basket also holds num- Der of other things which may be needed at any time.
 For some time the truck was kept in one of the stores adjoining the head qua rters, out some changes will be made now and it is probable that all the appar- ...,s st haadouarters with the exception