The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-21
BENNETT |S BACK
 FROM CONVENTION
Fire Chief Talks of the Lessons
 Learned
CONDUITS ARE THE THING
Larger Cities Adopting Big Stream in Fire Fighting-NoveI Tele- phone Carried by Chief
 in Buggy.

Chief A. V Bennett of the Birmng- ham fire department has returned from Washington, where he attended the an- nual convention of the International As sociation of Fire Engineers, one of the most important meetings of fire chiefs that has ever been held
 The chief reports that he had a most enjoyable time, and that the sessions were full of interest and instruction. The pur- pose of the association is to exchange experience, so that the whole country may profit by the methods most improved.
 When seen in his office he talked in- terestlngly of the meeting: q was espe- cially impressed by the reports from all the experts on the adoption of the big stream in controlling bad fires. In some of the northern cities many as six lines are used on one big nozzle. It is an established fact that small streams add fuel to the fire, as the water evap- crates. allowing the oxygen to escape and cause combustion.
 Here in Birmingham we need some ldi BC iiO1HltSs dilu SqulpiicHt lof uSiD6 them We have one for three lines con nected with an extension ladder but in the business section it is almost impos- sible to use 1t on account of the over head wires. In the big cities there is not a wire overhead, and fires are handled far easily.
 On Treatment of Horses.
 T by lecture on the care and treatment of horses by Dr. c. B. Robinson, veteri- nary surgeon of Washington, D. c. learned better the symptoms and treat ment especially of diseases of the feet.
 Ut was the sense of the convention as expressed by w. H. Merrill in a paper. that the conduit system is the only rem edy for defective electric wiring. The necessity of continuity was emphasized, for the system is not perfect unless every wire in the building is in a conduit.
 This fact was illustrated here last night when what could easily have proved a horrible and disastrous fire was narrow ly averted at the Hillman hospital. The cable of the elevator became charged with electricity from defective wiring. and an arc was made between it and wires under the laths in the ceiling at the top of the shaft on the third floor. It was in a very inaccessible place and had it been discovered a few minutes later many of the patients might have been burned to death. However. our wir- ing laws are now much stricter than when the Hillman was built, and our electrician is enforcing them.
 Telephone Carried in Buggy.
 "The convention was enthusiastic in re- citing the advantages of the automobile chemical engine. They are being gen orally adopted as safer and quicker, all over the country. Another new device that was praised by Chief Wharton of Baltimore is the fire alarm telephone.
 By certain attachments, little tel phone which the chief carries in his bug gy, can be hitched to the fire alarm box and he can communicate with all the stations, order out departments, and give instructions while he is at the seat of the fire. Another important adjunct now in use in large cities Is the electric search light run by an engine and motor. which penetrates the smoke, and enables the firemen to direct the streams of water. So far, no department has ever been able to find a smoke protector for fireuen that is of any value
 Salvage Work by Department.
 The chief, when asked relative to his part of the convention stated that he proposed the discussion of Flow much salvage work should be done by the fire department where there is f10 regular salvage corps maintained?"
 This is possibly one of the hobbies of he has never been known to leave a fire until all debris Is cleared away, f1ie wall paper is preserved, and everything done to save extra loss of property. He insists that as much salvage work should be done by the department as possible, even though the department is thus kept away from the station a greater length of time.
 The chief returns with his old conviction deeper rooted, that the city needs far more fire alarm boxes and that the wires ought to go underground. This he claims is the crying need of the department.
 Speaking of the twelve fires on Sun day a week ago, which was a record for Birmingham. he states that Chief Croker og New York reported having es fires on September IS between the hours of D. m and 9 n. na.