The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-02
CHIEF INSISTS
 ON INVESTIGATION Bennett to Deal Fairly With
 Cement Blocks CRITICAL LETTER RECEIVED Manufacturers Declare Deductions of Fire Chief Entirely Wrong.
 No Council Action
 As Yet.
CRITICAL LETTER RECEIVED

N nile the council committee is inactive in reference to the recommendation of Fire Chief A. V Bennett for an investi- sation of cement block construction, and the issue of permits for buildings of that material is held up by order of the last meeting of the board, the Cement Block Manufacturing company is demanding a fair trial, and has written letter on that subject to the fire chief
 It will be remembered that directly after a fire in a cement block building on Second avenue, Chief Bennett wrote the mayor recommending that an lnvestisa- ton be entered into and stating that the action of the blocks in that fire made it not only dangerous for nremen but to adjoining property, in that the walls had cracked and warped considerably. He stated that the building inspector had in- formed him that the construction in the particular case compared favorably with any other in the city, and if such was the case, Chief Bennett thought competent committee should decide whether such structures should be allowed inside the fire limits.
 Practical Test Probable.
 His recommendation was referred to the finance, judiciary, and fire committees, which have not taken up the subject to date. The practical way which has been suggested is that the committee select some cement blocks which have been de- af for opatr good mortar have them subjected to fire and heat, and let water be thrown on them. A comparison could then be made between the effect on cement blocks and bricks under the same treatment, The building laws of the city of Birmingham were drawn for the express purpose of getting as thick and substantial division walls as possible to prevent fire from spreading from one building to another in the business section.
 The cement people have advanced both the theory that it was caused by poor mortar. or Nn explositlon, the last of which the chief refutes on the ground that there was considerable glass in the store and nelghborhood which was not broken. Chief Bennett gave out this statement last night
 Bennett's Statement.
 "I received the following letter from the Cement Block Manufacturing company and take pleasure in giving 1t the same publicity given my recent statement in re- gard to the fire at 2320 Second avenue.
 Tn this connection want it understood that l have no interest whatever in the matter except as 1t relates to a safe fire risk and the public welfare. All Of these letters and what information have will be turned over to the city council com mittee which takes the matter under con sideration.
 ! ''If investigation shows that any injus- tice has been done the cement block peo- pie 1 will be glad to do what l can to correct 1t. I have no reason, however, at present, to change my views regarding the material or construction of the partic- ular building that started the contro- versy."
 "Birmingham November 30. 1907. Chief Bennett Fire Department City:
 sir: few days since letter was published from you to the Mayor with an interview from you appended thereto in which you condemned hollow cement blocks as building material in no un- mak snred terms. you asking that no more permits be issued in the city of Birming- ham for this class of houses. From read ing this article we gather that you base your opinion and request on the alleged effects of fire on cement blocks as ob- served by you in the recent fire on Second avenue between rwenty-third and Twen- ty-fourth streets.
 We have carefully investigated the cause and effect of this fire, and find that the allegations you made are en- tirely wrong, and we are sustained in this opinion by several competent architects and contractors, who agree with Us that the fault lay entirely in the construction, and not in the blocks.
 We want nothing but what is fair, but we demand a fair hearing and ask that you give as much publicity to this matter as you did to your letter and interview above mentioned. Very truly,
 CEMENT BLOCK MFG. C0..
 By W. G. OLIVER, Pres"
 
 Knights of CoIunbis.
 Birmingham Council, No eS5, Knights s.f to1, xttiI ala oh