The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-01
STORY OF THE OLD
 RUMSEY ENGINE
FIRST FIRE FIGHTER BOUGHT BY BIRMINGHAM COST THE ENoR- NOUS SUM OF $3o,ooo-HoW IT HAPPENED.
To the Edltor of The Age-Herald:


 The story of the Birmingham fire de- partment printed in the columns of The Age-H Herald from the pen of Burr Black burn calls to mind a little fire department histore which perhaps antedates his facts and figures The modern steam fire-hghting engines now belonging to the city of Birmingham cost from $4O0O to s55OO each, whereas the first hand-engine purchased by the city cost the tax payers thereof more than any five of the present steamers; though the original bill of that hand-engine was only 5000.
 This is the story. In the early 70s, and just before the adoption of the state con stitution of 1875, the city authorities of Birmingham entered in contract with the Rumsey manufacturing company for the purchase of hand-pumpng fire-fight- ing machine to cost about 5000. Notes were given in payment and at the time of maturity of the notes the city treasury was on a scrip basis. The market value of this scrip was about 60 cents on the dollar. An attorney, then practicng law in this city, whose name was Young. held these notes for collection. He accepted
 
 abroad to innocent purchasers. The Rum- sey company held that it had not au- thorized Lawyer Young to accept city scrip in liquidation of the debt, and de- manded cash payment.
 Suit was started by the company against the city and judgment rendered in favo: of the plaintiff Rumsey Manufacturing company for 5000 with interest and costs. The city refused to pay it. Judge W. s. Mudd then of the circuit court, issued a mandamus requiring the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to levy tax against the property holders of the city for funds sufficient to pay the judgment. Some of the aldermen refused to vote for the levy. but being informed that they must do so or be held in contempt of court did so order and the collection began.
 The regular tax rate was 50 cents on the $10o and 10 this was added the special Rumsey levy of 20 cents on the s1OO This levy continued In force annually until 1884, when a number of the taxpayers of the city issued an injunction against the municipal government, based upon the in- auiry if the original debt with all in- terest had not been paid; and it was found that about S30,000 had been collected, but distributed for general purposes, after paying the original debt. The injunction was obtained and the collection ceased
 Fifty cents on the $100 was not then, as 1t is not now, sufficient to meet cur rent expenses. Therefore, it would seem that the end justified the means in this peculiar instance.
 The old Rumsey hand-engine laid out in the weather for many years but was occasionally loaned to individuals and corporations to pump out cellars and mines. In fact the "Old Rumsey'' did it's part well in the early history of Birming- ham and no one can today doubt that in all the functions it performed-its intri- cate negotiable methods and its general usefulness for a number of years. "Old Rumsey" was fairly entitled to a resting place In the junk pile by side of the railroad
 The attorney Young, who collected the scrip from the city in payment for "Old Rumsey," went from Birmingham to Kansas, and was there appointed to a federal government position by President Cleveland-therefore it is presumed that Young was a democrat.
 FRANK V. EVANS, Birmingham, November 30, 1907. 
 fully over the books and make such cor rection as Is necessary to correct any errors if any are found.
 The Louisville and Nashville is re- strained by order of the city court of Montgomery from voting it's holdings in the South and North, something over 3O- 900 shares This order was issued at the instance of Henry B. Gray lieuten- ant governor, and others, who own a small part of the stock of the South and North and did not want the larger corporation to buy the latter, as 1t was trying to do. However, in the election of officers the shareholders present vote, the restrictions not going that far.
 The only change made today is in the to the position of vice president, taking the place held by the late Col. J. M Falkner. He also takes Colonel Falk- ner's place on the directorate. The full list of officers is given as follows:
 President, M H. Smith, vice president, George w. Jones; secretary, c. W. Craik; treasurer, w. W. Thompson; general counsel, II. L. Stone; general manager, B. M. Starks; traffic manager. c. B. Compton; general freight agent, E. A. de. Funiak; general passenger agent, w. A. Russell general superintendent, T. E. Brooks; comptroller, Charles Hayden.
 Directors B. J. Baldwin, F. M Billing, Samuel Blackwell, H. F. DeBardeleben, M. H. Smith, J. w. Durr. l.. M Falk, G. w. Jones, J. L. Hall, w. J. Cameron, W. A. Gayle, W. T. Northington, w. B. Tanner.