The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-11
TOURNAMENT MAY
COME To THIS CITY
Georgia and Alabama Firemen
to Be Invited
HOLD SOUTHERN RECORD
Sam Foley of Pratt City Talks of the
Work of Georgia and Alabama
Volunteer Firemen's
Association.
HOLD SOUTHERN RECORD

/ ERSSSSiNN'N''
There is a movement on foot to have
the Georgia and Alabama Volunteer Fire
mems association hold its annual tourna-
ment in Birmingham in May. 1905 The
tournament will be held this year at
Cedartown, Ga, and it is possible that
a committee from the commercial bodies
and city officials of Birmingham will
attend the meet and extend an invitation
to the association to come to this city
The Pratt City fire department is TAX
ing the initiative In the matter and will
ask the Commercial club of Birmingham
to cooperate with them in the move
ment to secure the next annual tourna-
ment for Birmingham. The officers of
the Birmingham fire department will also
be asked to cooperate in the matter
and assist In the entertainment of the
volunteer fremen in case the tournament
is held here
The association is made up of the lead
ing volunteer fire departments In Geor-
gia and Alabama and the occasion would
not only bring many people to the city
but 1t is pointed out that a great benefit
would be derived from the affair by
members of departments in the district
that do not belong. to the association.
The Georgia and Alabama association
holds the record over all other associa-
lions in the southern states In the reel
race, having lowered the record to IS Is
seconds at the last annual meet In Rome,
Ga That record was made by the Pratt
City department which carried off the
first prize on that occasion.
Record Lowered.
This record. however, was lowered last
year at the meeting of the North Caro-
lima association by visiting members from
Rome and Pratt City, but the conditions
were different being above normal and
considered as hardly a fair test. The rec
ord is made by making a 100 yard run
laying 100 feet of hose and getting n
stream of water.
Pratt City is proud of her record in
the association and the members of the
department are taking a lively interest
in the work of the organization. This de-
partment captured a number of the best
prizes at the last annual tournament and
In few days will begin practice for the
meeting in May at cedartown, Ga The
members feel confident that they will be
able to sustain their past record and will
be able to bring back some of the highest
trophies OF the next meet.
The Pratt City department is the only
one in the Birmingham district that be-
longs to the association and 1t Us be-
leved that II an annual tournament can
be held here the excellent work will in
terest other companies and they may be
induced to join the association. II Is
claimed that the competitive features Of
the annual tournaments makes the men
more efficient and skilled in the work
of handling fires and nsures greater
safety to property 1t is claimed. in fact
that the volunteer companies have better
records for quick work than many paid
departments.
Mr.. Foley Talks.
In discussing the matter yesterday Sam
Foley of Pratt City, prominent member
of the volunteer department of that city
said "A committee will probably be ap-
pointed at the next meeting of the Pratt
City fire department to call on the Com
mereial club of Birmingham and other
public bodies and make a request that
they extend an invitation to the Georgia
and Alabama Volunteer Firemen's asso-
citation to hold its next annual tourna-
ment In Birmingham.
1.-THE next meeting will be held in Ce-
dartown, Ga, in May and the PRATT
City boys want the tournament for 1908
to be held here. The other members OF
the association in Georgia and other towns
In Alabama also want to come to Br-
mngham, and | am sure that an invita-
ton to come would be readily accepted.
I'VE would like for committees from
the Commercial club of Birmingham and
the Birmingham fire department to at
tend the annual tournament at Cedartown
this year and see the work of the assocla-
ton and extend formal invitation.
Would Benefit Community.
birmingham can easily take care Of the
people who would attend and | Believe
that the meeting would be of great benefit
to the community l am sure that the
fire department would be interested In the
work The many interesting contests pre-
scented by the boys in the tournament
features would be of unusual interest to
the public, am quite sure.
This association holds the record IN
the southern states for quick reel work
and does as fine work In other features
as any other association in the country.
New features are constantly being added
to the annual programmes that are not
only interesting to the spectators but are
of great benefit to the participants in the
way of practice and becoming more skill
full In their work.
1.-THE holding OF the annual tournament
in Birmingham would naturally interest
the members of the volunteer depart
ments in the district that do not belong
to the association. The records show that
those departments that belong to the as
ISOLATION and engage In the annual COM
petltive programmes give the best gen
eral service and 1t is my opinion that
the practice should be encouraged"