The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-17
ENSLEY WILL BUY
 AUTO FIRE ENGINE City Council, After Stormy Sc : sion, Takes Final Action M'CAR1HY GIVES VIEWS Judge Feaein Will Address Men Sun day fternoon-Young People
 Enjoy Tally-ho Party-News
 of the Steel City.

Ensley. September 6.-(Special. "A stormy session of the city council was held tonight, the bone of contention be- ing the report of the fire committee
 Alderman Mcdowell presided in the ab- sence of President P. J. Rogers, who was unavoidably absent, as were Aldermen Lind and Zuber. An interesting feature was the talk made by Fire Chief Ben nett, who had been invited out to give his views on auto driven fire apparatus. Chief Bennett stated that auto driven fire engines were being adopted all over the country and had received the approval of over 800 fire chiefs In a recent con venton.
 He cited a number of large cities using the auto machines and stated they had the approval and indorsement of the Southeastern Underwriters association, thereby guaranteeing no increase of rates. He said the cost of maintaining the ma chimes was so much less than that of horses that there was no comparison. He gave it as his opinion that auto driven fire apparatus was entirely feasible, and thoroughly practical.
 The chairman thanked Chief Bennett on behalf of the council for his instruc- l tive address.
 The reports of the committees were then read.
 The judiciary committee asked for fur ther time on the ordinance incorporating the recently enacted prohibition laws in the city code
 1 The public improvement committee made l an amended report on the ordinance to
 lay curbing and sidewalks which was l concurred in.
 1 The finance committee reported unfa- vorably on the request of the Prcsby- 1 terian church that assessment for street paving be remitted The council, by unan- l imous vote, sustained the report of the committee.
 The report of the finance committee on the Owen ordinance to regulate the height of awnings was concurred in. By this measure all awnings must be at least seven feet above the sidewalks. l The report of the fire committee rec ommending the purchase of an auto fire wagon from the Seagrave company of 1 Columbus. O., at cost of $4250, started | discussion that was heated at times. I
 l Previous to the vote being taken MT.
 Drennen, representing the Webb Motor | company, addressed the council in refer
 ence to the machine made by his com
 pany. He was followed by A. G. Couse, | the representative of the Seagrave com
 pany. Each spoke on the merits of his
 respective machine Considerable discus l sion ensued as to the advisabiity ot
 purchasing an auto driven fire engine and
 much wrangling followed. The fire com l miteee, Aldermen Mcleod, Pow and l Owens, ably defended the action of the
 committee. MT. Pow was especially wig orous in his remarks, charging a desire
 to delay the establishment of a fire sta i ton at Wylam. Aldermen Brdgman, l Stack, Martin and Craig expressed them 1 selves. Chairman Mcdowell called Alder l man Byrum to the chair and after stat l ing he was not opposed to purchasing ] fire equipment, but was opposed to any i and all auto fire apparatus; offered a l substitute to the report of the commit l tee which was lost by a vote of seven to three. The report of the committee was
 taen adopted.