The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-02
DANGER FROM FIRE
INCREASING DAILY
Finest Section Of Highlands
Without Protection
O'CONNELL EXPLAINS IT
Property Owners Are Becoming In
censed at Delay In Getting suffi-
cient Pressure to Give AIDE
quate Protection.
O'CONNELL EXPLAINS IT

CAS- long as the fire protection on the
today" said Chief A. v. Bennett yes
terday 1--WE will continue to lose hand
some residences like that of Mr.. Order,
which burned yesterday.
'The loss of the Order home Is due
largely to the poor water pressure, and
the failure of the Water Works COM
pany to find a suitable location for its
pumping station
An agreement was reached some
months ago by which the Water Works
company was to erect stand pipe on
top of Red mountain, which should be
supplied by a new pumping station and
give sufficient power to furnish all the
homes on the side of the hill. The
company had purchased the lot for the
pump house on Twenty-sixth street.
and was proceeding with the work
when the property owners nearby made
a complaint and procured an injunction
to prevent the erection of the plant.
Pending the difficulty the city of
Birmingham allowed the water COM
Der to May, and in the meantime they
have been endeavoring to find a suita-
BILE location.
Under Its contract with the city of
Birmingham, which ends in 1919. the
company, it is stated, does not have
to furnish these residences with water
as they are out of the bounds of the
IL -.
unusual condition that the company
finally decided to put in tho stand pipe.
There was also a question of whether
the company could put in the meter
system in the new territory. City
Attorney e. d. Smith commended that
city would maintain. This, however,
was taken to the courts and IT was
decided as soon as possible to go ahead
with the erection of the system and
leave the matter of charges to the de-
cision of the court.
I'VE are as enxious as the public"
said superintendent d. J.. OConnell of
the Water Works company. yesterday,
ito complete this work and give both
conveniences and water pressure to the
people concerned. We have so far been
unable to find a location where there
is no complaint. In fact. the pump
house will be q handsome structure of
fine pressed brick, and architectural de-
tail. 1t would not be nuisence In
any neighborhood, and with the care
which our men always give the grounds
around plant 1t would soon become
both attractive and ornamental
I'VE hope within the next two weeks
to get things where we can take the
matter up actively and put In the stand
pipe. In the meantime the city wound
do well to furnish the section with suf-
ficient engines and apparatus 10 fight
these fires. and the losses will not Reach
so high. In case we cannot find suf-
ficiently convenient location, l think
tn e company will give the bond and go
ahead with the plant on Twenty-sixth
street"
In the meantime, it is claimed, the
finest residence section of the south is
daily in danger of obstruction. 1t is
building up every month, and before
long a fire started in one house VIVA get
away with a dozen or more. The people
Of the section are incensed at the delay,
and demand that the city should put
tn EN- in a position to enjoy the rights
for which they pay taxes.
J. d. Collins said, IT have seen three
houses burn recently around me, and
am looking every day for some con-
fagration in my house or near by which
will prove destructive. I have already
comp lained, and I realize that the wa
ter works company is attempting to
solve the trouble, but I do think it
could be done with little moro haste"