The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-06

combination auto hose wagon with the Seagraves company. represented by MT B. A. Pepperman. The chief Of the fire department and your Mayor, after carefully looking into and weighing conditions and the necessities of the various absorbed municipalities. have decided that the purchase of this equipment Is not necessary at this time, and I therefore notified MT Pep perman, the resident agent of the Sea- graves company, to countermand the order at once. My information is that the purchase price Is $450O, upon whie1i an advance payment of 5000 has been made. Inasmuch as the city contem- plates the purchase of an auto patrol wagon for the use of the central sta ton, and this company manufactures vehicles of this character, l took the liberty of assuring MT. Pepperman that in view of the fact that the contract had been made with his company for an auto hose wagon for Graymont and payment of 5000 having been made thereon, that all things being equal,
 
 contract to furnish said equipment and the s1ooo already paid on contract to ap- ply on the purchase price of the auto patrol wagon.
 Woodlawn's Ideal Department.
 I am pleased to report that at Wood lawn we found an ideal fire department; everything that could be wished for. Els pecially would we compliment the neat for the use of the men. The only change we found necessary here Is in the feed room. This improvement can be made at a cost of not exceeding s5.
 East Lake has new combination hose wagon and 2OO0 feet of new hose. A new building for city use has been contracted for and I would recommend that the committee appointed by this council should also look Into the necessity of car rying out the plans for this building and making such change as, in their judg- ment, is warranted.
 At North Birmingham we found a motor engine, Webb make, similar to the engine
 
 Heights station. There is sufficient hose at the North Birmingham station for present needs. The accommodations for the men are totally inadequate, but by changing the present building at a moder- ate expense it can be made serviceable for an increased department. The depart ment consists of working force of three IL ,- n in crease this number to not less than seven. have on file in the mayors of- fee a complete inventory of the fire equipment of Greater Birmingham.
 North Birmingham Water Works. Accompanied by Aldermen J. R. Cope land and R. D. Burnett, and Street Com missioner McCartin. I proceeded to inves- tigate the electric light plant and water works plant at North Birmingham. I found that there are six men employed in the operation of the electric light plant and the water works; one man at a salary of sS5 per month, one at $75, two at g per day and two laborers or firemen at N.50 per day. The cost of maintenance, In ad- dition to the above, is $500 per month. Mo- tice has been served upon me by the legal representative of the Republic Iron and Steel company that a contract is now in ties of North Birmingham, to supply the said Republic Iron and Steel company with water at Sayre mines. and complaint Is made that this contract is not being complied with. I investigated this com plaint and learned from MT. Parson, the man in charge of the water works at North Birmingham, that the reason for the failure to comply with the contract is that there is so much water wasted, growing out of the fact that consumers are in the habit of opening their hydrants to prevent frozen pipes and the bursting of same, that he has been unable to fur nish sufficient water at the reservoir. Sew eral complaints have come to me about the failure to supply lights at various points in North Birmingham, and I would respectfully recommend that your honor able body make some provision for the taking care of this property. would sug- gest that a separate committee from the one heretofore mentioned be appointed to confer with and instruct your mayor as to his duties in the premises.
 I would also recommend to your honor able body that the pound ordinance be amended so that no hardship will be worked upon ci izens owning stock in sec tions which have come into Birmingham. or that your mayor be granted discretion ary powers in this respect.
 After going over the ground and many consultations the street commissioner and myself decided to ask your honorable body to purchase a piece of ground be- tween Ensley and Pratt City, and situ- ated on a creek, for the convenient and economical working of Ensey, Pratt City and contiguous territory, this piece of ground to be used for the erection of stables. the keeping of implements and the disposition of night soil. We also find upon examination that 1t is abso- lutely necessary to secure a parcel of land at the eastern end of the town. situ- ated convenient to Eyton, Graymont and West End; and also parcel of land sit uated convenient to East Lake and Wood lawn, on the line of the main sewer. for the same purposes, and I would respect fully suggest that a committee be ap