The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-12
CHIEF BENNETT To
RESIGN JANUARY |.
Has Accepted Position With
Waterworks Company
NO FORMAL ACTION
Possible That He May Yet Change
His Mind-Great Regret Ex-
pressed at His Intention--Has
Long Record of Service

After % years of service as a member of
the Birmingham fire department, Fire
Chief A. V. Bennett stated yesterday that
he Intended to resign January l. Chief
Bennett has accepted a position with the
Birmingham Waterworks company.
Chief BENEFITS resignation has not
been submitted to the commission, and no
action of any kind has been taken by
the city officials Chief Bennett and the
city officials have discussed his resig-
nation at different times for the last six
months, it was stated yesterday, and no
announcement was to have been made un-
til later date if the news had not leaked
out yesterday.
Much Regret Expressed
The members of the commission yester-
day expressed deepest regret at Chief
Benefits decision, but the impression was
rather prevalent In some quarters that
the chief who has made the Birmingham
fire department famous might yet change
his mind. Chief Benefits service with the
city in all administrations has always
been marked with harmony and co-opera-
ton. He has long been recognized as one
of the most valued department heads, and
it will be with great reluctance, If the
final moment comes, that the present
commissioners will have to accept his
formal resignation.
1t is stated that in talking over the
matter with the commissioners at differ
ent times in the past six months. the
chief has been perfectly frank and stated
that he was thinking of resigning because
he had been offered better position. 1t
was stated that Chief Bennett has grown
dissatisfied with the fire department life
in that it keeps him up all hours of the
night and day, and away from his fam
lily almost entirely. His formal resigna-
tion has not been submitted, however.
and 1t is stated probably will not be for
some time.
Yes, l contemplate resigning. to take
effect January H. said the chief yester-
day in reply to question about the re-
ports. Il have accepted a position with
the Birmingham Waterworks company
which I believe will suit me better in
many ways. I am sorry, but 1 cannot
give out now just exactly what that po-
sition will be. The announcement being
premature, has placed me in an embar-
RAISING position. | will state, however,
that the report that l would be superin-
tendent of the waterworks company Is
absolutely incorrect.
Bennett Compliments SuperiOrs
''It Is with great regret that 1 leave
the service of the city. My work here
has always been ideal. l have always
been thrown in contact with competent,
upright men for my superiors, and |
will never forget the long period of my
life that has been spent as a servant of
the people of Birmingham. | will have
more to say of this later
Chief Bennett came to Birmingham %
years ago, a young man from Columbus,
Ca, and after three days in the city en-
tered the ranks of the fire department.
From there he worked up to captain and
then to chief of the observation-disclosures
%, 1906.
Under Chief Benefits supervision the
fire department has become
famous throughout the United States as
one of the first motorized" departments
of the country. Chief Benefits hobby
has been motor driven apparatus, and
with this equipment he has raised the
department to a high state
of efficiency under very adverse condi-
tions Chief Bennett himself is known In
all parts of the country through his va
rious speeches and articles on fire depart
ments and their work.