The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-21
INSURANCE MEN ARE
IN SECRET SESSION
Representatives of Many
Companies Gather Here
TO MEET AGAIN TODAY
Low Says No Statement Will Be Is
sued as to Purpose of Meeting.
Fire Risk Situation Here
Thought to Be Reason
TO MEET AGAIN TODAY

The utmost secrecy is being main-
tanned by the large gathering of In
surance men which met here yesterday
and will continue the meeting this
morning. Following the appearance of
President Culpepper Exum before the
gathering of fire experts 1T was gen.
orally believed that some statement
was to be issued by those present as to
the unusual meeting in Birmingham.
However, following Mr.. Exum's de-
parture efforts to get the insurance
means of sending alarms to the depart
ment and this is in consequence OF the
fact that there are but 112 fire alarm
boxes in the whole city OF % SQUARE
miles area 65 of these being located with
in the original six square miles of the
original city; 10 in the town of Ensley,
II in the town of Pratt City, and 20 in
North Birmingham, each OF which are
.o,,tlving' districts of the city of Greater
Rrmin gham In a city of this size there
should not be less than from 125 to 130
fire, alarm boxes properly located within
the congested business section. and these
boxes should be made prominent, both
as TO location and by being kept painted
red Such boxes as are in use in the con-
gested district are provided with keyless
doors those in outlying district having
KEYS distributed to citizens.
Department Hampered
"The extremely wide area of Greater
Rirmingham." covering as it does some
50 square miles of territory, within
which are located several settlements
of very considerable Importance as to
nronerty values in addition to numer-
Gus other hamlets or communities not
so important in conNested values, serves
to handicap the efforts of the fire de-
partment in properly controlling fires
in these outlying sections, owing to the
long runs necessary and to the conse-
ouent difficulty of concentration of ap-
naratus in emergencies without at the
same time depicting other important
1ocalities. Such concentration of ap-
naratus frequently becomes necessary
in these sections because of the pre-
nonderance of wooden shingled roofs
covering the closely built up residential
districts where sparks on roofs pro-
mote ignition of widely 4 separated
structures as the result OF the initial
fire calling the department.
sIn view of the fact that the chief
of the fire department is allowed but
one assistant, who necessarily must be
located in vicinity of the congested dis
trict. 1t follows that the management
and control of fire apparatus and fire
fehting capacity, must be relegated to
s,Ibordinates in charge of the various
outlying stations whose capacity for
command and lack of experience may
not fully qualify them to properly con-
troll conditions in an emergency.
oIn a city of such area as is this, the
chief needs the assistance of at least
tLraa additional men capable of assum-
ing positions in command of separate
districts, and should have them.
"The city fire apparatus is kept In ex-
cel1ent condition and is efficient in
service and under test; responses to
alarms has been found prompt and the
class of work at fires witnessed has
been creditable. Discipline In the de-
nartment averages well in comparison
to other cities of like size and amount
of apparatus in service.
.The chief of the department, Mr.. A.
". Bennett. has been long in the service,
is of intelligence in excess of the aver
age man holding a like position, and
has complete control over the manage
ment of the department, not being ham
pered through political influences.
consider him as being very competent
man for the position he occupies, and
under the conditions as to poor con-
struetion of buildings within the con-
rested district, prevalence of shingle
roofs in all parts of the city. and tho
wide area demanding his attention, am
pleased to commend his work as being
fully up to what should be expected
under the adverse conditions existing
as above noted, with the means In an
paratus and men at his command for
the control of fires in this overgrown
city"