The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-18
WARD TELLS WHAT
HAS BEEN DONE BY
CITY AUTHORITIES
TOCHECK F|RELOSS
More Important of Recon-
mendatiOns of Tariff As
ISOLATION Complied
With, He Says
ATTRIBUTES HIGH
LOSS TO NEGLIGENCE .
OF PROPERTY OWNERS
Some of Recommendations Have Not
Been Complied With on Account
of Cost and City's Financial
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to
Be Answered

Carelessness. both criminal and Just
"cussed'' is what is responsible for the
abnormal fire loss which in turn is re-
sponsible for the ahnormaiiy high insur-
ance rates in Birmingham. in the opinion
of George Ward, president of the city
commission and official head of the fire
department.
To just the ordinary reckless haphazard
carelessness OF the property owners in
keeping rubbish and trash and waste ac-
cumulations, President Ward attributes
the greater part of the abnormal fire loss,
however. He states there are some
criminal and intentional fires whose per-
petrators should be vigorously prosecuted
for arson under the state laws, but that
these are greatly in the minority Of those
who are careless just because its easier
than to keep things cleaned up.
AS has been published in The Age
Herald the past two days, Birmingham
is now paying from so to 70 per cent high
er fire insurance rates than three years
ago.
The reason for the increase given by
insurance men is the big fire loss. What
should be done to stop this fire loss was
yesterday set out in II recommendations
made in regard to conditions in Birming-
ham by Secretary Raine of the South
eastern Underwriters association after
corps of expert fire insurance engineers
had inspected the city.
Ward Tells What Has Been Done
What has been done in regard to these
recommendations yesterday was made
public by Commissioner Ward.
10 to ha potioad that of these
recommendations have not been complied
with because they cost so much money
and we all know the city has no money
he said. What l consider the more i'm
portant of the recommendations, however,
have been complied with"
Here are the II recommendations or Mr.
Raine of what should be done. and Mr.
Wards statement of what has been done
1. The services of an expert on IRE
department matters be secured and re-
organization and Encouragement of the
department carried out to conform to his
views: Answer: Not complied with.
Local committee Is now working on this
proposition. The underwriters agreed to
| furnish this expert and we in turn agreed
to send Chief Middleton to New York to
take a course of study in fire department
MANAGEMENT. They have not sent their
expert.
O. The force at the Wylam station should
| be increased u live HULL. Ais w Si 4 "a ~
has been increased to four men, which is
sufficient.
8. hook and ladder truck manned
by five men should be added to the sta
ton at Five Points. Answer: Not COM
piled with on account of cost. Truck
would cost $4,000 and expenses of man
ming and operating it would cost $4,000
more per year.
Some Costly Items
| 4. A station equipped with triple COM
bination automobile truck and five men
should be located at South Highlands.
Answer: Not complied with on account
of cost. Truck would cost $4,000 and ex-
| penses of manning and operating 1t
| $4,000 per year.
5. An adequate up-to-date fire alarm
system should be installed and central
office located in fireproof building An
swer: Not complied with on account OF
cost which would be between $25o,o0o
| and $780, 1000. We now have fire alarm
| system, however, of 112 boxes.
| 6. police alarm system should be
| installed suitable to a city of Birming-
hams size and Importance. Answer: Not
compiled with on account of cost, which
would be between $780, 900 and 100000
| Z. Increase police department to ade-
quate force for city of Birmingham's
size. Answer: Not complied with on ac-
in operation an efficient working ar
arrangement with police department in re-
gard to reporting risks and detecting
| fires and turning in alarms. Also out
side stations have been connected so
that each alarm sounds in every sta
| ton
8. Proper electrical ordinances should
| be adopted and enforced. Answer: Com
piled with.
| 9. The inspection work Of the city
should be broadened. Answer: Compiled
with. Inspectors of all departments Of
the city together with police depart
ment are assisting special fire inspector
| in reporting accumulated trash and bad
| fire conditions every day to the local
offices of the underwriters' association.
who In turn makes tho report to tho in
surance company and the company al
ready in several instances have imme-
diately cancelled the policy on the place
covered by the report.
| 10. Remaining overhead wires should
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