The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-15
First Contemplated Cutting Out Seven StatiOns-Gen-
 eral Reduction in Men
EFFICIENCY WILL
 BE BADLY IMPAIRED
Sufficient Number of Men to Man Apparatus Will Not Be Available. Vivian, East Birmingham, Gray
 mont, Avondale Stations to Go

The seriousness of the situation is shown by the recommendations of Fire Chief Middleton. In his first recommenda- ton he contemplated cutting out seven fire stations entirely and reducing the number of men at the other stations. By the abolishment of these stations large sections of the city are left almost un- protected so far as city fire protection is concerned, and that these communities will have to largely depend upon volunteer service.
 After looking over the recommendations, realizing the gravity of the situation. the commissioners asked the chief for a sec- ond plan whereby some of the stations marked for the ax could be retained. Chief Middleton compiled second sehed- ule of cuts and the commissioners have both plans under advlsement.
 Submits Second Plan His second plan follows:
 July H. 1915. Hon. George B. Ward, President Board of Commissioners, City:
  please find herewith proposed plan No. 2 for reducing the operating expenses of the fire department S4soO per month: No. 1T, Vivian, abolished; saving, s3s9 .50 No. g. East Birmingham abolished; saw ing, s45O.
 No. IA. Graymont, abolished; saving s4ss.
 No 10, Avondale, abolished; saving s5S5.
 No. 1, city hall. reduced from 18 to 1s: saving, s24o.
 No. 2, Avenue D and Nineteenth street. reduced from IT to IA: saving. s240. No. g. Five Points, reduced from to g.; saving. s16o.
 No. 4, Second alley and Twenty-fourth street. reduced from Il to g; saving, s16o.
 No. D. North Highlands reduced from s to 5; saving, $40 No. 6, Third avenue and Fifteenth street, reduced from 15 to 12; saving, $24o. No. '. Avenue H and Eleventh street, reduced from to 5; saving. s1eo No. 9. Norwood, reduced from to 5 saw ing, s16o
 No. Il. Fountain Heights, reduced from ' to 5; saving, s16O
 Mo- 12. Woodlawn. reduced from to 5; saving, s160.
 No. IS. North Birmingham, reduced from to 5; saving. $l6o.
 No. Is. Ensley. reduced from ' to 5; saving, $160.
 No 1s Pratt City, reduced from to 5; saving, s160.
 No. 19, East Lake, reduced from to 5; saving. $S0.
 One fire inspector, s97.50
 One lineman $80.
 Total reduction of 53 men, saving $4ooo.
 Impair Efficiency If this plan Is adopted the efficiency of the department vii be materially impaired, as there will not be sufficient number of men to handle the apparatus efficiently anc to render efficient service at fires, either in the business section of the city or the outlying sections.
 This plan will only leave six men for each hose wagon in the business section of the city and only five for each hose wagon at the outside sta tions, which is not a sufficient num- Der when one man Is off and two gone to meals.
 mere Will De DnlH three men lU handle the engines and six to handle the S5-foot aerial truck, and five for the 65-foot aerial truck.
 No aerial ladder truck can be suc- cessfully handled with less than eight men and no hose company can render efficient service with less than seven men.
 There are two hose companies and one engine company at No. 1 station. one hose company, one engine com pany and one truck company at No. 2 station: one hose company and one truck company at No. 6 station; one hose company and one engine company at No. station All the other stations are equipped with single hose com panies.
 Seven men comprise a hose com pany, four men an engine company and eight men a truck company.
 "If this plan Is adopted there will be only five men for the hose com panies at the outside stations, and six in the hose companies in the congested value district Respectfully submitted,
 IS A. MIDDLETON,
 "Chief Fire Department" His first plan was:
 First Plan Submitted Honorable George B. Ward, President Board of Commissioners. City:
 Dear Sir-Agfeeable with your re- quest please find herewith proposed plan for reducing the operating ex penses of the fire department s4boo per month.
 Tn order to reduce the expenses of the department this amount, it will be nsces. sary to abolish the following stations and