The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-08
BESSEMER FIRE
 LOSS DECREASES
Annual Report of Fire Chief Makes Recommendations
 For More Equipment

Bessemer, March 7.-(Special.)- re- port of Chief J. I. Reeder of the Besse- mer fire department for the year 1916 reports that 343 alarms were answered. During 1915 the total number of fires was 225, making an increase in number of fires during 1916 of 11s, or of 34.4 per cent. The insurance loss during 1915 was S23,- 223.2o, compared with $1S,2261S in 1916, a decrease over the previous year of s4997.1 IS, or 22.3 per cent The total in- surance loss per capNa was 90.9 cents, and the total loss per capita was $1.25. Sparks on roofs caused the majority of the fires, POI being caused by this means. Other causes were 31, by defective fues, | carelessness 19, unknown 16. Total value of buildings at risk $492,965, insurance on | buildings $2S3, ,557 .50 loss, insured and un- | insured, on buildings S15, 162 40; insurance loss on buildings $14,O34. 50; total value of contents at risk $339, ,255; insurance on contents ,950; loss, insured and unin- sured, on contents $5S5O IS; insurance loss on contents $4l91 6S. Total amount of prop erty at risk, buildings and contents, $S32- 220; total amount of insurance at risk, buildings and contents, $355,527 50; total 1 loss for year, buildings and contents, $25,- .5S; insurance loss for the year, build | lngS and contents, $l8,226 IS.
 "In consideration of the increased num- | Der Of fires over the previous years and the growth of the city, which increases i the fire hazard,' said Chief Reeder in his report, and in order to insure a more adequate protection to the city, I would recommend that a triple combination pumping engine be purchased as soon as | financial conditions will permit
 l The members of the football team of the Bessemer High school, who secured their letters during the past season, were given their sweaters yesterday morning during the exercises in chapel at the high school. Coach Collier introduced pr. E. | k. Smith, who presented the sweaters. Harold Smith and John ORourke, who were injured while at practice the first l of the season, the former having a broken collarbone and the latter broken arm, were also given sweaters. Others | receiving sweaters were: Captain Henry l Evans, Captain elect Charlie Scott, Frank Scott, George Hazelwood, Herbert Salters, Eugene Coston, Fred Harrison, Louis Oddo, Clarence Saunders, Charlie Wright, Robert Lacey, Henry Roberts, Harold Smith and John O'Rourke The girls pre- senting the sweaters were: Miss Vertna Randall, Miss Sarah Duscnberry, Miss An- nie Mae Cargile Miss Elizabeth Grove, Miss Frances McCampbell. Miss Susie White, Miss Jessie Bumgardner, Miss Minnie Jackson Miss Lola Parsons. Miss Mary Dabbs, Miss Margaret Phillips and Miss Willie Rose Jenkins.
 Funeral services over the remains of Mrs. Jane Franklin, who died yesterday at her home near Toadvine, were held this morning, interment being made at the Franklin cemetery with Jacobs in charge. The deceased was 75 years of
 age and was a pioneer settler of the com I fu bn ic uad hxyo To Der of relatives.
 Progress is being made in the construc- ton of the 35 new by-product coke ovens by the Woodward Iron company and it is expected that they will be ready for loperation by April 15. The new ovens will give the company 200 by-product ovens
 with g. capacity of 5000 tons of coke daily and in addition to this the output of the old beehive ovens, remodeled and rebuilt
 and placed in operation within the past few months, is added.
 A large crowd attended the masquerade
 ball given by the Sisterhood of Temple
 Beth-El for the children at the Hatikwah
 clubrooms last night The first girls
 prizes were awarded to Eleanor Helen Krohngold and Florence Margaret Krohn.
 prize, Lillian White, costumed as an Ital- ian dancer. First boys prize, Alvir
 Strauss as Happy Hooligan. and the sec
 ond prize, Harry Lee Kartus, as mis sionary.
 Rev. w. E. McNurray, who has charge
 of the church extension board of tht
 Methodist. Episcopal church. south will
 preach at the First Methodist church
 Sunday morning and evening.
 A. l.. Jones, 60 years of age, died yes terday at a Birmingham hospital. The
 funeral was held this afternoon from the
 residence of R. H. Jones at Rosemont
 the services being conducted by the Rev
 Aldrich Interment was made at Pleas
 ant Valley cemetery.
 Extensive arrangements are being made 1 by the men of the First Methodist church
 for the banquet which will be given Fri
 day night in the basement of the churcf
 and plans for 300 are heinz made. The
 banquet will be a get-together meeting
 and every man of the church is invited tt
 be present.
 News has been received in this city o
 the death of Mrs Bettie Lowi. which