New York State Fire News.

The fire department of Troy has come under the criticism of the National board of fire underwriters, which speaks favorably of Chief Byron and his force. As to equipment: The department (it claims) is still inadequately equiped for fighting large fires, as no water tower or ladderpipe, and only one turret-pipe and two Deluge sets are provided. Conditions as to discipline and training are as in 1904, the defects inherent in a volunteer system appear in Troy, as in many other cities. It recommends filling the vacancies in the ranks of battalion chief with full-paid men : there should be at least six paid men in each engine company and four to each hose company, with a full-paid captain to each company. The report recommends the addition of a ladder company, with a light truck; a second-size engine; a combination hose and chemical 2-horsed wagon; a 63-ft. quick-raising water tower (in reserve) ; a hose wagon, with a turret-pipe and carrying 1,200 ft. of 3-in. hose, with beveled couplings (in reserve) ; rubber tires for all apparatus; a compound suction-gauge to each engine; a ladder-pipe, pompier ladders to each truck, a Deluge set and short extension-ladder to each hose wagon; 2 National Standard couplings to all hose, and engine-couplings. William H. Bradt, for many years superintendent of the Troy firealarm-telegraph system, will retire at once. He has been an employe of the fire department for twenty-seven years, and for seven years previously he served eight years as a volunteer fireman being engineer of the Read steamer. His pension will be $750 a year.

On account of the good work done by the firemen of Rushville, when the Memorial building was burned down, three of the citizens have pledged to give $100 each, when the volunteer hose company incorporates, towards building and equiping a firehouse.

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