New York State Fire News.

New York State Fire News.

A correspondent writes that “Oneonta, the youngest city in the State, is making a change from in a volunteer to a semi-paid fire department, and the fire commissioners are determined to put the city on a par with other places in the State. They are advertising for sealed bids on a combination chemical and hose truck—a set of drop harness, etc. Up-to-date stalls for the horses are to be placed on the street floor of the new municipal building; the firealarm system is to be entirely overhauled and, with a little practice, there is no doubt that the firemen will become thoroughly efficient. The board of fire commissioners consists of the following: George B. Baird (chairman), C. H. Borst, L). A. Diefendort. Plu mas I) Glenn. They are entitled to much credit for the careful and effective attention they are giving the matter.”

The members of the paid fire department and the volunteer fire department of West Seneca wrangled over the possession of a water hydrant at est Seneca, and while they wrangled a dwellinghouse was destroyed by fire. Each department claimed that it was entitled to preference at the hydrant—the only one in the vicinity, and. as a result, it was a long time before any water was put on the fire. By that time the house was almost entirely destroyed.