Section 359. Regulations regarding quantity, distance from buildings and highways, with capacity of magazines.

WATER SUPPLY AND FIRE-FIGHTING APPARATUS.

Under chapter 204 of the Laws of 1913 the Department was given jurisdiction over "the adequacy and sufficiency of water supply and fire apparatus, and their inspection for fire-fighting purposes."

It will be conceded that these are most vital and important subjects in the work of this Department, as they go hand in hand and rank equally in the problem of fire fighting.

I regret exceedingly that this Department has not been given the proper force nor sufficient appropriation specially to pursue

these matters. I should like to establish a special bureau for such work. There should be inspectors constantly traveling through the State, especially in the rural communities, to ascertain their condition in these matters. In the course of time it might then be possible to establish standards for villages and citics of the different classes. No doubt in incorporated villages, as a rule, they are looked after at least after a fashion. No village should be permitted to incorporate unless these important matters are properly covered. So that, in the main, the subjects of water supply and fire apparatus for fire-fighting purposes would have to be investigated in unincorporated villages and

towns.

I have, therefore, been unable to get full data, and have been compelled to rely upon the information furnished by the press upon these subjects and through letters of inquiry from this Department.

I submit the following table, however, as a contribution on the subject.

It is surprising that in this great State, and in advanced stage of the problem of fire fighting, there should still be localities in which bucket brigades are the only means for fighting the flames.

I am strongly in favor of motorizing apparatus, as experience has shown that it is best fitted for speedily fighting the fire danger.

Adams, Jefferson county.- Insufficient water and apparatus. Amenia, Dutchess county. Only buckets and a well to combat the flames on the Frost farm.

Binghamton, Broome county.- South side, Fifth ward, without proper fire protection because not enough pressure to bring water to first floor of houses.

Brockport, Monroe county.- Lack of water. Inability to play a stream for more than twenty minutes.

Brewerton, Onondaga county.- No fire apparatus of any kind, and no organized fire brigade, people coming from a distance with water pails, organizing a bucket brigade and getting water out of the Oneida river.

Bridgewater, Oneida county.— No water system and no fire department.

Barker, Niagara county.- Insufficient water and apparatus.

Campbell, Steuben county.-Village without fire protection, ladder and bucket brigade formed.

Croton Lake, Westchester county. No water service.

Catskill, Greene county.- Fine fire department and water supply sufficient, but fire-fighting apparatus in bad shape and insufficient equipment.

Canisteo, Steuben county.-Water supply insufficient.

Cropseyville, Rensselaer county.— Insufficient water supply and fire apparatus.

Colonie, Albany county.—All that section of township directly south of the city of Watervliet is absolutely without fire protection. East Nassau, Rensselaer county.- No fire-fighting apparatus, and a great scarcity of water. People coming from Nassau and in automobiles to render assistance.

Eddyville, Ulster county.- Bucket brigade.

Elmsford, Westchester county.- Badly in need of sufficient water supply and adequate fire apparatus.

East Irvington, Westchester county.— Insufficient water supply. Eaton, Madison county.- Lack of water. All available water at the County Home building fire obtained through a small pipe in a barrel, two or three strokes of the engine would empty the barrel and the men would have to wait for it to fill.

Eden, Erie county.- No fire department and no water supply. Ferndale, Sullivan county.— No water power, no hose. Bucket brigade formed and 1,500 men standing helplessly by at a fire June 19, 1913.

Frewsburg, Chautauqua county.- No fire-fighting facilities; bucket brigade organized; small steamer and chemical sent from Jamestown.

Fulton, Oswego county. Lack of water pressure from city mains.

Gowanda, Cattaraugus county.- No water facilities. Cattaraugus county side of village without proper protection. Hillview, Rensselaer county. No fire-fighting facilities. Huntington, Suffolk county.- Insufficient water supply. Hart Lot, Onondaga county. Lack of water supply and fire apparatus.

Haverstraw, Rockland county.— Inadequate supply of hose and hydrants furnishing bad service.

Knowlesville, Orleans county.- No adequate means for fighting fire; bucket brigade formed.

Kendall, Orleans county.- No apparatus for effective fire fighting.

Lowville, Lewis county.— Beaver Falls village has no fire department; bucket brigade formed.

Leonardsville, Madison county.- No fire department; 400 inhabitants; bucket brigade.

Larchmont, Westchester county.— Insufficient main in old part. Lynbrook, Nassau county.- Poor water pressure. Necessary to telephone three times to Far Rockaway Station before proper pressure secured.

Lockport, Niagara county.— Lack of water; bucket brigade formed on farms of Smith & Vicary.

Minetto, Oswego county.- No water pressure; bucket brigade formed.

Middletown, Orange county.-At fire of Children's Home on Houston Heights one line of hose threw a stream of water fifteen feet in the air without the use of the steamer, and one line attached to the steamer threw a thin stream sixty feet like a spray rather than a stream. With two lines attached to steamer streams were thrown twenty feet and water coming in jerks from the nozzles caused the steamers to suck the pipes empty, showing insufficient water supply at that time.

Machias, Cattaraugus county.- Public school building burned. Fine system gravity water-works, paying supply company $400 for about twenty hydrants; no fire apparatus and no hose. Proposition to buy hose twice voted down. School district considerably larger than fire district.

New Rochelle, Westchester county.- Low water pressure and bursting hose September 15, 1913.

Oneida, Madison county.- Water supply doubtful. Lacking in fire-fighting machinery.

Pattersonville, Schenectady county.- No means of fire fighting Port Chester, Westchester county.- Excellent fire department which has given the village two pieces of apparatus. Insufficient fire apparatus provided by the community.

Riverhead, Suffolk county.- Insufficient water pressure July 9, 1913.

Smyrna, Chenango county.- Well-organized fire department and fire-fighting apparatus needed.

Varna, Tompkins county.- No fire protection July 21, 1913. West Elmira, Chemung county. No fire protection June, 1913, although part of Elmira, and application made to Elmira fire commissioners for protection.

Watervliet, Albany county.- Insufficient water pressure.

FIRES.

From the tables annexed it will be found that during the past year in Greater New York there were 12,955 fires as against 15,633 in 1912, with a total loss for 1913 of $7,467,297 as against $9,069,580 in 1912, making an average loss of $579 per fire in the year 1913 as against $580 per fire in 1912.

In the rest of the State there were last year 16,905 fires as against 12,835 in 1912, with a total loss of $16,654,575 in 1912 as against $12,850,954 in 1913, making an average loss of $985 per fire for 1913 as against $1,000 per fire in 1912.

The apparent increase is due to the fact that reports have been more accurately kept and more fully sent in by my assistants in 1913 on account of chapter 432 of the Laws of 1913, making it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100 for any assistant to neglect his duty in the matter. Furthermore, by chapter 433, Laws of 1913, it is now made the duty of insurance companies to report all fire losses on property within the State irrespective of the amount. As a result, fire losses much below $100 in each case, which have never before been reported, are now reported as fully as though the loss ran into the thousands.

Fires outside of Greater New York damaged or destroyed in