The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-03-17
Rural Communities are No Longer to
be in Fear Of Burning Out If Main
Highways are In First Class.
Shape.
GET HELP FROM CITY
Fire Insurance M en- Claim That Coun-
try People are Only as Far from
Protection as from Tele-
phones.

The value of good roads in fire pro-
lection in rural communities is shown
in an article published some time ago
in Fire Protection The following
is taken from that article and shows
how good roads, and fire protection
are linked together:
Of the many angles from which the
advantages of good roads have been
considered, there remains one which
as yet has received little attention.
Only in a very few communities has
the practicability of furnishing fire
protection to rural districts connected
by good roads to cities having fire
fighting facilities, been considered.
In communities where good roads
have already been built, their value to
by such use. Agreements with the
nearest town having fire fighting ap-
paratus can be entered into to provide
fire protection to the neighboring rural
districts. e. "# .:
! In his last annual report, Fire Mar
shal H. L. Reade, of North Dakota,
says that ''the losses from city and
village fires are on the decrease, while
those in rural districts are on the in
crease" .'
The average township suffers an an.
nual fire loss, outside of its incorpor-
ated towns, amounting to approx
mately $500. This amount will pay.
the interest on an Investment that will
build approximately two miles Of con-
crete road. Aside from the many
other savings effected by good roads,
the reduction in fire losses alone
would go far to pay for a system of
permanent roads which would make it
possible for fire fighting apparatus to
reach most of the valuable property.
l. Means Total Destruction. >.
When fire breaks out on the farm
the usual result is that all the build
ings on the place are destroyed, The
sparks blown from. the burning build
ing easily ignite the other buildings.
Even though the neighbors arrive on
the scene early, they are helpless be-
cause of the lack of fire fighting ap-:
paratus..' n Even a ladder to reach the
.roof Of a threatened building is u.s.
ually lacking. The inexperience OF
the farmer in fighting fires, together
with the lack of equipment almost
always results in the building being
burnt to the ground. The efforts of
the farmer are therefore confined to
saving as much of the household ef-
fects and farm machinery as possible.
, The remedy for this state of affairs E
lies in good roads, which will bring
to the farmer the protection offered
by the modern equipment and trained
fire fighters of the nearby city.
Good Roads Aid in Many Ways
Practically every farmer now has
telephone, and it is an easy matter to
get into communication with the city
fire department., Most cities now
have motorized fire fighting equipment
which can easily and Quickly make
trip over improved country roads to
the scene of the fire. The trained
fire fighters, equipped with all theta
test fire fighting paraphernalla can !
then fight the fire effectively, and IN
most cases the major portion or the
buildings can be saved. s,'. '. 81,
Ponds, creeks, wells and cisterns
furnish water, but where these are not
sufficient, it is well for the farmer to
build a reservoir, which will impound
sufficient water for fire fighting pur-
poses. Wells and cisterns are quick
" pumped dry. and where these are
he only available sources, an add1- |
.ional supply must be provided.
Payment for such services can be
made ON a number Of different plans. |
A fixed amount per mile from the city |
limits might be made basis for pay
nent. and a certain amount for each ,
,our spent by the fire fighters at the |
,cene of the blaze could be charged. |
Or a fixed price could be determined
or each unit of apparatus called into |
service.
Such a price would do away with
disputes after a fire, as every town or
yiIlage would be able to figure out ex.
,ctlv what the charge would be.
where two cities, 20 to 40 miles
mart are connected by paved roads,
t is possible for the one to help the |
,ther if a fire reached such proper
ions that it could not be controlled
w the home fire department. Trains
ire not always available to transport
ire fighting machinery. and even when
vailab much valuable time Is con-
nnaratus. With paved roads such
rim could be made much quicker and
t less expense.
Good roads enable the farmers to
,ather quickly to assist in fighting T.
res or in saving household goods
nd livestock Valuable assistance
an be rendered by them while waiting
or the fire department to arrive
: Planning Rural Protection
In Outagamie county, Wisconsin
lans are being perfected to furnish
re protection to the rural districts
ear Appleton, the county seat. This
ounty will have about IS miles Of
oncrete roads completed by early
all, and will therefore be able to pro-
ide fire protection to large area.
1t is planned to number the rural
,ail boxes and large map will be
osted on the wall of the engine