While Kinston Could Extend Fire Coverage in County, It Probably Won't, Nov. 21, 1922

Could be Done But No Present Notion Doing It; Rather Odd Idea

Municipal and county officials here have heard with interest discussions of fire protection for rural residents on roads leading out of this city, but with little prospect of such a policy being adopted in the near future. The Free Press first presented the idea. The city would find it difficult to understand how it could benefit from any agreement on the subject.

Rural fire protection has followed the builder of good roads in a few parts of the country, it was stated today. Municipal departments respond generously to telephone calls from rural communities where water supplies are to be had. It has been suggested here that the perfect roads leading in every direction from Kinston, together with the frequency of creek tributary to Neuse and Moccasin rivers, would make fire protection for rural property within a radius of 10 or 12 miles entirely practicable. Motor fire engines capable of making a 10-mile run almost in as many minutes are available.

City officials pointed out that the local department had always assisted outlying property-owners confronted with fire losses when it could, but an agreement to answer calls miles away would not be entered into without mature deliberation, they indicated.

From the front page of The Daily Free Press, Kinston, N.C., Nov. 21, 1922