The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-01-09
For tie Herald Of Freedom.

For tie Herald Of Freedom.
Important 10 Farmers.
Mr. EDITOR There is one subject, OF
great Importance to every settler IN the
Territory, to which Icall tn atteutionof the
Legislature which assembled on Monday
la-t. a raaical change should Be made in
the Ia,Us relGting to cattle, horses and s'0lne.
Poor men and newcomers should be pro-
tected against the selfishness of large
owners of stock. During the past three
years more corn and produce has been de-
stroyed by stock running at large than
the people of the Territory have actually
saved. In other words, the products of
the Territory-the results of the hard Ia
Dor of the settlers-haVe been reduced
more than one half by the selfshness and
carelessness of stock owners. In prai-
RE country, like Kansas, and especially
where settlers have been prevented by
political troubles, delays of the land
office and want of means, from making
close and permanent fences-eUery Gunner
should be compelled to scatch and take care Of
his oscn stock. Very few persons in the
Territory have yet made their permanent
fences-a work that requires time, money
and certainty of title-but thousands
have done all they could towards fencing
or enclosing their ploughed land. In
many neighborhoods thirty or forty poor
settlers have suffered from the depreda-
tons of stock owned by two or three
comparatively wealthy men, who rely
upon the exertions of their neighbors to
supply their cattle and swine with food.
1t is an easy matter for such men to
@winter OVER fifty or a hundred head OF
stock without feedings' As the law
now stands, settlers are obliged to make
their fences so as to Keep stock out of then
enclosures. In the Eastern States farm.
ers fence to keep their stock a0ithin hei,
oUn enclosures. A change in the law is
especially needed, because in every drove
or neighborhood there are breachy cattle
which tear down fences faster than settlers
can put them up There should be moth.
ing left for implication or legal interpre.
tation as to the English common-law, and
the duty thereby devolved upon every
man to keep his cattle upon his own land
but a statute should be passed compelling
owners to take care of their own stock
and in distinct words making them liable
for every trespass committed by their an
imals aOithin any eaclOsures-the penalty
to be enforced by suit against the owne
or seizure of the animals. A man VIII
GUNS stock is more able to feed, watcl
and take care of them than are the poo
settlers who work hard during a Who'll
: season to raise few acres of corn o
wheat for the support of their families
Many large drOves of cattle noaO an the Ter
) ritory actually belong to residents of Nilsson
ri, who place them in the possession c
some friend or acquaintance who care
not who suffers by their depredations.
Hogs, during the past summer, hav
been the greatest nuisance with whic
settlers have been troubled. The owner
pretend that their hogs "keep in the bot
toms and don't trouble anybody" Bit
, who has not suffered from the thievish an
1 destructive propensities of the curse
t brutes? Although it is held that undt
existing laws here, hogs running at larg
are not protected as cattle are; and const
, quently hundreds of them have bee
shot, yet as the owners suppose that eve
ry man who attempts to raise anythin
should have his fences hog tight, of cours
neighborhood quarrels, fights, and i
: some instances loss of life, have been th
result. Hogs running at large should b
declared by law public nuisance an
their destruction authorized. Owner
would then speedily find means for feed
ing them in pens or keeping them with
harmless boundaries.
l trust that some member of the Legis
lature will take charge of this subjet
without delay. The interest and wishe
of the many should be regarded in pre-
erence to those of the few.
A SUFFERER.