Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-02-17

late some facts, which | will now pro
sent for your consideration. This LEG
iSlation is asked tor the reason jhat
there is not material enough in the
state OF Iowa with which to fence II;
because it compols the immigrant to
cXpcnd too much before he derives
any benefit; ii costs us more for cnc-
cs than all other taxes togcthar the
sparsely wooded counties Of our State
cannot be settled under our present
fence laws the cattle Of one farmer
should not be allowed with impun,ty
to destroy the crops Of another, lie be-
ing unable to fence them. The farm
er whose lands arc even contagious TO
a railroad is compelled by our fence
law to oxpcnl for pine and cedar the
means he should have saved for old
age and the education Of his family.
The early settlers have cut down the
fine groves that should have been left
TO relieve the monotony of the land
scape, furnish a sanctuary for the birds
ana amciorate The rigors Of our eli
mate. The supply OF native timber
will be completely exhausted IN fur.
Mshng ties for railroads, material Tor
bridges and fence posts, before il can
be replaced from artificial groves;
WbIie tile oIrds, our only protection
from insects, are by law, invited TO
eave the State,
The demand il 1865 from all parts
Of the State, was for :. law oncoUrag-
ing the Planting ot forest trees. The
legislation was abundant, had adyant-
age been taken OF the act, which Was
Impossible while stock can browse Or
tread ont Of being. the tiny sap'ing
Halt the schools in Iowa might have
been closed III consequence OF its ex-
cmptions. hut contrary to all eSpacta-
tons but little extra efforts have been
made to add to the timber area ct the
STATE; counties WcIl tlmhy"ee need no
mdueemen" counties having little
timber, 90 not furnish material to pro
tect the young groves from cattle run
nlng at large 1t costs sixty dollars
to fence one acre, Inc reason why
no more timber IS planted Is plainly
attributable to the cost OF fencing,
Inc past legislation OF the STATE rs re-
CARDS fences but expresses the wants Of
the farmer IN days that a~e past, Iowa
was settled; first, along the Well-timb-
cred streams, by men who came from
States where fencing was abundant.
For many years no attempt was made
to reclaim the prairie, and not until the
extension Of eastern railroads and a
high price for wheat, was any very eS
toasiye farming Of the prairie thought
practicable, and then while the settle
nents gradually oncrooched on the
prairie, the bluff and river timber was
the supply relied upon 70 protect crops
from the INVASION Of stock.
But all this is changed. Iowa has
million 81 inhabitants, or an average OF
ten thousand to each county. The
wants ct tie citizen who lives ten
miles from grove as impcrativoly
demand our attention as the citizen
who scared timber tarnl twenty
years ago. Under the influence OF a
good common school system ana the
favorable representations Of the State
press, Iowa has been held up to the
world as the most desirable State to
which Al Industrious mau coall i'm.
migrate The old settlers along TIE
rivers desired an Increase OF popula.
ton i'll order that the yalueless lands
held by them might become valuable.
immigration has been pouring into
iowa more particularly durin. tie
last decade something must be done
TO relieve the prairie farmer from
the exaction OF the fence law.
During the last few years whole
townships have been brought under
cultivation. Such farmers own but
few cattle. Their means are generally
exhausted when 4 house is erected, i
team AMI q few. farming implements
bought. 70 compel such men TO fence
before marketing a crop, is to cur,a;l
their operations and keep them poor.
Taking sl...-5 as the cost Ct a rod OF
fence, It costs 5000 to fence 100 acres.
Deducting onetourih icr partition
fences, upon this basis il costs s., 400
to fence section, $50. 400 to fence one
township, and $;l32, ooo,90G to fence
the State Of Iowa; making deduction
OF So. 100000 for waste lands, which
is about one-tonrth, @l0u,s00,01o must
still be expended 10 ience the state.
At least ten per cent. Of this amount
viii be required annually to keen such
fences il repair. The head Of a
family can have home Tor nothing,
comparatively, under the United States
law. The fence laws OF iowa necessi-
tate the outlay Of more money than
would buy the finest prairie ii many
of cur northwestern counties. There
are 2,l0S,661 head OF cattle, Of all ages.
III tie state, and 5000 square miles
of lapd Srp,,cs;,,o. Ia-,, -, .,,..,-