Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-01-25
4IEXANDKjA GAZETTE AM llkGINIA
The Fence Law.

WOODLAND AGRICULTURAL CLUE. AT
meeting Of the Woodlawn Agricultural Clue,
held ct the residence OF Lewis Dillingham;,
esu., at WoodIawn on Saturday, the 18th IL
slant. the committee to whom had been referred
the question Of Fencing, presented the following
rsport, which was unanimously adopted:
Your committed on foncing having given lho
subject such consideration MS its Importance
Seems to demand, beg leave to submit the lo'-
lowing:
To the farmer, the question Of fencing is OF
the greatest Importance The tax imposed ny
tho cost Of fencing his land is gGeatcr than NJ!
other taxes, amounting to $3.50 on every acre
of improved land in the United States. AS
Stunning this 10 be correct, We have the enor.
nous sum Of 81, 295 O00,0CO rs tho total first cost
Of the fences in tho United States; and this has
to BIO renewed every ten years. Farmers think
of this This tax would be deemed oppressive
if it were Tor the payment of the national debt;
It is more than ono half Of the crest national
debt tu. day, and this enormous sum has to be
repested every ten years. We say nothing
about interest," for the sum Is already beyond
comprehension.
Every dollar rescued from fences may be nd
d,d to productive wealth. Fences are the
deud est of dead capital; in comparison, the
paying for defunct horse is = cheerful 'nvo't,
ment. Money may a, we'll bo buried i'll the
ground or cast in the sea Us to De put INTO any
fence that is not indispensable. Yes, better,
for tho sunken treasure like tue dead horse,
costs no moro forever, Whllo tho useless fence
covers an acre Of land every mio II traveS, anu
il q Perpetual drain on the pocket. All fences
ere useless that are not needed by the farmer
TO protect his crops from his own Stock koaa
and line fences would come under the mead OF
useless fencing unless needed TO enclose ms
own stock. This brings your committee u -"
consideration of the following questions ISL.
| Arc farmers bound to fence against their neigh
bors' stock? Nj. A., being engaged III farming,
hns no stock his crops will not trespasa on HIS
| neighbor B., who is engaged IN stock raising !;
| but his neighbor BIS. cattio Will trespass upon
| AS. crops. Now who should DO to the expense
| of protecting AS. crops from 81 cattle? a. ny:
| no stock, and does not need fence t. keep ms
| crops from trespassing upon his nelghoo ana
| is it right that he SHOULD be to the expense vi
| cattle? or should b. be at the expense OF tcnc-
ing his own stock? There is no principle Of
| law that will require to fence his isrm uhoer
| such circumstances, or where Is the authority
| for \ Legislature TO cause a. To erect q fortll'
| cation to protect his crops from BIS. stock? I'M
common law, says Blackstone. is rule Of 50
ciety, authorizing what is right, and iorbiddIng
| what is wrong 1t is also a rule Of society That
every man shall maintain himself; he has no
right to require bis neghbor TO support nm,
and if he has no right to require support ol hIs
| noiphbor, no has no right to require his neigh
bor to fence against or feed his stock. To Illus
trste: A fence is repaired to protect a 5. crops
| from rs. stock. II the law requires A. to
build that fence then the law requires n to
contribute Just the cost thereof TO the support
of b. But, it is said, B. is poor, and could no,
| live without his stock could range on the com
mons or out lands. Perhaps he is but there
are always two sides TO question. a. ma DC
As poor as B., having expended Ill his money
in land, teams, farming implements. ana IL
putting in his crops. He has no money to fence
with, and is depending on his crops to pay nj:
| bills and furnish his living for the next year.
He is working hard, snd everything depend:
upon tho success Of his crops. ls itrght tn@
to his already heavy burden should be added
the trouble and expense Of fencing against II /.
ncighbor's cattle? We aay,no. Is. has no ri&h.
10 pasture bis stock upon the land oi y. 1hG
lun,i il AZ, to do with rs ha will. II he choose:
60 grow grain, it Is no business Of his neigh
bor's, nrid if ho chooses to keep stock, he must
| keep them upon his own land.
This bring the views Of your rom'"'Lt;c
upon the question OF fences tncy would "iirF
| the following resolution
Resolved, That the Club appoint c""mlt-
leo t" ara" rot ton 80 iu nrcS"I:,! = the
| Legislature %! Virginia, pray ing that IA: pa
sent fence law may DO made more efficient, '.id
some penalty shall attach to tho owners OF cat
| tie running ut large without 81 Eoapcr.
JoHN B. TRoTH, Chairman Com.