The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-28
0Irr Fences.

More than thirty years ago the writer OF q
roro grnplI in the Philadelphia Pubic LedJer
listened TO an agricultural address delivered
hr the late Nicholas Biddle at the annual eX-
bibition of the Philadelphia Society fol- the
Promotion of Agriculture. We were par
tic,llarIy struck with two things he then
enunciated. One was that fences were made
to retain cutie ,ctttn the particular premises
enclosed, and not shut them out from such Ell
closed premises. The idea, though seemingly
q very simple one, was new, ana against tee
almost universally received opinion of farm
ers and the publicas to the purpose OF fencing.
It was believed up to that time that the high
ways were public pasture grounds, on all OF
which any one and everybody were Tree to
craze their stock at pleasure, and, lIqceu, Oil
the adjoining premises, untcss the owner
thought tit to protect them Ivy iel0l fencing:
for statute law prescribed their height AID
character. Even then larger privilege than
this was accorded the pastuTers OF what used
to be called the 'long farm" as the highways
were sometimes designated. Accident Or
death resulting from the wandering OF THIS
stock ut large was not at the RISK OF ihe
owners, hui at tic cost Of the railways whose
tracks might be invaded with damage to the
rowing herd. The price Of the injured or
killed cattle was considered so equitable G
claim that it was paid invariably wlthous a
question, From the dGte OF this memorable
address, delivered by Mr.. Biddle from rtce
platform Of rough boards, to company OF IN
le.ligent, sunbugnt farmers, the sentiments
70 which he then gave uttcrance have gradu-
ally spread, not Only all over this country, but
all over the world, and arc now the rccog-
uizcd law of the courts rs well as Of the
L ~ rto rff =
horne to keep cattle trespassing upon the
PUBLIC roads from trespassing also upon pri-
vvate property, nor Is the penalty upon the
railway companies when cattle roaming at
large are injured or killed. The loss is to the
owner, and in some instances the courts have
gone further, and put penalties on the owners
OF stock for the damage done to the property
of the railway companies and their paSsell-
gers by throwing the train from the track. 1t
Is a wholesome and most equitable change,
and we can now but wonder TIA the old
custom was so long endured. And yet this
great aud important revolution in pubic
Sentiment was first publicly started by man
made eminent by his learning and his posi-
ton, it is true, but before Il comparatively few
and uninuential citizens. The other start
ling fact made by Mr.. Bidt;le was the very
large proportion Of the farmers capital tllat
was invested in his fencing. In tic State OF
Pennsylvania alone, ho said, Il careful estimate
showed that at least hundred millions OF
dollars were invested at that time in fencing.
Much attention has since been given TO this
branch of the then new thought, and Great
economy has leen elected; but Still Iii"
amount of capital is greatly beyond the csti-
mate of any one who has not given the matter
special attention. Cheaper materia for fences
has been found, and movable fences for the
necessary division Of fields are common. III
addition to this. instead of laws passed iy
The Legislature prescribing the height OF
fence to Turn outside cattle, We hive now
statutes which protect the farmers premises
in certain localities from invasion in the ah-
sepce OF all fencing. Fences cost enough III
cities, but that cost bears Il small proportion
to tie charges for them in the country al
large. When city people go into the country
they see little to admire in the post and rail.
the worm fence. the rough stone walls. the
slightly strung wire, Or even the white
palings Of the villages. Tie fence is AL
American institution and habit, and costly
one it is. Illinois is said TO have ten times
the fencing of Germany, and Duchess county,
New York, more tlian all France. These
marks show that these brown and dingy
division marks, oyergroWn with brirs and
thistleS. arc al enormous tax on the industry
of the country. and al! to keep stock from
trcspassing. Some Of these days, under the
careful tillagc Of the Old World, fences will
disappear, ami land boundaries will be marked
with fruit and shade trees, or neat hedge
rows, and tho country will present a much
improved appearance Chester County (Pd.)
ReGubiicdn.