The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-01-18
Our Fences.


paragraph in the Philadelphia Public Ledger
listened to an agricultural address delivered by
the late Nicholas Biddle, at the annual exhibi-
ton of the Philadelphia Society for the Promo
ton of Agriculture We were particularly
struck with two things he then enunciated
One was that fences were made to retain cattle
within the particular premises enclosed, and
not to shut them out from such enclosed prem
ises. The idea, though seemingly very SIM
ple one, was new, and against the almost uni
versally received opinion of farmers and the
public as to the. purpose of fencing. 1t was
believed up to that time that the highways were
public pasture grounds, on all OF which any
one and everybody were free to graze their
stock at pleasure, and, indeed, on the adjoining
premises, Unless the owner thought tit to pro-
itect them by legal fencing, for statute law pre-
iscribed their height and character. Even then
a,larger privilege than this was accorded the
pastures of what used to be called "the long
farm" as the highways were sometimes deslg
mated. Accident or death resulting from the
wandering of this'stock at large was not at the
risk of the owners, but at the cost of the rail-
WAYS whose tracks might be invaded with
damage to the rowing herd. The price OF the
injured or killed cattle was considered so equi-
table aclaini that it was paid invariably with
out question. From the date of this memo
rable address, delivered by Mr.. Biddle from
rude platform of rough boards, to company
of intelligent, sunburnt farmers, the sentiments
to which he then gave utterance have gradually
spread. not only ali over this country, but all
over the world, and are now the recognized law
of the courts as we'll of the highway. The
cost of fencing is not to be borne to keep cattle
trespassing upon the public roads from tres
passing also upon private property, nor Is the
penalty upon the railway companies when cat
tie roaming at large are injured or killed. The
loss is to the owner, and in some instances the
courts have gone farther, and put. penalties on
the owners of the stock for the damage done
to the property of the railway companies and
their passengers by throwing the train Oft the
track. 1t is wholesome and most equitable
change, and we can now but wonder that the
old custom was so long endured. And yet this
great and important revolution in public senti-
ment was first publicly started by man made
eminent by his learning and his position, it is
true, but before comparatively few and .unin-
fluential citizens. The other startling factmade
by Mr.. Biddle was the very large proportion of
the farmers capital that was invested in his
fencing. In the State of Pennsylvania alone,
he said, careful estimate showed that at least
a 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 been effected !;
but still the amount of capital is greatly beyond
the estimate'of any one who has not given the
matter special attention. Cheaper material for
fences has been found, and movable fences for
the necessary division of fields are common.
In addition TO this, instead of laws passed by
the Legislature prescribing the height of
fence to turn outside cattle, we have now stat
utes which protect the farmers premises in
certain localities from invasion in the absence
of all fencing. Fences cost enough in cities,
but that cost bears q small proportion to the
charges for them in the ecountry at 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 sightly-strung wire,
or even the white palings of the villages. The
fence is an American Institution and habit, and
a costly one it is. Illinois is said to have ten
times .thefencing of Germany, and nutchess
county, New York., more than all France.
These, marks show that these brown and dingy
division marks, overgrown with briars and
thistles, ,are an enormous tax on the industry
of the country, and all to keep stock from tres
passing. Some of these days, under the care
ful tillage of the old world fences will disap-
pear, and land boundaries will be marked with
fruit and shade trees, or neat hedge rows, and
the country will present a much improved ap-
pearance.-Ctestcr County (Pa.) Republican.