Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-04-05

some of his young stock; he inquiries
and finds out that they are over
with Farmer jones' cattle; thinks
they are as safe there as at home;
is busy and cannot sec to them until
fall; he inquiries Of Jones, who tells
him he has not seen them for six
weeks; he spends a week or SO
hunting them, and gives up: they are
lost. Now would it not have been
better for that farmer to pay $3.50
q head TO have them herded? Now,
we will take another view Of the
case: Suppose 20 families settle in
a neighborhood; they bring with
them, on an average, five head of
cattle apiece, which is greater
number than new settlers average.
At $25 each, this would make 1925
for each family, or $4,000 for the 20
families. They settle on quarter
section each. TO fence in each
farm with a road only ON one side
of each farm, and they all join fen
ces, it will take 400 rods Of fence
for each farm, at one dollar per rod,
and that will build only poor
fence. 1t will cost So, 900 to fence
in the 20 farms. Then we have the
result; $4,000 worth Of fences to
keep out $4,000 worth of stock
One says the picture is over-drawn.
Not bit of it. The fence has got
to be built, or the cattle kept away
by dogs and children, or the crop
destroyed. The argument applies
particularly now to the west half of
the State. Who says herd law is
not needed there? And the same
argument will apply to every part
of the State. Nineteen out Of 20
farmers in this vicinity have twice
as many dollars invested in fences
as in stock, and very many four
times as much, and the rule will
hold good all over the State. Take
the figures Of Farmer Robinson, in
round numbers there are two mil
lions CT cattle in the State, and in
round numbers eighty millions of
dollars now invested in fences, at
$40 per head for cattle large and
small, which is very high estimate,
we have forty millions invested in
cattle, and there comes the astound-
ing fact that We build $SO,OOO,OOo
worth of fence to keep $4O,OO0,OOo
worth of stock out Of our crops, and
more, if our fences were all new to.
day: in ten years they must be re.
built, and it is safe to say that in
ten years they will cost 25 per cent
more, making $lOO,OOO,OOO. Who
will venture to say that with the
$40, 100000 Of stock now on hand
that in ten years we can sell enough
to replace our fences and have oul
original stock left without one cent
further for profit? Then as to dol
lars and cents it were far better i
there were no cattle in the State
But far better policy can be pur
sued, and that is make every mar
take care of his own stock, which i.
right. There is no one who viii
not say that to fence for the stool
instead Of against it will save a
least one-half the fencing, and tina
would be $40, 100000 or the full val
ne Of all the cattle in the State, sa,
that would have to be replaced once
in ten years and we have clea
saving of 100000 each year. l
we could save onc-half the expense
of fencing, we would save yer,
great amount of timber worse thar
thrown away, and very much reduc
the price of all kinds of fencing.
In view of these facts, who vii
say that the time of our Legislator
could be more proftably employees
than to pass stringent Herd Law
to take effect at once, thus savin;
to every farmer every year, NOR
than the whole amount Of his taxes
To save people from taxes seems t
be the principal stride of the pres
cnt Legislature. Then pass til
Herd Law at once.
z. S. GAYLORD.