The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-10-24
"FemCimg i'm of Cattle.0

The Police Jury of the parish of Ibe-
ria, has passed an ordinance requiring
live stock to be. fenced in or not be al
lowed to run at large. Concerning
which we find the following communi-
cation in the iberia PROCESS newspaper:
Much excitement seems to prevade
this community concerning the Ordi-
nance passed by the Police Jury of this
Parish at its last session, in relation to
are being circulated demanding the re-
peal of the ordinance on the grounds
that it is discriminating IN fIUOT of far
merS some go SO far to assert, that it
is the rich mans lar, forming a m0nOp-
Oty IN has interest.
Let us consider how far the position
assumed by those who oppose the
measure advocated by the Police Jury,
is correct. We must all admit: that
while there exists, within the limits of
this Parish, Stock Raising interest the
prepOnderating interest is Agricultural.
When the products of the latter are
damaged by the property held by the
former, the plea is at once set up, that
the fence surrounding the field of the
farmer is not sufficient protective
against the depredations committed by
the live stock. The stock raiser clam
Ors for a law compelling the farmer
to have a peculiar fence, that his cattle
may Craze IN the commons. In other
words: that the farmers be compelled
to fence their fields at an additional
cost of from ten to fifty dollars per acre
of land. [ ask is this not discriminating
in favor of one industry, and against
the farming, or poor mans interest? If
the stock raiser has the right to Craze
his cattle on the commons, the farmer
certainly possess an equal right to Cul-
tlvate the soil without being made to
enclose the same for the benefit of the
former. If the stock raiser chooses to
avail himself OF the privilege of grazing
his cattle on lands, that in most instan-
ces don't belong to him, all the farmer
asks, is that he shall be held responsible
for the damages which his negligent
and careless system of stock raising as
gives rise to-. The ordinance of the
Police jury far from protecting any
peculiar industry places all ON the same
footing Far from being a rich man'S
!G'U it virtually puts down the price of
lands, for farming purposes, from ten
to twenty-five dollars per acre. Such
a law far from creating a monopoly
will operate here, as it has done in all
progressive communities will add
thousands of tillers to the soil-it will
develop the raising of valuable stock
by doing away with the present care
less system. The stock raisers far from
being injured by the operation of such
a law, viii be benefited. The tiller of
the soil, having his few acres, will not
only go to him, with the profits of his
industry to purchase the fine milk
COW or horse, which he will be able to
raise-but would resort to him to pas
ture the same. Well could he afford it,
when under the progressive policy adop-
ted by the Police Jury he would save in
the cost of every acre of land, from ten
to twenty-five dollars.
In conclusion Mr.. Editor, | must say
that the people of this Parish, are large
ly indebted to the Police Jurors for the
progressive spirit displayed by them.
Like air important discoveries or cri-
limitations, it meets with opponents prin-
cipally among those who do not fully
understand the effects of the proposed
law. It will not be long am sure be-
fore all the agricultural Parishes in the
State will follow the example of Iberia;
then and there only will Louisiana at
tract to her soil farming emigration.