The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-06-14

Now, thatsOur country Is being rapid
ly under cultivation, and timber,
more especially fencing materials, daily
becomes more scarce, the question OF
fencing is of the utmost Importance
particularly as at present it costs more
to enclose q piece of land than it is
worth.
1t is unknown to many of our readers
that in Europe, and in many portions Of
the United States, laws have been en-
acted compelling all owners of cattle,
hogs, ETC., to keep them within enclo-
sures, and permitting all who plant. to
do so anywhere, without protecting
their crops by fences. The result of
this is that the land is made to Yield q
handsome revenue, and while the num-
Der of cattle are reduced, yet their value
is increased, because they are of better
breeds and better cared for.
In Kansas and other prairie States
where stock are not allowed to run at
large, q great impetus has been given to
immigration to their country, from the
fact that, as in our section, lands are
cheap and they do not have to go to the
trouble of fencing before they can cul-
tivate.
There are few who have given this
subject any thought, and when the
question is preached, nearlyall are read
dy to offer objections to it, but more
from want of reflection than anything
else.
Now, let us make a little calculation,
by way of illustration. Its we'll known
that Our soil is capable of producing an
average of one hOgshead of sugar per
acre, and ten barrels of mOlases, always
worth at least one hundred dollars. On
the other hand n acre of ground will
not nrNn LRr,N -~,, r1-- --I -n1E
one OF the latter being sold annually,
for not more than eve Oreight dollars,
which constitutes the sole revenue of an
acre of ground, when, as now, used to
pasture wild cattle. Or, in other words,
cultivated soil can be made to net one
hundred dollars per acre, while that
devoted to wild cattle yields less than
ORe-tenH that amount.
Some may urge that all our soil can
not be cultivated in cane, on account of
the scarcity of fuel, and that land Gull
tivated i'll other crops will not Weld
half sc much. This is true, although
we believe the day is not remote when
coal and bagasse will be generally used,
thus making a n the principal crop
grown ever on our prairies, more than
doubling the income of planters but
suppOsing that there was no change
AANAAA bAAS tANDS4AO . SNCHl VI Sulll dJLUli,
lands even poorly cultivated in any Or
binary crop, yield more than three times
as much as those devoted to stock rails
ing, as generally carried ON in this coun-
try.
Then, another serious objection is
every day made to stock raising, as car
ried on in Attakapas. In many cases,
vast heards of cattle, belonging to men
who W but very little or no land,
roam throughout the country, grazing
upon lands, the taxes upon which have
to be paid by others, and always annoy
ing planters and endangering the crops
OF c~qltlVat0rs, who usually depend
upon their fields for q livelihood.
Therefore, the conclusion seems to be
forced upon us that the lesser interest
OF stOck-raising should give way to the
greater one OF cultivation, and that the
former should be put under fence, and
thatthe latter be given full scope on our
broad, and fertile prairies. Why not 2
No one will be damaged thereby, except
the few who WIZ no land, and do not
care to purchase and pay taxes on it.,
While they can use it free of cost. Of
course, no good reason can be given for
the continuance Of such an unjust prac-
tlce. 10 compel planters to build fences
TO protect their crops against stock of
InCu WHO nave TO lanuS, is unQueStlOna-
bly, a great wrong.
We said no one would be damaged bv
the proposed change. It has been dem
Onstrated by some of themost successful
stock-raisers of Texas, that cattle, when
kept within enclosures, thrive better and
yield a larger interest on the investment
than when allowed to run at large. If
this is true in the case of wild cattle, it
will certainly pay much better, in coun-
try K Western Louisiana, which is so
rapidly filling up that lands will soon
become scarce, to raise only blooded
stock, and by properly feeding them,
obtain a high price for all sent to mark
ct.
of course, such d stock law is not
likely 0 o to be putt in fierce, although
1t eventually will as certain as that Our
country grows and prospers but it is
best that the question should be agita-
ted, to prepare all for the change when
it does come.
Meantime, as fences must for q time
be continued, we will in future numbers
OF Il paper, discuss the best plan for
fencing, raising hedges, etc.-[Yermil-
li0nville COttOn-Bowl.