The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-08-07

From the IndIanola Bulletln.l

We have on several occasions endeaTored
to impress upon the citizens of Western
Texas the necessity of a fence law to pro-
tect their agricultural interests, and to pre-
vent them from being abandoned altogether
because of the want Of a proper law to in
sure those who wish to engage in tilling the
soil from loss by the damage done to their
crops by the inroads of wild cattle; which
is most certain to follow from the present
mode of nomadic stock raising. In former
years when the prairies were covered with
luxuriant grasses and the stock limited in
ownership to those residing in the West,
the business was very profitable, but of late
years these matters have all changed.
Population has increased and as matter
of course so have the herds Of cattle-every
settler purchasing small stock of cows,
that increased accordingly. But while the
country lying east of the Colorado, owing
to superior facilities for the flowing in Of
emigration, became an agricultural region,
the raising of stock gradually decreased,
which caused the owners of large herds in
that section to drive their stock over into
Western Texas to pasture ON the vacant
lands belonging to other people. This inn
mense influx OF cattle, aided to those al
ready in Western Texas, soon became so
numerous as to eat out, root and branch, all
the grass necessary to sustain animal life.
The consequences are that every winter the
cattle actually starve to death for the want
of sustenance.
Then we have the losses from various
causes besides; wolves and dogs kill great
number of calves; the beeyes are stolen
and driven away; the providers on the prai-
ries kill cattle for the sake of selling the
hides, and in the end the owner finds that
instead of an increase of his. stock It is
gradually dwindling away to small proper
tions, and the results are fully demonstrated
that Western Texas, east of the Nueces
river, has become totally unfit for the bust
ness of stockraising, as now carried on.
Then, what is the remedy2 The only rem
edy in our opinion, which is backed by
some of the largest stock owners in Yves
tern Texas is fence law, which, If prop
erly understood by the opponents of such a
law, would become popular at once. In
other States where such law is in force,
those that were strongly opposed to it are
now its greatest advocates, finding that the
herding Of their cattle not only improves
them, but yields greater profits. The cattle
become gentle and tractable, and a boy can
manage a thousand head Of stock, and the
pasture left from unOccupied land sufficient
to support q reasonable number Of stock.
Those stock owners who have enclosed
pastures find already that til the only
method in which the business can be
made profitable. The fence law does not
prevent man from having q few cows, es-
pecially if land will, for years to come, re-
main vacant. Western Texas win remain
an immense barren waste until fence law
is passed for the protection OF agricultural
pursuits. That its soils are rich and pro-
ductive has been fully demonstrated, and
with the advent Of its agricultural interests,
viii come progress and prosperity. The
following remarks from the Jefferson 1ri-
bune, on compelling the farmer u fence
against the wild stocks that roam the prai-
ries, should receive the attention Il deserves
from the land owners and citizens Of West
ern Texas, who are far behind all other
countries in their agricultural pursuits, not
because they lack rich sOils--for the contra
~ Is the case, the soils Of Western Texas
being Of the richest and most productive
In the World--but solely on account Of their
need Of fence law to foster and promote
this important interest without which no
country can become prosperous and wealthy.
The Tribune says;
''IIere Is q matter for press and people to
discuss, and the most important one now
before the people Of the United States. We
should not say discuss, for there Is nothing
to discuss. It is the only proposition we
ever knew that had all the arguments on
ono side. Although the most costly and
most extensively used Of all other things
there does not exist, or can not be produced,
SOLITARY reason or advantage IN favor 81
fencing.
As cur business IL 70 advocate everything
I.rrf ~~~~orsT rrr.r.I r.ar4rnr.f Iff
the subject lie idle any longer, and intend 70
show the true facts as they exist, and what
the country Is losing By the ruinOus system.
And we call upon every paper IN the land
to aid IN showing our people what they are
suffering, and the great and Immediate ad-
vanfaQes 70 arise from the abOllshing 81
fences, except for sufficient stock, where
necessary. We have no idea IN the world,
however. that what We shall say, and al
the facts produced, viii do any good. The
Southern people are dead % al that con-
Germs fheiro own welfare, and are determined
10 be slaves 70 debt and bad management
forever. But We win Try 70 do our duty, neg-
ertheIesa-
ssWe starr out with the following facts
Tor the consideration 81 our farmers and
readerss
II. That the fencing 81 tie United States
cost more than everything IN the Union. ex-
cepf railroads and citicS, and more than
either 81 these separately.
- That the annual repairs u ieucIne
costs more than 40 the taxes 81 he coun-
Try, federal, State, county and municipal
combined
- That there anol solitary county u
any neTicaIIrM district ~ she Onion i1
which the fencing hts noi cost teu times
"a" a..