The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-01-22
THE FENCE LAW.

X X x X X X
=. THE FENCE LAW.
The very large consumption of tim
ber, for fencing threatens speedily to
exhaust the forest. trees in many
Counties of the State, and has created
the gravest concern among our lead
| ing agriculturists, and widespread
desire, that the existing fence law
should be, as soon as possible, repeal,
ed.
AS there has been, for some time, a
great difference Of opinion. in our
State as to the legal provisions which
should be established in regard to the
subject Of fencing, I desire to give, at
somo length, some of the reasons
which;induce me to recommend the
su bstitution of our present laws, and
the substitution of others.
1st. The building Of fence, includ-
ing the splitting and hauling of the
rails, is tax upon the capital and la
Dor of the farmer, equal, 1t is estimat-
ed, to ut least one-third of the mark
ct value of our average cotton lands.
The money and work thus expended,
would, if applied to the cultivation of
the land, increase by very lnrge per
|ccntage; both the area cultivated and
the production thereof.
I'd. Vast bodies of arabic land, that
are now untitled for want Of fencing
timber, and for which, on that ac-
count, there is no sale, would then
find ready purchasers among our
agricultural laborers, and be yielding
plentiful harvests, thus cheapening
many of the necessaries of life, and
adding to the wealth Of the State.
Sd. To require the farmer to fence
out his neighbor's stock, instead of
requiring the owner of the stock to
fence it in, is palpable act of imjus-
tice, and a monstrous instance of
folly, IN State whose wealth is agri-
cultural, and depends almost entirely
on tillage and not on pasturage.
Why should I be required to build
fence around my farm at a heavy
cost, in order to keep my neigbbors
cow out Of my growing crop, when
I derive no benefit from that COW p?
Why should his property, consist
ing Of a few rowing animaIs,sshe more
sacred in the eye Of the law than the
few acres from which, by Industrious
toll, derive my daily bread ?
Is it not just and fair that every
man should be required to exercise
reasonable care for his own property,
and not subject his neighbor to any
cost to prevent that property becom-
ing the means Of injury to any other
class of property?
4th The fences themselves occupy
a considerable portion Of the cleared
land, thus reducing the cultivated
area. .'
5th. In proportion as the demand
for fencing timber exhausts the supply
of trees in any locality, the price of
wood increases, whichis cousidera-
ton Of great moment in country
where there is no Development OF
strata Of coal. i.
9th. Science and experience unite
to prove that, in regions where the
forests are being ex xhausted, the fall
Of rain is proportionally lessened, and
the lands are parchcd by long
droughts that not only destroy veg.
citation, but from the failure of water,
prove fatal to stock Of all kinds that
are permitted to run at large. ] have
read that this is notably the case in
the prairie. belt of Texas and New
Mexico; and have been reliably in.
formed that it is strikingly exhibited
in those sections Of Virginia where,
in the late war, the trees were des'
troyed for fuel and other purposes
olong the lines Of military encamp.
ments. :
7th. Cattle and other stock can be
fenced .inmere cheaply and securely
than they can be fenced out,
9Th. The system Of fencing in
stock, whileit lessons the original ex
pence of establishing q farm, viii
tend to increase. the yield per acre, bS
preserving a large quantity Of the
natural manures, for application te
the titled soil. q.
9th. Enclosed pastures will tend te
incite among our agriculturists
cultivation of improved grasses
Also to an improvement in thu
of stock; in both of whhiS
lars South Carolina is far .
OF her sister States.
10TH. Onr farm