Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-03-25
What Fencing Costs the Farmer.

Editor Spectator:
The cost of building and re-
pairing the fences of the United States is enor-
nous; almost beyond the power OF calculation,
aud forces the enquiry, whether Legislatures
ought not to be called upon to compel every
man to keep his stock TO himself?
Then no man. who did not choose to do it, would
be fored to enclose his land against the ravages
of his neigbbors stock
Nicholas Biddle, of Philadelphia. some 40
years ago. in an address before the Philadelphia
Agricultural Society, stated that the cost OF the
fences in PENNSYLVANIA amounted to one hun
dred millions of dollars, and their cost for re-
pairs be estimated at ten millions Of dollars per
annum. A distinguished writer on national
wealth says, strange as II may seem, the great
eat investment in this country, the most costly
production of human iodus ry, is the common
fences which enclose and divide the fields
No man dreams, (who has not examined the
subject that when compared to the outlay OF
these unpretebding monuments Of human art,
our cities aud towns, with eli their wealth, ere
lett far behind. In many places, the fences
have cost more than farms are worth.
Ii this enormous burden, which keeps down
the agricultural interest of this country caus.
ing an untold expenditure, besides the loss OF
the land the fences occupy, what would the far
mer think If law were made that imposed on
him, for he maintenance of churches, tax
equal to that which he incurs in fencing out his
neighbors stock. Estimating chestnut post
and rail ence to last Is years, and including in-
side fencing and repairs, the annual tax 10 the
farmer holding $50 acres wuud be 130 to 140
dollars aud, judging from present appearances,
the tax is perpetual, aud there seems little hope
OF escape from it.
Did the intelligent farmer reflect moment
and estimate the aonua tax which his fences
impose upon him, he would not rest until the
system was abolished
TO enable farmers to reduce the enormous
tax of fence building. there must be some legal
provision to prevent animals from running at
large
There are great difficulties in the way of ma
king any SPECIAL law on the subject, but neces-
silly will eventually overcome The difficulties.
The system OF compelling every landhoder
to enclose his property, Is peculiar to the Unl-
ted States, with only the exception OF E gland,
where the fence nuisance appears again under
the form of the hedge, and although these
hawthorn hedges, when they are well tended,
land MT more than halt OF them are so, are
beautiful objects, aud answer all the purposes
of protection against the inroads of CATTLE still
the public voice is beginning to cry out against
them, because of the enormous amount OF
laDd required to support them.
Each hedge is five or SIX feet wide at the base,
and taking into account the amount OF laud
they exhaust on either side. the whole space
caunot be less than II or IA feet wide. When
it is rec lected that the divisions and sub di-
visions OF land In England are very numerous,
| the amount of arabic land abstracted from the
purposes of agriculture is very great. Ii has
been estimated as equal to the production OF
several millions OF bushels OF grain. The State
report of Maine, 10 1860, gives 26 978 600 rods
of fencing, two-ihirds of which Is wood and
requires annual repairs, which is estimated at
| TWO millions OF dollars.