Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-12-24
The Aurkrille Guqnirer.
YORK S. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. "a, 1874.
FENCES.

THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. "a, 1874.
FENCES.
As the law of South Carolina now stands,
every planter is required to keep a lawful
fence around his cultivated grounds. A law
full fence is defined to be "a fence made close
ly and strongly of rails, boards, or posts and
rails, or Of an embankment capped with rails
or timber of any sort, or live.hedges five feet
in height, measured from the level or surface
of the EARTH" There is also provision made
for navigable stream or deep water course
being regarded as lawful fence when such
stream bounds cultivated grounds. In case
stock break into fields inclosed by lawful
fence, the owner of the field may seize the
stock, and within six hours after the stock
have been seized, inform the owner of the
stock, or his or her agent, Of the fact. In case
the fence is lawful fence, the owner of the
stock is bound to pay the owner of the field
for all damages. The law also makes pro-
vision against the abuse of stock which break
into fields, that are not inclosed by lawful
fences.
1t will be seen that the law, as it now
stands, requires the crops to be fenced, but
permits stock to run at large. In other
words, stock can only be regarded as tress-
passers when they break into fields enclosed
by lawful fences. In view of the attending
circumstances, we are of opinion that the law
should be reversed. The stock should be
fenced or guarded, and the crops be turned
out. For this opinion we have many reasons.
Some of these we will at present give.
In many sections of South Carolina, timber
is very scarce. There are many large plan
tations in many of the counties of the State,
that have not enough of timber on them at
present to put lawful fence around the
fields. Supposing, however, that timber is
abundant, it is attended with no inconsidera-
BILE expense to fence the crops as the law re-
quires. The cheapest practical form of a
field is a perfect square. 1t will take fewer
rails to fence square field, than any other
shape except round but fence built in a
circle would not, only in exceptional cases,
be practical. To put lawful fence around
a one acre patch in square form, would take
about twelve hundred rails. The cost of ma
king the rails and hauling them, together
with the timber and the building of the fence,
would be not less than three dollars per hun
dred. This would make the fencing of one
acre cost thirty-six dollars. The larger the
field, of course the less would be the cost of
fencing it per acre. A ten acre field, in a
square form, would cost more than one hun
dred dollars to put lawful fence around it.
Ordinarily this is the full value of the land.
To fence a field of one hundred acres in a
square form, with lawful fence, would cost
three hundred and fifty-six dollars. Hence the
cost per acre would be three dollars and fifty
six cents But it is only occasionally that
fields can be arranged in perfect squares.
The boundaries of most plantations zigzag in
every possible direction. To fence up most
plantations in the State, Of a few hundred
acres, would require as many rails as to fence
as many thousand acres were they in square
form. 1t may be set down as fact that it
costs more to fence field. than the field and
rails would sell for. We heard an old prac-
tical farmer say short time ago, that if any
one would pay him for the rails on his plan
tation, at the rate of what it cost him to put
them up, he would throw the land and other
improvements in. On his plantation he has
good two story dwelling house, good barn
and stables, and good gin house and screw.
Another thing should not be forgotten.
Fences need repairing every year, and renew
ing every fifteen years. Some kinds of tim
Der will last longer, but other kinds not so
long. The time spent in making rails and
building fences might be more pro6tably
spent in making manure. 1t is, perhaps, i'm
possible at once to change the law so as to
require the stock to be fenced or guarded,
and the crop turned out; but something could
be done to test the practicability of the
scheme. A law could be passed leaving it
optional with certain counties or townships
whether they would fence the crop or stock.
The fence law as it now stands does not apply
to the Islands of Edisto, Wadamalaw, Johns
Island and James Island. The inhabitants of
these Islands are not required, as ethe inhab-
itants of other sections of the State, to keep a
fence around their cultivated grounds. We
are not prepared to say why an exception was
made in favor of these Islands; but in all
probability it was for some of the reasons we
have specified. No doubt many objections
might be raised to the proposed change. Some
of these objections would be real, but many
of them would be merely imaginary. We
have space at present only to call atten-
ton to this subject. At some future time we
, hope to be able to elaborate it more fully.
CHRISTMAS.
As the ENQUIRER greets its numerous
readers on this Christmas Eve, III thousand
homes, loving hearts-happy or sad-are
filled with thoughts Of kindness and sympa-