Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-12-10
SHEEP MISUNDERSTANDING
PUBLIC ROADS.

meeting in Baltimore county, by Henry
c. Hallowell, Of Sandy Springs, Md:
F! Sheep Hus1an9ry. Sheep husbandry
is subject with which you are familiar
Yet more attention may well be given
to this most valuable branch of our
business. A reliable farmer in New
Jersey received return of 81 200 from
an outlay of $3.50 within twelve months,
in addition to the beneficial effects OF
the sheep upon the soil. This is an ex-
treme case, but indicates the margin OF
profit that may be realized with care.
The only drawback is the fear that our
outlay may lie totally lost bysthe rsvs-
ges of dogs. For the present our only
safety lies in folding them every night
into yard suitably protected. This
does not materially IMPURE them, even
III hot weather, as they are creatures of
habit, and Immediately lie down and
ruminate, and are ready to go to feed
ing as soon as released III the morning.
l have recently protected my own yard,
already enclosed with board fence, by
running two wires around it four inches
above the top rail- But is this the linn
it OF our power: Can we not rise in
our might and demand, not as favor
grudgingly granted, but as an impera-
tive necessity, that legislation shall be
shaped rs To protect our flock from this
intolerable scourg.: Can we not make
tie politician feel that We have some
rights which he is hound to respect: We
read in the cid fable that the giant
Enccladus was buried under Mount
Etna, and when he turned upon his weary
side, the whole island Of Sicily was sha-
ken to its foundations. There are in
dications that another ong-s!umbering
giant, the American farmer" is awak-
eEin., who, IL once aroused, will cruin-
he To powder such fabrics as selfish in
terests and short-sighted policy may
have reared above his PROSTATE form.
FHii.c ROads.--Our State shows many
symptoms of arousing from the lcthar-
~ that has bcnumbed her. and Of pre-
pairing to take the position to which
she is entitled bv her commercial facil-
tiles, her climate and the resources of
her soil and mines, but size needs 4
thorough awakening on the subject Of
public roads. To convey an adequate
IDEA of our "so-called' highways in
mid-winter and early spring is almost
beyond the power of language. To
quote from an article written few
years since 1T is sufficient to say that
they rffectualiy stop transportation to
market, communication by vehicles wit
mill, shop aud store. and even with SO
cil visiting and attendance of church"
Yet it is bv mems Of good roads that
we will I've enabled to supply one of the
great needs of country life, the bring
ing Of the people together. and that
conflict of mind with mind tia. seems
necessary for man to reach his highest
Development, and which indcel consti-
tutcs one Of the great advantages to
he claimed for residence i'll the city,
On grade of thirty feet to the mile,
the force required to perform certain
duty is twice as great as on level; on
one Of sixty feet three times as great
Yet year after year our poor toiling
animals labor over grades that little
judicious expenditure would soon re-
duce; bruisc their shoulders against
stones that have bleached in many n
changing season, and rack our vehicles
IL Il way that brings brisk business to
the wheelwright and blacksmith Few
have an idea of the cost TO the State
and It's citizens of this condition of af-
fairs. Not only are tie small sums now
d"led cut frequently wasted without
any adequate return, but even where
work is done for the money expended.
it is either unskilfullv used. or spread
over 50 large surface that the repairs
scarcely last single season. Thcwhole
question should lie taken from the do
main Of party politics and placed in the
hands of our ah.est men. Some wise
and efficient law should be devised to
give us HAT essential of civilization,
good roads at all seasons, with the least
necessary cost. My own preference, l
believe. would he fo- the system aiop-
ted IN Washington county. through the
influence of the late Robert Fowler,
where the Commissioners aid such cit
liens rs NAV wish IL construct paved
roads. by 4 subscription. the interest on
which is equal to the annual cxpendi-
ture for repairs.
Fencing Closely connected with this
subject of roads is that of the great
cost Of fenc:ag and the increased
amount of the latter from the unrcas-
enable. thrittlesS and most selfish prac-
ticc Of letting stock run at large. A
writer in the Rarai Messenger has cal
culatcd the cost Of one mile Of worm
or Virginia fence. made Of pine poles.
and lasting ten years, to Dc about $3.50.
In Montgomery. the cost of one mile
Of substantial post-and-ail fence is
$50 The same writer saws that the
fences Of the United States. according
to published reports, are estimated Ia
'cost more than the houses, cities III
ciuied-more than the ships. beats
and vessels Of every description that
float the ocean. lakes and rivers more
than the manufactures Of every kind,
with their machinery than any
one class of property aside from real
estate, excepting 1t mas he the railroads
of the country. Robinson gives the
first cost of fences in the State of New
York ut sl44.Ooo.OO0. Nicholas Bid.
die estimated that the fence tax of Penn.
sylvaria was Sl0.oOO.000 per year
Gen. Worthington, of Ohio, SAYS that
'there are ei,hteen millions acres 81
hand II this State cnclosed with fcul