The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-04-02
For the Anderson LetelHgcncer.
The Dawn of a New Era--Anderson
'NN0 County Ahead.

Mr.. EDITOR: The recent Legislature OF this
State is remarkable for inaugurating two OF the
most important measures, agriculturaliy' tna1
has ever emanated from our Legislature. Re
markable, because they have direct and I'M
portant bearing upon the interests OF the lar
mers remarkable, too, because Anderson
County has been selected as the leader, or trial
ground. in which to initiate these two great
agricultural reforms. We need scarcely say
that we refer to the Drainage Law and the
Fence Law. Doubtless the Legislature would
have been entirely willing to have associated
auy other county with Anderson in these I'M
portant laws if their delegates had asked the
favor. but it seems that by common consent it
was left to Anderson to move ahead in these
matters.
So far as the Drainage Law is concerned'
Anderson County, by petition, by resolutions,
and through the public press, earnestly plead
for such legislation. For the last two or three
wears she has suffered, perhaps, more than any
of her sister counties from malarial fevers, gen.
Grated for the most part about mill ponds, ana
along the margins of our water courses, where,
from any cause, there were large bodies OF un-
drained bottom lands. During the last slckly
season, there were perhaps not less than six or
eight hundred cases of malarial fevers within
her borders, resulting in very many deaths.
No wonder, then, that the public attention was
aroused, and the aid of the Legislature in
yoked. The County authorities of Anderson
have been constituted by this law board OF
health and drainage, with specific instructions
as to their duties in reference to the subject OF
drainage. Necessarily, good deal has been
left to the discretion of these gentlemen, but
the sound judgment of the members OF the
present board inspires the belief that they
will steadily and faithfully perform their dell
cate responsibilities to the satisfaction OF the
community generally. Let the principles Of
the Drainage Law be generally applied through
out our County, and the benefits resulting to
our people, both as regards health and agrl'
cultural development, will soon make it one
of the most popular measures of legislation
The present law carries out the principles anc
objects of the old ditching law in much more
practical and efficient way than could have
ever been reached by the old law, and for the
simple reason that the County authorities come
to the aid of Individual effort in the great work
of drainage and not only so, but actually
superintend and direct the whole matter, ano
are constituted an umpire to decide conflicting
interests. As Gen. MCGOWAN we'll said, in
recent conversation on the subject, that this
feature of the law was the most important o.
anv. as any other plan would likely result il
failure. as had been the case under the ole
ditching law
1t does seem to the writer that there is
happy coincidence in the simultaneous passage
of these two laws wit, the drainage" ano
'no fence" laws-by the same Legislature. Il
is very certain that, if the drainage law i:
faithfully and persistently carried out large
bodies of wet bottom lands, now unfit for cul
vation, will be restored to healthful fertility
and it was peculiarly fit that the "no fence
law should follow in its wake to complete the
work of thorough drainage. The evident pur
pose of the bill is to abate or remove all natu
raj or artificial distractions in our streams a;
essential to any thorough system of drainage
After all distractions have been abated or re-
moved, and the lands thoroughly ditched, every
farmer knows the annoyance and Inconvenience
of having cross fences, winding their tortuou:
course across the bitches and bottom lands tt
be washed away every little freshet, or form 6
| do fba ohric nd troe HOltlnC
on the surface of the turbulent waters, ane
thus choke and obstruct the bitches. This an
noyance has been felt to be so great in some
cases that have heard of, that the nelghbors
by common consent, have agreed to dispense
; with cross fences. The "no fence" law come:
happily to the relief Of the farmer in thi:
respect. =,
l do not propose just now to enter upon the
discussion of the "no fence" law, but canno
refrain from communicating to my fellow
citizens of Anderson the gladstone news tina
it is the intention of many of the most lntelll
gent and substantial citizens of Pickens to CO.
operate with Anderson in this great agricultu
raj reform. They desire, and intend to take
steps to have, an expression of opinion iron
the voters, at the next general election, on tht
question of "fence or no fence" 1t is believed
that, if the question is fairly presented anc
discussed the majority of the people OF Picken;
will stand by Anderson in voting mo fence
Many of the most prominent men, even IN the
mountainous region, and substantial farmers
have declared in favor of the law, and by CO
operation between the two counties, the twelve
raail-line-fence, or Chinese wall, will be dis
pensed with, very much to the .gratificion
the people on both sides of the dividing line
Roll on the ball. What say the people OF Ab
beville? Let the people wheel into line iron
the mountains to the seaboard
A LINER.