The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-15
The Cost of Fencing.

The Cost of Fencing.
4 We see in an exchange an estimate OF
the cost of feucing in the State of Fir-
Z ginia, from which it appears to equal
the value of all the live stock in the
State. The number of farms Is esti-
mated at 73, $40, and the cost of fencing
each at S400; making the total cost S29,-
539, 900, whilst the value of the live
stock is S2S,l97, ,669. According to this
EVEN if q four-feld enclosure be
adopted, the expense would be slx-sev-
enths as much, or it would do away with
only one diyision line, and the cost
would be over twenty-five millions.
We may safely assume, then, that the
cost of good new enclosures for all the
farms Of the State equal the value of
their live stock. Granting that these
enclosures require to be replaced every
twelve wears, we have here little item
of two and a half millions of annual
expenditures sunk in fences to keep out
stock. two millions of which could be
saved by requi ring all farm stock to be
fenced in, in standing pastures, or ny
moveable fences that could be durably
constructed.
IT should be observed also that the
smaller the farm the greater the relative
expense, as it requires just half as maLy
rails to enclose twenty-five acres as pre-
scribed, rs it does to enclose one hundred
aores. The poor man and small farmer
is thus much more interested in this
matter than he has ever been taught to
consider, but as we have said before, our
public men and lawmakers never at
tempt to teach the people up to econom-
ic laws, bnt rather mount the rostrum
to teach them how to vote.
We omit here the losses incident to
ouragriculture from successive droughts'
, which by some are supposed to be due
.. in part to the destruction or our lor-
ests.n
The subject il one which addresses
itself especially to the agriculturalists of
our own State, and we trust that Abbe-
Vile will not be behind some of her
: sister Counties in giving the "no-fence
law" fair trial: In these times OF de-
preston il is ruinous to be forced to
maintain so costly an investment-lt is
ruinous to all cl;iSseS and conditions or
our farming interests. and all should
unite in putting an end to the system.
the impecunious farmer who has neg
Iected to improve his opportunity during
the Winter Of making his own fertli-
izers. and has not s0wn oats. says to
himself: II will give lien on my crop
tor fertilizers, and will raise a big crop
of cotton-corn won't pay. We will be
I apt to have wet year, and the guanos
will nav largely. The price too Of cot
ton will likely be high" But in the
Fall the fact Is, the Summer has been Il
dry one, his cotton crop will not be hall
: what Unexpected, and it will take avery
J large amount of the cotton ut the low
price, to pay the lien for guanos, while
a large part of the Indebtedness Oh &C
count ofathe crop will go unpaid.
THE union meetings of the various
religious denominations OF our town
were held nightly during the past week
and Interesting services were held by
the pastors of the respective churches
Veryearnest and impressive discourse:
have been delivered by the Revs. Mar,
tin, Mood, and Pratt, before large and
attentive audiences. Much interest ha'
been manifested, and number OF acces
sions have been made to the church. A.
these may not have. equalled the san
Cuine antieipations of some of the min
listers, they still have reason to congrat
ulate themselves that the good seed has
been sown, which will doubtless beal
fruit after many days. Much good la:
doubtless been done.
The COTTON MARKET. - Cotton il
opening rapidly, and is beginning te
] come freely to maket. The cotton mar
ket opens dull and weak, owing, 1t l.
said, to the financial arrangements a
home and abroad. Whether or not 1t is
going to improve, it is impossible to say
as cotton, like dreams, follows the ruiz
of contraries, and defies all power o
calculation. In face of the limited
stocks on hand and the unfavorable crol
reports, the price ought to be high, bu
then it isn't, and there's al end or IT.
THE STATE FAIR.-It will be recol
lected that the State Fair will be held il
Columbia during the second week IL
4 November, and that in addition TO th'
regular premiums, a premium OF S3O0 Il
offered to the County making the larg
\ est and best exhibition of its products
AGRICULTURAL, mechanical, &C.; and
y premium of $500 for the second; and
premium of SlUO for the third best eX
hibition. Here is chance for Abbe
willie, and past success should stlmulat
renewed effort. Let US do our yer.
best.
The value of paid up life policy ma.
be estimated from the following state
ment: A citizen of our county some fiv
years ago paid $3.50 into life company
and afterwards took paid up policy TO
$l70 for the $500 paid in. All the inter
est that the company has offered to thel
policy-hoider in that time is one dolla
and ninety-onc cents, which looks to u
very much like the company had conns
Gated the whole amount for their owl
benefit. Does any one ask us the nam
8 of this citizen who has been so badl.
IS cheated? We can give it.
ga Poor INVESTMENT. Our usually 50
gacious friend Mr.. Robert Pratt, wa
caught mapping about four years ago
He took life policy in one of the In
surance Companies for Sl5,0OO, and pait
the company nearly 81 600, after whicl
he concluded that he would quit insu
rance, and has now paid up policy fo'
about $3.50, to be paid at his death, with
out interest.
Mr.. THos. G.. PERRIN and family re
turned home on Friday last, improved
In health. They have been spending
some Of the Summer months pleasantly
at Tate's Springs, Tenn.