The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-10-01


ests of the country, than anything
else that cOnld be adopted. But the
people, who are the most interested
in this matter, the farmers ana
stock-raisers, have been opposed to
il, and hence we have left it to them
to do as they saw best. There seems
to be fresh awakening on the SUBJ
iect, especially in some OF the older
and in one or two il is to
be made the Issue on which the
coming election is to be conducted,
for members OF the legis-
lature.
The rapid progress of the new
counties in the south, southwest and
west, principally because they had
the wisdom to adopt the herd Law
in the start, has attracted the atten-
ton Of all, and is leading the older
counties into close consideration
of a herd law.
The following article from 3 late
number or the. Wichita Eagle, brief
ly and ably presents the arguments
for herd law, and we commend it
to the careful consideration of those
most Interested in the subject. We
belivc nothing would do more to
people aud develop the millions of
acres of rich vacant lands OF Lyon,
Greenwood, Chase, Morris and
other central counties, than the
adoption OF wise herd law. Read
what the Eagle says:
"The herd law il the making of
this valley. The new counties in
the southwest that have adopted the
"no fence" law are Outstripping in
growth, settlement and productions
Ihree-fourthR OF the older counties
of the State where fences are neces-
sary 10 the cultivation of the ground.
Many OF The wiser of the older por.
lions Of the State have noted this
fact and now we hear the "herd
law" question agitated in counties
that ten years ago would not have
dreamed of such q thing. Outside
of the expediency OF the herd law
we have always maintained that the
principle underlying il was right
and just. "You take care of your
property and l will take care OF
mine," as the whole law in q nut
shell. The spirit of the old law and
rule, rs between the real estate own
er, and the personal property own
CIR, was, IL must take care OF my
crops and your live stock as well, >
giving preference to one class of
property over another. Thcre there
is another phase to the question,
even If we had plenty of money and
plenty of timber. To those who
have never thought of the money
invested in fences in the United
States, q glance at the figures would
prove instructive. The re is more
money iHVcated in fences than In
railroads. The capital la railroads
is live, making the stockholders and
the country through which they
pass. The money invested In fences
is dead, unprOductive, numbering
the ground and filling up the tax
rolls, aud not returning = single cent
of profit. Take Sedgwick county
for an Instance: We have twenty
eight townships, or ,00S sections Of
land. Fence This area up into forty
acre fields, on an average, with a
road around each scciim, and IL
would take ten miles ct fence to
eack section or 3, 200 rods, or ), 255,-
600 rods of fence for the county
This, at twelve cents foot for post
aud board fence, would cost Sc, 1856, =
6SS, enough to gritlirOn the county
with railroads. The taxes at two
per cent, over and above cost Tor
repairs, would not be less than
SETTLE per annuIn. Fortunately,
the Usage orange 1louTishes In our
valley Ten or twelve years hence,
probably, will see our county pretty
well fenced with hedge. but even
after that we believe the herd law
will prove the best and most profit
able. Having lived In some of the
older counties of the State, we note
one Important difference. In Sedg-
wick county much of the land held
by spectators Is being broken up
aud seeded down to wheat, there
being no cost outside of breaking
6nu bCCus Il uO ut6b CEOR VI WHEEL
Ia many Instances pays both the eX-
pense aud original cost of the land.
Men living in town, who own land,
can with n small outlay have a nice
little income. Even eastern specn-
latOrs direct their agents here to put
their land in wheat. This il impos-
siblc Ia counties where the herd law
is not in force. The profits of crop
in those counties will not justify
fencing and repairs and the expense
of man to watch the fence and de-
fend it against loose and breechy
stock. Aud still there is left the
greater aud more weighty argument
In favor OF herd Law, viz: any
man, however poor, can with team
and a shelter for his family. success
fully open up, and prolitably con-
duct farm in counties like Sedg.
week, where the herd law is main.
tanned aud enforced by common
consent"
Our columns are open for dis
cussiOn of this subject, pro. AnC
con-, if there are those who wish Il
| present arguments on either side.