The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-12-02
A ouestion that Must be Met.

On our first page, we print an article from the
Junction City URicR, on "The Fence Fraud"
which we commend to the careful perusal and
preservation of our farmer readers. The article
and statistics were published for the enlghten-
ment of voters at the late election in Davis
County, where all other isues and parties-Re-
publican, Democratic and People's-were set
aside for the time being, and the issue confined
to Herd Law and Anti Herd-Law, resulting in a
Herd Law victory.
This is question which, in time, must he met
by the people of all the Counties in Kansas, and
it is well to study it in time. Even here in Dom
iphan County, with heavy timber all along our
eastern border, people have been seriously think.
ing of it, and rebelling in spirit against the in
justice of the System that compels one man to
fence against another's cattle. Those who have
an abundance of timber, which is in their way,
are satisfied to have fenees-In fact, are opposed
to any other system-but the large majority,
who have no timber, and live miles from il, find
fences serious burden. It costs from $500 to
$500 cash to fence quarter section of land with
a common board fence, in addition to a seasons
hard labor in building the fence. The abolition
of fences would dispense with heavy item of
cost, and the most laborious part OF the work of
opening new farm. 1t requires at least two
years surplus produce of a farm, in favorable
seasons, to pay the expense of fencing it; to
leave out the question of repairing aud renewing
fences. Just think what a start that saving
wOnld give farmer in his new home; and what
difference it would make in his work, If the
preliminary labors were reduced to the one item
of breaking his land!
1t is no more than justice, IL men want to raise
cattle, TO compel them to take care Of them, and
not force men TO construct expensive fences in
order to protect their crops from other mems cat
tie.
The number of rods of fence of all kinds in Dom
iphan County, according TO the assessors returns,
is equal to 1l50 full quarter sections fenced. The
cost of these fences, at the lowest estimste, has
not been less than $500 900. Many of the older
settlers have their second or third fence, which,
with repairs, will make fully one million and
quarter of dollars expended for fences, in Dom
iphan County. The enormous destruction of
fences by prairie fires is another heavy item, that
has not been estimated. That amount wonld
make quite difference in the financial condition
of our County. There would not be quite SO
many long mortgages in favor of money lenders
on record in the Office of the Register of Deeds
Just as good corn and wheat will grow on farm
withoutfeuces with them, if the neighborss took
is kept off; hundreds of acres wasted in fence
corners, those pestilent weed nurseries, would
be put to good use; and the crops would bring
just good prices as ifraised on enclosed ground.
On the other hand, fences are assessed as i'm
provenents, and add to the farmers taxes.
These facts are SO plain that none can misunder-
stand them.
Doniphau County, in 1857, was the second
County in the Territory, IN population. Up to
1870, it was the third. Now it is the seventh
To be sure it is one of the smallest in the State
in area, but one of the very best as a farming
County. 1t could not be expected that she would
remain so near the head of the list, but che has
been increasing more slowly and failing farther
behind than there was any good reason for. 1t
costs too much to buy and open a farm here, and
settlers pass us by, for the West, where the soil
is not good but where, after buying the
land, 1t does not require from double to four
times the amount to fence it.
Those who have plenty of timber, will not re-
ceive the new fence idea favorably; those who
are engaged principally in stock raising, will not
relish it; and those who have built good fences,
will argue that others may do as they have done.
But these good fences will in time decay, and
then they will take a more liberal view of the
question; while those who have not yet fenced,
or who are unable to do so, will not have much
doubt which side of the fence to take on this is.
ssue.