The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-12-16
THE HERD LAW.
An Interesting, Carefully Writ.
ten Article on the Sub
jet.
Nine Good Reasons Given i'm Fa-
vOr of the Adoption Of
the Law.

EDITOR TIMES - Nothing was said
in President Grants message about
general Herd Law That is about
the only fault which the farmers
in this section have 10 find with the docu-
ment. The reply to the few Herd Law
suggestions in my last communication would
have been more satisfactory had the writer
confined himself more strictly to the subject,
and given US a logically arranged and
complete list of the objections To the meas
| ure Instead oil that, nearly one hall of his
article was made up of clumsy illusions 10
''your correspondent" which meant moth
ing, and amounted to nothing.
We are by no means red hot" on the
Herd Law question. We do not thin K Sc
ton or rejection. There are doubtless some
farmers in this county so situated that tley
would be better of Just now, and for time
to come, with the existing law unchanged :;
but taking a broader view OF the case, CON
sidering the interests OF all the farmers oi
the county, and looking 10 their future in
terest. am inclined TO think that "on the
whole" and in the long rum that class
would be gamers by the enactment OF 4
Herd Law, be il this year or next.
First: The Herd Law being substitute
| for fencing-here, as everywhere else, very
expensive-would facilitate the purchase
and improvement of the vacant lands
| throughout the county.
| Second: That system OF mixed stock
and grain farming, which wants all the
surrounding country Tor common, is SLOW
enly and thriitless system at best, ard the
Herd Law would have a tendency to break
it up.
| Third: The advantages OF the free range
are at hest, but provisional and temporary.
| The vacant lands are liable at any time to
be sold and put under fence. The day IS
not far distant when all such lands, capa-
bic of producing anything, must in the ma
tnre OF things, be occupied by resident OWN
ers. Where then will the free rangers go
The Herd Law as anticipatory OF that state
OF things, is the best that could be adopted.
Fourth: Wooden fences are perishable
All such fences, the decay Of which has not
been anticipated by the cultivation Of the
Usage Orange, will have TO be renewed al
no distant day-the most OF them very soon
This law would save the owners the cost,
and may add the very heavy cost, OF suci
renewal.
Fifth Wherever there are vacant lands,
and it is practicable to herd. herding might
be 30 systematized and managed that il
would cost the owners OF stock hardly more
than the interest Ga the money expended IL
feucing; allowing, of course, 4 fair cash
appraisal of the time, labor and material
required for ience-building.
| Sixth BY Herd Law all the great loss
and trouble occasioned by the destruction
of stock On railroad tracks, and by their
straying away and being stolen, would be
obyiated.
Seventh: A Herd Law, by preventing
the running at large OF inferior and scrub
by animals, would tend to the improve
ment OF the qua ity and breeds OF stock
throughout the country.
Eighth: The strip OF land occupied by
fences, with the accompanying right OF
way" for reeds, brush and brambles. would
if thoroughly cultivated, yield the farmer
about as much stock feed "a his cattle are
accustomed to get by ranging during the
short grazing season over the prairIes and
spirits OF timber.
Ninth. The anti-Herd Lawcorrespond-
ent argues that small farmers and stock
growers would be driven out Of the country
for want of hay and grass. Whose hay
and grass? Why hay and grass taken from
lands to which they have no earthly claim
lands which other men own and pay taxes
on. Well, If their sojourn depends solely
upon that, then their departure is only a
question Of time at best and the time can
not be long delayed. II that class of far
mers would look to their own premises for
the needed supply OF hay and grass, We be-
lieye thew could find IL there without either
turning their cattle at large or leaving the
country that Is ii they are not too averse
to labor. We dare say, more untitled and
unproductive acres are lying inside the
fences of these small farmers in this part OF
Kansas. than would suffice, with proper
cultivation, to furnish hay and grass Tor
| all the stock they have, ever have had, or
are ever likely to have.
| Finally, the "test Of the pudding Is the
eating OF it" They have tried the Herd
Law in many counties OF this and othe
States, and it appears TO give universal sat
| i-faction And we would remark, Tor the
benefit OF the correspondent above men
toned, that they appear TO be at no
trouble in finding market for their grain
either. So at any rate it appears TO u,
who can see car load after car load of their
grain pass this station nearly every day,
on its way to marLet. Already this sea-
son upwards OF 3O8 car loads OF wheat
have been shipped from the little town Of
Salina alone. Just think Of it. The fact
Is. those Herd Law counties are fast out
stripping us in all the essentials OF pos
perity, Notwithstanding all our stone, rail,
rock, hedge, shanghai and patent fences,
which have cost the farmers OF this county
alone hundred. of thousands OF dollars.
Nav be there is more in this fence question
than hes yet entered into our philosophy.
J. A. l..
S1RASGER, Dec. 10th, 1875.