The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-11-24
The Pence Question.

In olden times-before our reeollec
ton and before yours, dare saw
VIII say about the year 1850, peonls
built cities with walls, and did not con
sider them safe TO live i'm if built in ary
other way. Now, if some disputation,
person in that day had sent a letter ~
some OF the newspapers (Which they
dldn I have) setting forth that il wa.
all folly to wall i'm their towns and tina,
II would be much better and cheono,
Tor every man 10 look out for his own
house, what stare of wonderment Tho
old people OF 1852 would put or! Wen
there have been those who said and say
that our whole fence system entail
an idle waste of money. In 1912 Mich
olas Biddle told the people of Pennsyl
vania that their fences cost SlO5 con
900 and involved an annual tax Of $40.
100000, and advised their abandonmer,
and the adoption Of the European sys
tenn of herding. In 1854 the cost o
fencing in Vermont was carefully est
mated at S4,700,00O, and the annual
tax at sS55,O In 1862 the cost in
New York was estimated sy Mr.. Peters
| believe, at Sl44, 100000, and the an.
nual cost at some $4,000 900. And AZ
late as 1871, from very full reports
from Intelligent observers in all parts Of
the Union, Mr.. Dodge, the statisticiap
Of the Agricultural Department. com.
piled and tabulated a statement PLACING
the whole cost of fences in the United
States AT no less a sum than Sl.7OO.
100000, and the cost Of annual repairs
at Sl9S, 900. Fences are not uni
versal There are very few through.
out France; in Belgium still fewer: in
Lombardy and through all Northern
Italy they are scarcely known. In New
Mexico there are none; in many of the
southern counties of Illinois they are
abandoning them, as also in many parts
of Virginia under provision of express
enactment with reference 70 the no
fence" system. Our highways in Con.
necticut ought 10 be safe, and all al.
joining fields. There is a good law
against strolling cattle, with or withou,
keepers; but the people do not loo6
sharply enough 10 its enforcement
Fences keep out no thieves thieves can
climb them; in villages they keep out
no cattle, for cattle do not come there
they keep out no scandal, for scandal
loves fences better than the open coun-
try. There is village i'm the suburbs Of
Cincinnati with not fence from border
10 border. Its aspect charms and de-
lights every stranger who passes
through. In the thriving town of Gree
ley, Colorado, there are no fences what
ever. The result is a charming, park
like effect, which attracts the visitor,
and in which every inhabitant feels an
honest pride.
The summing up Of the whole matter
is: In respect TO farm divisions, lay
out your land for easiest and most
economic working; make the most of
any protection your woodlands afford
give no land to pasture which will pay
better by tillage; make access easy 10
every field you own order your home
stead so that your children will love it
and hate TO leave il. With respect 10
fences, abandon them as fast and as
far as you can If you will make them,
make them good; watch your State leg
islation; see to it that it aids you, and
when laws are made see TO it that they
are kept. And when the barriers are
down, and the great tax of their cost
lifted, learn TO trust your neighbor and
live so that he may trust you.-Ik Mar
eel