The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-02-03
Herd Law.

Herd Law.
Tberr will doubtless I've a herd law oiii
the Legislature. this Winter; and 10 an'''
tim of IT, the p.ople of the several ooun,' "''
s.,d;pg u.,itioys and rrmonstranceS' we nave
han so,nsvrb.t surprise at the sentihent oi 'niS
f,,,,.,,, .xnressed by meetings ana III peti-
e. w. had supposed that, in the portions "f
-. ,5;,e.nt to the river, the sentiment
-, ~. .Imost unanimously against herd
ii ,b,, the advocacy of it would he con-
c., ,,,;,ciuaIIy TO the western part. But the
ii I,w sentiment is much stronger than We
-,,,,ossd I'm Marion Township, which is almost
,vLaIIv timbered, a meeting was held, few
DAYS ago. and resolutions passed in favor of a
a herd law. Mr.. Bridges last week presented a
p.tition from Doniphan County in the Senate,
sirned by fifty names; also, a remonstrance. A
gentleman from the eastern part of this Town
ship was in our Office, last Saturday, to make
some inquiries relative to sending petitions. He
had one which he intended to crcul and he
and he informed MS that the people of his
nrighborhOOd were nearly all in favor of 4 herd
law.
The papers opposing herd law, use some very
fimsy arguments. The Hiawatha Dispatck
makes dreadful story of it-telling how it will
ruin poor men. especially town people, to have
TO pasture their cattle; that it will destroy the
agriculture Of the country, and depreciate the
valne of the farms. 1t is also predicted that a
herd law will destroy stock and sheep raising, and
dairying. If stock is kept out of the way, why
will not land produce as much without with
fencess If farmer is saved the expense of $500
TO $1,000 in fencing his land, he can well afford
to have it valued that much less-especialy can
he afford to have it assessed so much less for tax
alton.
As to the question of pasturage, it will he but a
brief time until the people of towns will have to
take their cattle to pasture, and pay for it. Even
now the range is scarce within reach of many
towns. And will il not be mnch easier for poor
farmer to fence twenty or forty acres of his land
for pasture for his own stock, than to fence his
entire farm in order to protect his crops from his
own and bis neighbors' cattlei A herd law will
not prohibit the fencing of farms. Men who are
able and wish to do so, will still build fences,
the same as they now build fine houses and barns,
and adorn their places in varous ways. Those
who are shiftless now, will he shiftless still;
while the herd law will be a God send to those
who are willing but not able to open FARMS A
row of trees along the highways or around an en-
tire farm will add more to the beauty and cheer
fnlness nf a country than ricketty board fences.
The cattle, sheep, and dairy arguments are not
good. Even now, where range extends for miles,
cattle raisrrs employ heriers; and in a country
that is well settled, the man who wishes TO keep
his quarter section for cattle range, has no right
to compel hundred other men to fence their
land in order to keep his cattle from destroying
their crops. Let him hire men to keep his cat
tie upon his own ground, or build a fence to do
it. In the East, where sheep raising is paying
business, and where darying ID one of the most
profitable employments, do the owners permit
their sheep and cattle TO range over the country
promiscunusly In the Western Reserve. in |
Ohio, and in Orange County, New York, famous |
for their butter and cheese, farmers keep their |
cattle ON th"ir own premises. and make money |
by it. They have them when they want them |
they waste no time hunting them up, and suffer
no loss of profit by neglect. To claim that
country cannot flourish unless every mans cattle
are allowed 10 forage npOn his neighbors, is the
poorest stuff in the world to send forth argu-
ment No fence is required by law in Germany, |
or in France, and yet where is as much profit |
made on small parcels of land in those coun-
triesi
An obscure print in this County, with a limit
ed neighbOI hood circulation, brands those who |
are in favor of a herd law trifing trash, shift
less and lazy, who of no benefit to any coun-
try, and whose room is preferable to their pres
ence. This slur upon hundreds of the best farm
ers Of the County, who have petitioned iu favor
of herd law, falls harmless even upon the doz
en- or two readers of that sheet, as evidenced by
the fact that meeting of many of the Oldest
and best farmers of one of the Townships was
held almost within the shadow of the Office Of
that paper, and resolved unanimously in favor
of herd law.
The farmers who have realized the most mon
ey their hogs this Winter, are those who kept
them on their own premises and attended to them.
The men who ship the best beef cattle, are those
make the most money in every way, are those
who look after and attend to their own affairs,
and keep their business well in hand. The wo-
man who is constantly gadding about among her
neighbOrs picking up meal here and there, is a
'louch at home. The man who spends his time
1t the groceries, or spouting politics, is always
behind hand. The boys who are allowed to run
when and where they please, are apt to become
worthless lOafers. The farmers stock that is al
owed to forage over the country, and that has
% be hunted and driven mp when wanted is the
poorest stock in sill the land. And the man who
'rgues that the country will 60 to ruin if these
hings are not permitted and encouraged is the
poorest shoat of ALL
Since the foregoing was written, note from I
Ir. Bridges says he feels confident that no q
hange can he made in the herd law this Winter.
This Icing the case, it will not pay neighbors to
,et at lnggerhea'ls on the subject. &
--@
Cor IT BADLY.-The Fort Scott MoRi tor the
NyandOtte Gazette and perhaps several other !
Republican papers, have the worst sort of sour
tumach. Having opposed the reelection of Gov.
osborn TO no purpose, they seem determined to !, |
rent their malice upon every occasion, whether
here is any ground for it or not. The Gazette is
ngaged in connecting him with money specula-
ing companies with which he has not the re-
hottest connection; while the Monitor insists that
LaPpin should not be punished unless Osborn is
llso sent to the peuitentisry. Whether he has :
any crime to deserve it or not, is of ,
10 c"nsequnee-the Governor refused to appoint