Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-11-23
The N Question.

In oiden times-before our ~recollec-
tion and before yours, I 4 dare say-we
WILL say about the year 1850, people
quilt cities with walls, and did not CON
slder them safe to live in if built in any
other way. Now, if some disputatious
person In that day had sent a letter to
some OF the newspapers (Which they
didn't have) setting forth that It was
all folly to wall in their towns and that
IL would be much better and cheaper
LOT every man to look out for his W
mouse, what a stare of wonderment the
Old people of 1852 would put on! Well,
there have been those who said and say
tnat u whole fence system entails
an IDLE waste of money. In 1912 Mich
olas Biddle told the people of Pennsyl-
vania that their fences cost S1O5, 6OO.-
OOO and involved an annual tax of S1O.-
OOO,OOO, and advised their abandonment
and the adoption of the European sys-
tenn of herding. In 1854 the cost of
fencing in Vermont was carefully est.
mated at 81, 700, 900, and the annual
tax at 1856 ZOO. In 1862 the cost in
New York was estimated by Mr.. Peters,
l believe, at $144, OOO, 900, and the an
nual cost at some SIS, 1000, 600. And as
late as 1871, from very full reports
from Intelligent observers in all parts of
the Union, Mr.. Dodge, the statistician
of the Agricultural Department, COM
piled and tabulated q statement placing
the whole cost of fences in the United
States at no less a sum than ST., 7OO,-
GOO, 600, and the cost of annual repairs
at S19S, 00O,0 600. 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 to the "no
fence" system. Our highways in Con-
necticut ought to be safe, and all ad-
joining fields. There is a good law
against strolling cattle, with or without
keepers; but the people do not look
sharply enough to 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 a village in the suburbs of
Cincinnati with not a fence from border
to 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 to
every field you own; order your home
stead SO that your children will love it
and hate to leave it. With respect t.
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 a of their cost
lifted, learn to trust your neighbor and
live SO that he may trust you.-N Mar
1.pl