Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-10

labor, but there ia also large expenditure Of
money. 1t is believed by many thoughtful men,
that large part Of this outlay may be averted A
large part of the farms in this State are divided
and sub-divided by costly fences, and some whose
first cost light are expensive to keep in repair
Many valuable farms may be found in good cor
dition, and on which good stands of buildings,
which are worth little more at the present time
than the fences the same have cost. Were
these useless fences removed where they would
no longer occupy valuable land and be an obstruc.
ton to the economical working of the farm, a
vast saving would be effected. In looking over
the DIVISION fences of our farms man OF taste
and judgment is sincerely puzzled to know what
ideas OF arrangement were entertained by the for
mer proptietors. Field boundaries are crooked
and irregular, apparently for other reason than
to try the skill OF the ploughman in turning crook
ed fences. These are conditions which have been
handed down from generation to generation. We
are more at fault than were those who did the
work for US. 1t is hard for US in any direction to
break away from the old rUs. 1t will be condln-
sively shown in the discussion, that much of
fence is only useless but that it is also seri
Gus burden to Us aside from the cost of repairs.
If we can in any way reduce expenses by ieduc.
ing the amount of unproductive labor on the
farms, we Pr actcally increase the productiveness
OF the farm, and this, too, without any greater
draft upon the fertility Of the soil.'
Mr.. Gilbert was followed by Mr.. Ira L. Getcheil,
who read a paper on the "Statstic- of Fencing in
"Maine has twenty million acres Of land in the
whole, and probably ABOUT sixty thousand farms
of one hundred acres each which law and custom
require to be fenced with a good and substantial
fence. We have about 1860 600 rods of feLce
r, qured t, build our boundary or line fence, aud
taking into consideration the amount of part itlon
OF internal iences IL Is low estimate to saw that
we have the same amount Of Partition fences.
Our roads also require fences, and we cannot set
the amount of road fences at less than 10000
We, have in at
rods of fence, or about l3l 900 miles to which can
he added the amount OF railroad fences, not less
thai 2,0Q0 miles. Admitting that this vast amount
of fence has to be rebuilt every generation and
repaired every year, imposing large annual tax
upon every land owner for labor and material.
Admitting the growing scarcity and increasing
cost OF this material and labor, The question forci
b Y presents itself to us-caDnot portion of these
fences be disposed of There are many other
facts which 90 to show that the time has fully
come when the system of farm fencing, inaugu-
rated by the pioneers, should receive some modih-
cation. We must, of course, have our pasture
aud fenced, and as our cattle require aoout
500, 600 acres Of pasture land, 800 900 rods of
f nee will be required to fence this and for lanes
and farm yards we will allow 4 500, 900 rods. We
shall then have about 20 per cent. Of our present
fences; adding for gardens and orchards 10 per
cert more, we shall have 80 per cent. Of our pres
EFT amount of fencing
After the reading of this paper, q general dis
cussion followed, participated 10 by the following
gentlemen: Boardman of Augusta, WATSON of
East Surry, Allen of Orono, harrington of Orono,
Baily Of Bath, Tenney Of Brunswick, Pref. Car
michael of Bowdoin College, Lucas of ST. Adams,
Gilbert Of East Turner, and Getchell of North
Vassa boso. 1t was moved and ried to adjourn
to O'Clock this afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Board met according to adjournment at
p NJ, and was called to order by President
Shaw, who introduced Prof. stockbridge of Mas
sachusetts A 81 icultural College. "The manage
ment of Pastures" was the subject of Prof. Stock
bridges lecture.
After the paper was read discussion followed,
and the meeting then adjourned to l2 o'clock
this evening.
EVENING SESSION.
At the session this evening Prof NJ. c. Fernad
of the State College, delivered lecture on 1.-THE
Taxation in its re alton to Farming and Farmers,
portion of which is here given:
The custom of taxation was begun as early as
the reign Of Pharoah. In the 9Th year of the
christian a decree went out that all the world
should be taxed. The present system Of taxation
now practced in the United States had its origin in
the old feudal system. The right of Government
to tax cannot be disputed. There has notyet been
just system of taxation, one probably never will
reach perfect equality. llere the writer gives
some very elaborate statistics showing where prop
ertv is not equally taxed Were all the elements
considered, we should contribute to public wealth
and the amount received would be swclled by
hundred millions of dollars. Welcome as are all
honest efforts at retrenchments yet the thoughtful
tax payer would hardly welcome a very large re-
duction Of the aggregate revenue, since he would
see involved in it a sacrifice of interests which the
people of the State could i'll afford The valuations
Of the towns of this State is 60 per cent. for 81
towns, which may be taken a fair average. This
would give tax Of l \ per cent. on the actual
value OF the property of toe State.
The MEETING adjourned to o'clock to- morrow
morning
There was a very large attendance to-day.