The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-06-08
THR PENCE LAW.
AN ACT

To authorize County Commissioners to submit
to the qualified electors of their several Coun
ties proposition to alter the Fence Laws, anG
to provide for effectuating the same.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives of the Slate of South Carolina, now
met and sitting in General Assembly, and by the
authority of the same
SSCTIoN l. That upon the written application
Of IS of the taxpayers of any township in any
County of this State, who may desire to substi-
tute the fencing of stock in lieu of fencing the
crops, it shall be Tie duty of the Commissioners
of said County to order an election in said town
ship between the 10th and 20th of August, or
the 10th aud goth Of December in any year, 30
days notice thereof being given in one more
of the newspapers published in said County,
specifying the time and place or purpose Of such
election, and the form of ballot to be used at
such election and to appoint three managers
of election, who shall, without compensation,
hold and conduct said election, and Immediately
upon the close thereof make return thereof to
the Commissioners Of the County, who shall de-
clare and publish the result of said election in
one or more newspapers published in said
County; and if n majority Of the qualified
electors of said township voting ut said election
shall have voted for the adoption of this Act,
then the same shall be and become of force in
said township, on the first day of January next
succeeding such election, and from and after
that date, all laws now existing in regard to the
erection and maintenance of fences in said town
ship shall be null and void and it shall not be
lawful for the owner or manager of any horse,
mule, ass gennet, swine, sheep, goat or neat cat
tie of any description to permit the said animals,
or any of them, to run at large beyond the limits
of their own lands in said township.
SEC. 2. That upon the written application Of
rs taxpayers in in each township in any County
in the State, it shall be the duty of the Commits
sioners of the County for said County to order an
election to be held in each township in the Coun-
4 tho. la, ~ ll,D,
the regulations of the foregoing Section and if
0bree-fourths the townships in said County
all adopt this Act, then the same shall be of
~k6rce in said County on the first day Of January
next succeeding said election. and all the pro-
visions of this Act, applicable to townships shall
apply to the County but if three -fourths of the
townships shall not adopt the Act, then the
same shall be Of force in the townships in which
the same shall be adopted by majority Of the
votes cast at said election in said township.
SEC. 3. If any animals enumerated in the 1st
!. Section of this Act, shall hereafter be found at
large, or upon lands of any person other than
s<6e owner, in said township, the manager or
owner Of said animals shall be liable for all
damage done by the said animals to the owners
of the crops the lands upon which they tres
pass.
Sec. 4. Whenever any township or County
shall adopt the Act, and it shall become necessa-
ry to protect the lands in said township or
County from the incursion of stock cattle
from any adjoining township or County, the
Commissioners of the County are authorized to
erect fences along such lines of the township or
county rs are exposed to such ncursions, and for
that purpose to enter upon the lands Of any per-
son in said township, and to erect such fences
thereon, without being guilty of any trespass
whatever. And the said Commissioners shall
have power and authority to construct fences
across any public or private road {: Provided,
That proper gates are established on such pub
l,.,D ln Il -oln
tax upon the property of said township to defray
the expenses Of erecting and maintaining said
fences, said tax to be collected at the time
and in the same manner as other State and COun-
ty taxes arc levied and collected. And the
County Commissioners are authorized and en-
powered to make such arrangements with the
owners of property contiguous to and on either
side of the township or County lines as may ac-
complish the 1ject of protecting the County or
township from the incursion of cattle stock.
SEc. 5. The laws now of force in regard to
the erection and msantenance of fences shall ap-
ply to any fence erected in pursuance Of the
foregoing Section and all persons disturbing or
injuring said fences shall be punishable rs pro-
vided in said laws and all cattle breaking said
fences shall be dealt with provided in said
laws.
SEC. 6. 1t shall be the duty of any person or
persons driving stock such as cattle, horses, |
mules, sheep, or hogs, through the public roads |
of any County, to so herd and drive the same
that they shall not be allowed to enter upon or |
work injury to the lands crops of the citizens
of said County.
Sec. 7. 1t shall be the duty of each and every
employer in any County or township which shall 4
adopt the provisions of this Act to furnish each |
and every employee hired by him with pasturage
for many head of stock owned by such en-
ployee, as agreed upon ; Provided the employee
help to make the pasture.
SEC g. This law does not apply to the Coun-
ties of Horny, Colleton. Beaufort, Charleston,
Williamsburg and Georgetown.