Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-08-02
TFor the Keowcc Courir ]
The Fence Law.
BARToN's FERRY, July 21, 1876.

BARToN's Ferry, July 21, 1876.
DEAR COURIER: I find inserted in your
paper communication from an anonymous
writer on tho very important subject, tho
"stock law" I think that tho time has
como when every man should got from
behind the curtain on this subject, especially
the farmers, who, as class, are deeply in
terested, but who, for want Of skill in writ
ing for the press, lie as still as mice, fearing
to make written exposition of their views
on this or any other subject, thinking that
some big head might laugh at their impro-
pricties. Brother farmers, kick this notion
of and come out; speak your thoughts
through your county paper; remember that
you puy large portion of the taxes and
that you make tho officers of tho country,
and are, in fact, the pillars upon which the
whole government stand. Let US talk about
this thing lttlo aud try to find out some
thing about the workings of this "stock
law" Suppose the law to be in force, what
must be done? A fence will be to build
80 miles long to inolose three sides of Tu.
galoo Township, allowing tho river to fence
one side. Allowing euch panel of fence to
reach feet, it will require 22,628 panels;
allowing ten rails to each panel it will re-
quire 226, $50 rails; these rails ut 81 per
hundred must be provided for. The right
of way to put this big fence must be had,
and 10 one knows how much it will cost.
Some one will be damaged. A committee
Of assessment must decide This matter, which
must b. added to the rail bill. Then comes
the gate and water gap bill with large,
open mouth to swallow its share of taxes
After all this is done, the whole thing is
cx posed to three Of tho most destructive
| elements to timber or fcnces, viz: fire, water
and air. These passabe and probable
incidents must be provided for, by organ
lied companies, either for separate squares
Of fence or by the whole line. This will
require an annual levy of heavy tax. All
of this will bo created by the fence itself,
and paid for by the tax payer.
The whole township will be disorgap;zed.
Those owning small farms and renters,
not one in twenty of whom owns foot of
land that would grow timothy or clover as
high as my ankle without manure, will be
greatly njured In fact, how arc you to
keep your COWS, sheep and few pigs?
Some say broom-sedge will do. How many
of you have this in such abundance as to
keep the necessary plumber of COWS, sheep
and hogs alive? DO tell me, not thoorcti-
calIy, but name some plan that is practical;
for if this law is adopted the whole thing
becomes one of reality. Will the peaoe and
quiet of the country be improved? No!
But instead tho fulfllment Of that prophecy
will be realized, "when fathers aud children
and brothers and sisters shall persccuto each
olhcr," and the magistrates and lawyers will
grow more fat than tho COWS, sheep hogs or
their owners.
have no apologies to make for want of
style, but give my views in a ehort way, in
my own language, and hopo that my brother
farmers will do likewise.
EDMUND HERNDON.
p. S. 1t peoms that the author of nature
has made ample provision for The rctimber-
ing of this State from the sea coast to the
mountains by causing all worn out land to
bear thousands of pines that mako good
material, for fencing and other purposes
Then let us cuytail tho size of our farms, uso
every fair means to mako fertilizers, apply
these properly, and let the poor or worn out
lands grow up 10 pines, encourage their
growth and use tho strictest frugalty in
reference to your forest lands. Il. II.
COMMUNICATED.