The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-01
Fence Pic Mic.

Fence Pic Mic.
Last Friday, in company with the bach
elor editor of the Medium, we attended
the ferce pic mic, at McAdam's Springs,
near Due West.
W. L. MILLER, ESQ,
acted "a chairman, and at twelve o'clock
IN a few appropriate remarks announced
.he object of the meeting to be the discus
sion of the new fence law, and adverted
in a very pleasing manner to the many
pleasant associations connected with this
delightfully."- shaded grove and its never
falling fountain Of sparkling water. Just
one year ago to day the first political
meeting in this vicinity was held here.
That memorable campaign had brought
us such magnificent victories as had Sc
cured to us political freedom from Radi-
cal dominion and spoliatiOn. Resting
upon our laurels we are here to-day to
discuss o question affecting our material
prosperity as an agricultural people. he
might even 20 farther II say it affects
the material prosperity OF every branch
ofdomestic industry, as the farms were
the fountain head of all our wealth.
PRoF. WILLIAM HOOD,
one of Abbeville's honored Representa-
tives in the State Legislature, was then
introduced, and all were eager to hear his
first utterances, as it was not at that time
understood whether he favored the law
or not. Mr.. Hood is a good speaker,
and always goes for the bottom facts and
never fails to produce an array ofconvinc-
ing arguments, to strengthen any posi-
ton he may take. He spoke somewhat
as follows:
He was as willing to express his views
upon matters affecting u material pros
pe-i.y as he had been to express his polit-
zeal convictions in the recent exciting
canpaign-a canvas which was fraught
with SO many important results to us as a
State and as a people. Now that Hamp-
ton had safely guided the ship of State
into a haven of rest and security, il was
time to turn our attention to recuperating
our broken fortunes, and to relieve the
farmer of every obstacle in the way of his
prosperity. He was glad to see the peo-
pie taking an interest in this question, as
is now an admitted fact that a change in
our fence law is necessary, and at present
il is only a question of time, as to when it
shall take place. We are told in
foreseeth the evil" Shall we be
less wise and await the inevitable
until our forests are felled, or shall
we act with greater wisdom and avoid
the ..evil which shall befall US in
the latter days. If we fail to save the
remnant of our forests for other and
more imperative demands than fence
building.
The manufactures of the present day
are an immense drain uponour finesttini-
bers. and if we are not cautious in hus-
banding our almost exhausted
this branch of industry in a few years
will be crippled and the price of all
II agricultural implements greatly en-
BANGED. Already the demand for wal
nut, poplar and chestnut for the manu-
facture Of furniture is in excess of the
supply. The demand for hickory in the
Manufacture Of handles can scarcely be
supplied, while the oak and pine timber
for the erection Of houses, in some Sec
ions o. the State are almost an unknown
commodity. except az it is shipped down
our rivers TO the cities, where it is sawed
and planned and sent perhaps for hun
dceds of miles by rail to these destitute
localities.
Our carriage, buggy and wagon mate
rails comet to US from beyond tho .Allegha-
ny Mountains, while many Of the rail-
roads find il difficult to buy timber fitted
even for crossties. The waste and de-
struction Of timber to build fences cannot
always go on. If we have not the wis
dom to make a virtue Of necessity, we
will find a pcint at no distant day be-
x.o.I ,,lsot> .,o ontnnf m MT no than
take tiule by the forelock and save that
which is more valuable than the golden
sands Of California or the hidden treas
ures Of the mountains Of Nevada.
Our county has a glorious outlook for
her future prosperity. We have the
most Salubrious climate in the world,
while our soil is susceptible Of produc-
ing the most varied and profitable crops
in America. We car work every day in
the year, while our Northern brethren
are, during the winter months, lock-
ed in ice and snow. These advan-
tages added to a good and economi-
cal government will bring immigrants,
and our own population will increase I'M
til w shall prosper rs the green bay tree.
With such prospects before us, with the
certain demand by an increased popula-
ton in the future for all kinds Of timber
for useful purposes, is it less than crimi-
nal to wantonly destroy a single monarch
of the forest, to make q hideous-looking
zig zig fence?
Mr.. Hood then went into an elaborate
argument to show that the rain fall was
very materially affected and the regulari-
ty Of our seasons ruined by the destruc-
ton Of the timber, and read various ex-
tracts from scientific gentlemen on this
subject, among others from Maj. Wood
wards address which we published a few
weeks ngo, and which we know all the
readers of the Press and Banner have
carefully read and laid away for future
reference.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hoods re-
marks which were most attentively lis
tened to by all present, the chairman
next introduced
REV. T. y. YOUNG
who, the chairman said, was distinguished
alike for his high literary attainments as
well as for his sagacity and wisdom to
give direction to the proper conduct of
the practical duties of every day life.
lie was sure the speaker would instruct
and entertain his hearers. Mr.. Young
spoke somewhat as follows:
The poor and the rich are alike inter-
es!ed in the prosperity of the country.
One classs is necessarily dependent upon
the other. The poor man is as much
affected by the destruction Of the forest
and the erection of fences as the rich
man. The common field hand most
generally did the work and bore the heat
and burthcn of the day without much, if
any, remuneration. The farmer generally
managed to get his colored laborers to do
this hardest Of all work for the very least
compensation. II to fence tho stock took
fewer rails than to fence the crop it was
lust so much saved in timber and labor.
The poor man need not have fears as to
pasturayc for his cattle. 1t would he to
the interest of the landowner to furnish
fenced pastures as they now furnish
fenced fields for cultivation. The wealth
of the country consists in capital and
labor. Eacl, is equally dependent upon