The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-08-07


Plans.
From the anderson Is c. hdepyencer
We publish by permission tho
following letter from Roy. A. Ran
son, OF North Carolina, formerly of
this county, which gives at length
the benefits derived from tho
change of the fenco system in parts
Of North Carolina. Tho letter is
we'll worth reading, and we hope
the friends and opponents of the
proposed change will give it their
calm and candid perusal:
HuNrERsvlILE, N. c., July 8, 1877.
b. r. Craytom, Esq.,: Dear
'S1r-Your request through my
brother, William Ransom, for nv
"observations and experience in the
matter of fencing up the stock" has
been duly received. Feeling q deep
interest in the welfare of South
Carolina, my native State, hasten
to reply. This is the fifth year that
[ have had the opportunity to OBJ
serve the working of the system.
and the third that I have been ex-
periencing it's benefits. They arc,
L am fully persuaded, as follows:
LIST. 1t saves heavy expense.
"a. 1t brings valuable land into
cultivation.
3D.. It improves land and en-
hances it's commercial value.
4th. 1t is favorable to renters.
9th. 1t enables men to retain
small untimbered farms, and others
TO obtain farms for the first time.
9th. 1t promotes the cultivation
of the grasses.
7th. 1t facilitates the improve
ment of stock.
Now, each of these points I pro
pose to illustrate:
a. My interest in land com
prlses one hundred and fifty acres.
L had thought it q long lane and
short one. While we were canvass
ing for the stock law, I often said
l would rather have it than O pres
ent of five hundred dollars. But
now go up upon that. Were it
possible for no one to be affected
by it but myself, I would not 90
back to the old system for ono
thousand dollars! That will sound
extfayagant to many, no doubt.
But consider this besides my pres
ent pasture lot fencing, two thou
sand panels Of now fence would be
required. But would one thousand
dollars build that and loave sum
whose interest would be sufficient
to keep it in repair from year to
year? reckon not. Then, why
should [ be willing to go back for
the consideration Of one Thousand
dollars? Thus, iii financial point
of view, ] regard the change as be-
ing practically worth to NO and my
children at least soven dollars per
acre on our land.
In few weeks we will have fin,
ished n neat, substantial and conven-
lent barn, forty feot square. Be-
gan it q year ago. Did most of the
work ourselves, and worked at it
only when farm work was not need
ed, or could not be done. Fifty
dollars will cover the whole amount
paid out for hired labor, nails and
saving of plank. But under the
old system we could not have touch~
cd it at all we would have been
kept in continued strain to renew
our fences. And thus, it gives all
farmers q better opportunity to
make improvements--to drain land,
to make compost heaps, and to give
their sons q better education.
(2.) On this point I need only re-
mark that the best land in your
State is under your fcnces. Now,
were they all removed md the ground
they occupy planted in whoat and
corn, would it not bread all the pco.
plo Of your State? All through tho
old fields, too, ore many rich spots
Our people have hunted up all these,
and ore letting tho poorest of the
land they had been cultivating lio
and rest, Besides, it is a nice thing
to be rid of the briars and brush in
fence corners, and to drive out in
tho clean road to t,1rn.