The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-22
THE FENCE LAW.

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law, or more properly the "stock law" by
which the stock is to be fenced instead of
the crops. The matteris discussed at Grange
meetings, and there is general disposition
to make one more effort to secure this law
for Anderson County. Many of the farmers
who had been waiting for the passage of
such law, evidently allowed their fencing
to become dilapidated in the last few years,
and recently have been obliged to undergo
great expense to repair fences, in order to
make crop this year. They have had an
opportunity Of judging as to the cost of
fencing, and are doubtless more than ever
convinced that it is an e1orbitant tax upon
their resources. Others who were opposed
to the application of such a law to Anderson
County have become convinced that the
best interests of the farmers generally de-
mand that such a great outlay for fencing
every year ought to be stopped. and that it
is far cheaper and more satisfactory to fence
the stock. We have no doubt that ma
jority almost equal to Hampton's majority
last fall could be secured for '.stock law"
in this County. Our attention has beeA di-
rected to this subject at the present time by
ths-perusal of letter from Mecklenburg
Cou.ity, N. c., wherea stock law has been
in operation for several years. Ir. Robert
Stevenson wrote letter some time ago TO
Rev. J. c. Chalmers, who is well known to
many Of our citizens, asking forinformation
in regard to the practical effect of the law in
North Carolina, and the following answer
was received by him.. It will be remem-
bered that the law originally applied to one
township, and it will be seen that its practi-
cal benefits are to be extended to the entire
county:
CHARLOTTE, N. c., March 5th, 1877.
Dear Sir: Mr.. Chalmers having been
away from home for few days, and being
considerably worried, requested me to reply
for him to your letter, which was received
last Saturday.
Twill preface my reply by stating that the
benefits aocruing from the "stock law" are
so many and so great that it is very hard to
state all.
1. From the scarcity of rail timber, Mr. G..
thinks that It has added at least one hun
dred per cent. to the former value of our
lands.
2. That the farms can be cultivated with
fewer hands and thus at less cost. for
during the winter months, instead Of fenc-
ing as formerly, we can be preparing our
land for planting.
8. That vegetation, which was before
kept eaten down by cattle running at large,
is now permitted to decompose on the land,
thus enriching 1t every year.
4. That the expense per capita to keep up
the neighborhood, district OF county fences,
is not near so great as to keep up plantation
fences, and the laws being stringent we are
not bothered as before with mischievous
stock.
s. That farmers generally reduce the num-
Der of their stock, and hence have better
quality. OF course, we have to provide
food for them, but being confined in pas
lures they run less, and takes less to feed
them, SO we consider the expense no greater.
We are never bothered hunting strayed cat
tie or hogs, which you know is very com-
mon under the old system.
The above are only few Of the benefits
arising from the system, but we think
enough TO convince any unprejudiced mind
that it is by far preferable to the old plan.
Had we ten acres of forest land to one in
cultivation, we would be unwilling to re-
turn to the old system. In fact. don't
think there is one who has tried the new,
would be willing under any circumstances to
return to the old plan. The system is rap.