The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-31
For the DiSpatch.l
Fence law i'm Hanover.

Our representative in the Leg islature
(AIr. White) "tacked" an amendment to
the Princess Anne fence bill, submitting the
reDcal OF the fence law to the voters OF
Beayerdam, Henry, and Ashland districts,
in the county Of Hanover; and that, too,
without any notice $50 far as [ know to
those of his constituents who were opposed
to this agitation. 1t was known during the
canvass that Dir. White was opposed to the
game laws, fence laws, &C., but no issue
was made on these questions. He has not
consulted the wishes or interest Of major
ity of his constituents by this bill. For
nearly or quite ten years the non-enclosing
law has prevailed in Hanover, and large
area has accommodated itself to its provi-
sions, and it would intlict heavy damage
upon the farming interest to have the old
fence law reGnacted, and would consign
much land now cultivated to bushes and
brers, and make it fit only for the abode Of
foxes.
l have seen with much interest the recent
attempt to reduce the expenses OF the coun-
tv, but this Is a question in comparison with
which the county levy sinks into insiSniti-
canoe.
Hanover is DO miles long by II wide, hence
it would take "strong fence" OF 11S miles
fence to the mile, rails to the panel, $50
nosts, 100 pounds fence-nails, and cost Of
putting up, and you have bill OF S125 per
mile. Multiply this by us and the amount
is S14,750, rs the cost OF an outside fence.
While no definite calculation can be made Of
the amount of cross-fencing needed, it would
be safe to multiply this sum by 10, and you
have S147,5 for fencing. This is rather
under than over the sum. Hanover has
about 1000 cattle, 5000 sheep, and 5000
hogs. Value the cattle at S12 per head,
sheep 81, and hogs So, aggregating 100000
(some OF this stock is owned by persons liv-
ing in towns and villages, and you have an
outlay Of $147, 800 to allow stock worth
$4,000 to range on the commons"
Suppose we estimate the rotting and de-
struction OF these fences at twenty per
cent. per annum, and you have an outlay OF
500, 500, besides the first cost to allow $780,
900 worth Of stock to Craze on the COM
mons. Can any pursuit stand this tax?
and will not the amount OF money neces-
sary to enclose farm for twenty years (un-
der the old fence law be sufficient to abb
sorb all the profits aud buy said farm? This
annual decay OF $3.50, with the interest
on S147, 800, is to allow lot OF miserable,
half-staryea, improbable stock to Craze the
commons, while all the better and more
profitable stock is kept at home. Lands
turned out on account OF their comparative
poverty, covered with hen-nest grass at
first and in a few years with pine bushes
and briers, constitute the commons OF East
ern Virginia; and this is the pasturage for
which the farmers are to be taxed In Han
over the sum Of S147,500. Has any land
owner the right to vote this tax upon his
brother landowner? Has any iuhabitant
OF town or village who chooses to keep q
cow ora pig the right to turn his stock
upon the farmers, and thus supplement- his
own wants from his neighhor's means r
Why not get his fuel and lumber from un-
enclosed lands as well as the grass for his