The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-16
/ o the Legislature.
From the Recorder.

Your correspondent. &C." disseDts
from that part of DR.. Pritchard's article
on The next Legislature" which res
lateS to the Fence Law and IS quite
sympathetic in his feelings for the
poor widow and her COW.
| hope | may be able to afford him
some relief, for | happen to live in
South Carolina, where the fence
law" has been in force for the past
two years, and where | have had a
good opportunity to watch the practi-
cal effect of the law on my II ar neigh
Dor. The widow and her COW, which
has been giving milk. to sell and to
keep, for more than two years. The
COW wears a long rope attached to her
horns and is carried about by the old
widows grand son and tied at places
where there is the best grazing. The
old COW Is always far, she never lies
out at night and is quite serviceable in
enriching the old widows garden and
the cotton patch. have a cow which
yields me $40 per cent above the cost
of feeding. l do not own an acre of
land in TINS State: but could hardly
have kept a COW without the benefit
of the ''tence law
Your correspondent also labOrs un-
III d lll1SldhG dDoUt Tx oCPi
of droves OF stock On the farms tn O. gh
which they pass. | have frequently
seen droves OF horses me hogs pas sing
through this country. but nave not
heard a word IF complaint.
The ground on which the fences in
this counfry once stood. produces
more than enough % feed all the cat
tie in the country. Negro IS. here,
own cattle, and they are Gontented and
happy under the law.
The ties question in the late election
in MecklenDurg county vas Fence or
No Fence and the No Fence" party
carried the county by an overwhelming
majority. This tact should have great
wejght when we remember that the
vote was cast after the people had
several years to test he practical work
ing OF the law
The STAT of North Carolina has
granted to me. for q consideration. a
certain tract OF land, win its miues.
minerals, houses, tenentnrs, &c, aud
| ask it of the Legislature, NAV ! not
say, demand it, that they protect me
in the possession of that land? 1t is
mine and | wish to use every inch of
it without danger OF being tres, passed
upon.
While am writing, | hope Imay be
allowed to add a few suggestions to the
''neXt Legislature"
1st. Tax every pistol that is carried
IN the pocket away from the premises
Of the person who carries it, at least
$500 The amount of murders COM
mltted IN the country Is alarming.
Much Of it is done with these conve-
nlent little weapons, on the impulse of
the moment. aud might be prevented
by such a AK.
2nd. A law should be passed re-
curing every person travelling on the
public highways, with wagons or car
riages of any kind, and meeting others
SO travelling, to turn to the right
This is a custom in Eas ern \ rh
Carolina. and prevents confu~iol and
dis urbances. In the IN id e anu
Wesfern part Of the State, there is no
system.
3rd. A law requiring all creeks and
small rivers 20 be kept open for the
free passage of water would be highly
beneficial. 1t would prevent over
flows and stagnant water, from which
sickening mIasma arises in the sum-
mer and fall seasons. 1t would a'so
afford passage far fish, aud would aid
the State in its efforts to increase the
quantity of Of this valuable article of
food. 1t would be well enough. also.
to require that all mill dams be opened
one day in each week during the
season. Nothing will be
for the opening the streams
but the removal of the timbers that
may have fallen in them. This may
be lone once a year, either by taxa
ton or by the old road working sys-
tenn.
These suggestions are made after
deliberation and consultation
with many citizens.
B. C.. CONVICTION.