Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-11
The Stock Law.

The Stock Law.
The agitation of tho stock law, which has
been going on actively in other parts of the
State for some time, has assumed definite
shape in our county. We mentioned in our
last issue the two plans under consideration,
promising, to follow the subject hereafter.
We have heretofore spoken of this matter as
ono which should not be hastily adopted or
rejected, for whore law is proposed, which
revolutionizes our whole past ideas of an
occupation, the foundation and support Of all
other avocations md even life itself, it is tho
part Of wisdom to hasten slowly. An error
in such u matter would be great drawback
to the country and work almost irreparable
injury.
Much of the clouds and doubts have been
removed from the question by the practical
tost and approval of the law by The people
first of Mecklenbarg County, North Carolina,
md since by the people Of Anderson County,
South Carolina Under this leadership.
Abbcvilc, Chester and other counties have
adopted II similar stock law Will it suit
our people, and if so, what portion Of the
county? Wo find men who favor such law
in every part of the county but in the
the large majority oppose it, and we think
with reasons. In parts of these sections whore
one acre is under cultivation from three to
five hundred Nre in nnti-e forest, and tho topo-
graphy of the country is so broken as to be
nnsnitcd to cultivation. While this is true,
the forest abounds with the richest pasturagc.
lasting until far in the winter. People so
situated would naturally oppose stock law
as the timber is almost incxlaus,iblc and
too remote frcm market to be Of any value.
Besides, thcrs is enough chestnut timber in
these sections to last for centuries, and it il
quick grow tn and not valuable to manu-
facturcrs.
Perhaps different state Of things exists in
the lower parts Of the county. While timber
is sufficiently plentiful to last, for all purposes
of fencing and frewood, for number of
years, still it is becoming sufficiently scarce
to show that in time it will be exhausted
Shall we continue to fence crops and cut down
our timber until we urc compelled to make
virtue of q necessity and then adopt stock
law? 1t will then bo too late to save our
timber and it will require balf century for
old and durable wood to grew again. Timber
to as has appeared in the past of little value
In fact many mon would give away tho tim
Der OH land they desire to clear to get it
taken off. Below Wnlhalla that plan has
ceased, as n rule and timber has begun ,c
assume value. It will constantly increase in
value for years to come, for IL il believed
nearly scvcnty-Gsc per cent. of tho timber
suitable ior manufacturing purposes in the
United States has been destroyed. The day
may como when many of the water powers in
this county will be utilized in turning mas
chlnery for the manufacture Of buckets bag
GIGS, wagons and other wooden articles.
In speaking of tho value oe timber in
Spartanburg County, tho Abbcyille Press cyd
Ban'er pronouncea it worth one thousand
times more than her gold mines, Of which
that county is justly proud, and cxpr esscs
surprise that the people of that county shou.l
not seek the benefits Of the stock law. While
this may be q little exaggerated still the dny
is coming when timber will become nm article
Of real value.
This is mcrcy one view Of the advantages
of stock law. 1t is, however further con.
tended, and VIC think truly, that the sparse
pastnrago in the lower part of the county does
otjustify tho large expenditure required for
fencing crops. The sum is certainly many
fold above tho value Of cur stock and the
annual repairs required perhaps equals our
stock in cost yaiuc.
1t is farther contendcd, ind VIC think truly,
that the stock law would Introduce the plant.
ing of grasses adopted to orr soil and climate
and in the introduction Of an improved breed
Of stock of ull kinds Our present scrub
stock is Of little valuo rs mixers, and vet
require about as much feed as tho best milk
ers. Many Of our best turner's now find it
profitable to oncloso their cattle and hoes,
though permitted by law to turn them at
large.
This is question for tho farming class
solely. We believe stock law would bo
beneficial to that part Of the county below
Walhalla, but still in view of tho magnitude
of the change proposed, We would not petition
the Legislature to pass such law until the
scnse II the lcprlo specially interested had
n"r" n,cc:tainal by II po nar vote. either by
townships or by an agreed upon lino. We
shall further discuss This matter hereafter.