The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-12-12
Roads, Bridges and Fencing.
OrangeJu7y Democrat:

troA ASe3 ioAoISio hsiNC uoW ICGulllSu
to- Columbia TO attend to their legisla-
tive duties and it IS the duty of their
constituents, if they wish new enact
mcnts, or changes made in the old,
so suit tie present state OF things,
they should be made known TO their
representation by public meetings or
through the press, and not be fault
finding or censuring them hereafter
for what they were entirely ignorant.
There are two subjects TO which the
writer wonld call their attention du-
ring this session, namely: The Road
Law and the Fence Law. The old
road law was enacted at a time when
the settlers were few, scattered along
the public highways, but now the
country is 30 thickly settled that
farms are from half or less to two
and three miles apart. From one to
the other Of these, as we'll as to mills
and churches, roads have been estab-
lished which are to The travelling pub
lie at the present day, as necessary
to be kept in good repair as what are
styled public roads. The majority Of
our farmers are compelled to travel
from one to ten miles Of these private
roads, already mentioned, before they
reach the worked public road TO their
market town.
My opinion is, that if law were
enacted with the same penalties a.
tached rs the present road law, re-
quiring every land owner to keep in
good repair all roads that pass
through his lands, except those to his
fields, the travelling public would b,
greatly benefited, much Of shc coun-
ty expenses lesscned, great part Of
the annoyance, incident to public
road working, avoided, and tie roads
generally kept in better condition
than at present. Leave to the Coun-
ty Commissioners the erection
and repairing of bridges. At the
dinner table OF cilizen of Orange
burg, this subject WAS introduced and
alllthe gentlemen present were in "a
ror Of such change in our road law,
which-is good indication OF the gen
cral feeling Of the community.
in refer cnce 10 the fence law, the
present one does not meet the wants
of the people, l mean the land own
ers.) Much Of the land is rented to
tenants who care but little about their
condition. Brushing, the gun, pack
OF ours, or tie knife, is their remedy
to keep out jumping cattle. This
is attended to a. night when all
honest citizens are in slumbcr. A
ncighbor OF mine, now dead, once had
fine COW shot, and at the appraisc-
ment of the property, this fine heller
was valued at thirty-Gve dollars on
the day Of sale she brought one and
a half dollars. / had an old COW, q
good mixer, that had her windpipc
cut last summer. ] turned her into
my pasture TO die, but the cash heal
cd. Anatomists know at what organ
they aimed, but failed through igno-
lance. We want n law requiring
farmers TO make their tenants build
higher fences, or one requiring stock
owners to fence their stock, can
not comprehend what reasoning could
have influenced our legislature to
leave this important subject to the
vote of the people--it should be left
to the land owners only TO say what
disposition they should meke OF thier
property, real Or personal. For
city architect, baker, carriage builder,
gunsmith, or harncssmaker to have
say 80 about what disposition farm
er should make of his field or stock is
incomprehensiblp to me. Our farmers
shppld call the attention of their rep
resentatiyes to the matter in
order TO have the defccts in our
road working and fencing system
rcmcdiea during this sessiQn of our
legislature. II our city voters wish
n pasture, let the corporation pur-
chase piece of land bordering upon
the river, tax the citizens to pay for
it, and many mule, could he speak,
would bray his thanks to the wisdom
of such an arrangement. Something
should be done with these fodder
thieving cattle that prey upon our
farmers proycnder.
=; A FARMING TRAVELLER.