The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1880-06-24
SOUTH CAROLINA STOCK LAW

CHESTER, S, c., June 10Th. 1880.
EDIrORs JoURNAL:-I have been requested
by some to give you my views in reference TO
the workings or benefits Of the Fence Law a.
now in fOrce in this county, aud n large part OF
the State This law has now been in force here
about three years, and prior to its adoption was
opposed by a large number of our citlz+ns
more particularly the lsboriis class especially
the cOlOred part. Owing to the scarcity OF TIM
Der it had become inevitably necessary that
law of this kna should be put in operation
here, as it was literally impossible for he far
.mers 10 continue fencing his crops from the
raya.seA of stock. When the election came off
the law was vigorously opposed by the above
classes ard many of them only Consented to
vote for it from the fact that a large number Of
the land owners determined to adopt such law
on their own plantations aud had made up their
minds to employ 10 labOrer that would not con
sent to such AN arrangement Inns law has
been well tried in This county as II was carried
in every district. 1t ~ proved as beneficial as
lis advocates claimed for it If any one who
has not been in our county since its adoption
were to pass through it now and see Its work
ing they would e convinced how benehelal II
is. Instead OF old dilapidatedr aud Insecure
fences all around tue plantation grown up WIN
bushes and brlars, they would now behold corn
aud cotton growing Instead OF pcor bony cat
tie roaming the country over taking about four
or five to give gallon of milk a day, you
would find sleek, fat caiile, giving from two to
four ga ions each of good rich milk Some per
sons thought thGt milk and butter would be
scarce but the contrary has been the case as
these products have increased tentOld IN quan
tity and quality. Where we had 70 pay from
twenty fl " cents to thirty for pale White pui1y
butter before, now We get good GOLDEN butter at
l25 to Is cents. And other cast improvements
OF the various kinds Of stock. The farmer IA
paving more attention to improving his farm
and building co nforabe houses for himself and
laborers and Improving his breeiing OF stock
You will find some as hne horses, cattle ana
hogs in this county as any State III the Union,
all brought about by the fence law. suppose
you would like to know if those who opposed
this law at first are now satisfied with it Why
sir, You could not get single vote in the entire
county 20 ehaDgeaback to the old law. The la
borer is not working hat of the year as before
TO keep his crop from being eaten up, building
and repairing fence on the contrary, he Is I'm
proving his farm by Manning and dltchng,
and after the tolls Of the day, he eau lie down
and take his iepose, feeling that his crop Is Sc,
cure from the proving of some poor etarved
COW. Having held the position OF Chairman OF
the Board Of County Commissioners OF thus
County for the last six years, whose duty It Is
to supervise the public high ways aud bridges,
am therefore acquainted with the working oil
the law in all sections OF the county, and can
assure YOU, that never saw such an improve
meDt in the aspects of the county in such short
lime that the no fence aw has brought about
The improvements are not alone in the stock,
but the lands are in better state OF cultivation
and all classes have more comfortable buildings
for themselves aud stock 1t has been more
advantageous 70 that class that first opposed II
if possible than other, as they have but little
fencing to do, only enough tor pasturage The
plan that our farmers adopt here with their la.
borprs is this, the laborer assists in building and
keeping up the fence for pasture aud he Is per
mitted 10 keep stock in proportion to the SIZE
Of his family in said pasture consequently they
enjoy the same benefits that the planter does.
and you will fud as much good butter sold by
this class OF citizens in proportion nOw as any
other. There is always an undue pre- udice
existing in the minds Of most persons against
any new or untried law, but | venture the as
sertion if your people will adopt such a law
there will not be one found in your entire conn-
" in less than TWO years, who would desire 10
changed, iu fact, they will wonder why they
mad not had such law earlier Such has been
the case in this and all other counties OF the
State that has tried il. Those OF US who I'VE
in Town fell at first that we would be- injured 10y
this law, but believing it would be beneficial to
the farming interest we heartily supported it
But we have found its good effects even to US
find that it does not cost me any more even IN
town. to keep my cattle than before and the
improvement in milk aud butter has been
doubled. Now sirs, if you wish your country
to improve and to see two blades of grass grow
ing where only one grew before, (and your
planters living at peace with each other your
farms brought to a high state Of cultivation,
just adopt this law for i-ncing the stock and
you will certainly find this to be the case in a
very short time Having given you my views
in a rather hasty manner | hope your people
will adopt such law, feeling that they. will be
greatly Leueftied by SO doing, ! will subscribe
myself your well wi-hei
Il. T. ATKINSON.