The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-05-15

Correspondence Of the Democratic Advocate.

wEEsAFcHE, TExAs, May 4th, 1880.
Messrs. Editors aud Readers Of the Ad
u0cats Through the medium Of my quill,
wish 10 step mentally into your presence
again, and, as the case may Be, torture yoJ
with a few items from this part OF the world
and as preliminary remarks are tedious and
uhinteresting, will enter at once upon the
subjects that have in mind to write about,
viz Pastures, fences, public roads, &c
Two years ago, the highest aspirations Of
stockmen in the way Of pastures, was to en-
close with boards few hundred acres of their
own land. They generally selected their land
on some Of the rivers cunning 10 tbs Gulf, OF,
on the bay shore; and by having their lands
bounded by water, and sometimes in horse
shoe shape, the expense of fencing would
be greatly lessened. These men would not
con6ne their stock in their pastures at all
times. They would, in dry seasons, turn them
out on the open range, and In that way have
good grass for their cattle ia winter for as
soon as the Grange" was eat out and the win
ter had fairly set in, they would turn their
stock inside again. Anyone eau see at a
glance the uniairness of this, notwithstanding
the fact that all open land is free pasturage
for the stock of anyone. II was morally
wrong though not criminaly so.
The last pasture built was always somewhat
larger than anybody else's. Pastures ''grew
and multiplied, aud often wonder ii some
of these land and cattle tends each had a
world TO himself IL he wouldn't want enough
outside for cow.pen, | like to have said
potato patch, bat stockmen don't heist none
"Iaters,n il would Spite toe much grass.
The pasture mania grew worse and worse,
until last summer, being dry one, everybody
resolved TO fence against everybody else.
One individual would get permission to run
a fence on the lands OF others, and in that
way get the privilege OF enclosing, in some
instances, many thousand acres, when, at the
same time, the individual might not own but
a few hundred acres Of his pasture. Small
fish living inside, must, of course, go out at
the gates, (which are lew and far between,
and close them again or get fined ten dollars.
The little village OF Weesatche is enclosed
by several pastures combined. To go TO the
county seat, Goliad, we enter pasture by
gate at the start, and after travelling ten
miles, we go through another gate, which puts
us ia the pasture winch actually aud completely
the route over which the L. 5. mail passes
twice daily.
have been informed by good authority,
that there is a county, the name of which |
have forgotten, northwest Of this place, fenced
in by two men, and in places their land does
not exceed quarter Of a mile wide, That
looks rather "too thin, don't i'll However,
gentlemea and ladies', any Fish tale will do
to believe, that is as true as my accounts Of
Texas. Don't think / am lying because !
choose to be 4 little humorous, am in good
humor and hope everybody else is
Pasture fences now, are generally made by
ssttiRg posts about sixty feet apart, and
stretching four or Eve large wires on them
from near the grouRd to about five feet high
This makes a cheap and almost impregnable
feRee.
We have here first, second and third class
roads, and il an individual wanted to cross a
public road with fence, he can generally
succeed in getting the county authorities to
change the grade of road 10 third class,
which admits Of gates, or turn the road en-
tirsly around him, sometimes making the dis.
lance from place to place miles further, to the
great dstrment Of travel. We don't have
many public roads here, neither do we care
much; for this is the way they are kept in
order The county judge appoints an over
seer; the oyerseer summons all the men who
live nearer his road than any other, aud all
must go together on the same days and work
the line OF road, sometnes fifteen miles or
more, and no one gets any pay. Our roads
are bad in places, none Of the creeks being
bridged, and all bridges and ferries on rivers
have heavy toll for crossing them.
With few more Items ! will close, fear.
ing have written too leugthily already.
Early corn is three feet high. Vegetables,
such as IRISH potatoes, beets, lettuce, rad.
dishes, &c, are plentiful.
Sheep shesring is over. The last few days
have been very rainy. The weather this
spring has been unusually cool
| would suggest that our Sykesville friend
"brand his cattle.
With best wishes 10 the 1dcocdte, its edi
tors and readers, | am with many respects
your humble correspondent,
PETER BARSEs.