Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-12-23
Tho Stock Law.

HOUSE, the renee TO begin at point on kcowee
River, opposite tho fence in Pickcns. thence to
the General Muster Ground and thence to Jar.
rats Bridge, tho law to 60 into effect on and
after March 1s,, 1880. This information fell
upon many of our readers like clap Of thun.
der from clear sky, aud tho statement that tho
bill had received the unanimous support Of the
members from Oconco created equal surprise.
We do not say this because wo think the law
unwise or calculated to cripple the farming
interests Of tho county. On tho contrary, we
have, as on individual property owner, been in
favor Of stock law, both rs n matter Of right
and as, in our opinion, q matter of economy in
farming. We believe in an cconomie point Of
view the cost of fencing, even in q great por-
tion Of this county, moro than coun!crbalances
the benefit to our limited stock in tho way of
woods pasturagc. We believe further that as n
matter Of strict right no one but The tenants of
landowner have tho right TO pasture his land
enclosed or uncncosed, unless By his consent
express or implied. The decision published
last week from Talbot county, Maryland, so
holds, and while land owners may turn out
their stock, still they arc held liable il they
suffer them TO pass the line of their land.
1t is probably truo that custom and long ac-
quiesccnco in suffering stock to run at large,
taken in connection with our statutes, prcscrih-
ing what shall be a lawful fence to authorize the
seizure Of stock, have, in this State, reversed
these natural rights and given to all men right
of pasturagc unlimited.
Under this view the question Of fencing stocl;
depends upon whether such Il law will promote
The highest interests Of aericuituvc in it.,
broadcst scnsc and provo an advantage in an
economioiroint Of view. Tho solution Of this
question rests upon the condition Of each sec
tlon, in point of population, in the relative area
OF tlmbercd and cultivated lands aud in tho most
legitimate and profitable pursuit Of the popula-
ton, whether stock raising OF farming proper,
Wo arc of opinion, under the circumstances
existing in the lower portion Of our county, that
fencing stock will add to the value OF lands,
improve our farming interests and enhance The
general prosperity. Consider the large cost OF
fencing to tho farmer annually and the great
waste of valuable timber il entails and comnarc
tho loss with the small value Of our soc,; ana
the little benefit it derives from woods pas;uracc
and rejecting mind must conclude the oxpensc
of fencing greatly exceeds its profit to stock
Wo believe further that while many of our
citizens in the proposed enclosure are now bill.
terly opposed TO socli law, that in few years
.hey WIZ DO Piease" win IL ana could not BIZ
'""'o'u ~ ie'"'il 20 t"c present system. In
s''"' 'e"Soio '"es' "'e mere op'hions, h"l to
s'i'0 e"'eht 'hey "ro supported oy observation
"s "e'' Us inc experience OF others. We think
the law, wherever adopted, has given sa;is:ac-
ton and that oil opposition has gradually dis
appeared In Pickcns there was bitter ornosi- |
tion TO the law and this is disapNcarnr We
''ao occasion iast year 10 sell some land in that
y "H" .'c P"'.'''ss'S s''o 'h'y H0"'d ho'
W wy wv w '"' s'ooN ia" we
W '.' '"o s'''c s'"'e u .h'hgs mere, ouE
.""'' i'se :" '''".' o''''t grace OF sock m
l'.'"' o"t ''''s improve" IN Va'hc ny ma
n".'ns' '"e i"oor no" eApehde" III icncii.:
-, "s u''o.'" W i'f''''@'"s' "fa''i'hs' &C., and
."' p'o""o''""S u our county largely increased.
'e' " '"J"ri"s 'ho poor man II viii benefit
n'''' ehap'lhg MN 10 buy thirty acres OF land,
o''"' AZ" p"' ;" o"'"S".''" al nut enough tor
~ "eeP notse' co" and few
'"' p'o'''''t' NO" INC "ooa i"nd
o' A'".'ns pu' p's's 'h"s' DC oouosc or more Of
NV '"'''' i"o'e"s'hg 'aNes without
f'' ~ ."' '""''' 40 NC S'"'ca 'h'sc arc
'"0io op'''ons' 'el''eo' IS Fue, IN some
'ouh''es' anu 'Nely 70 oc fcrhcu here.
nc are not s"rpr'sed' then, at the passage
u 'he 'a"' because We oelieYc 1t disastrous to
our farming Interests but VIC arc surprised At
ana regret its passage b. the rrescn; LcSisa.
lure IN view OF the general understanding of
Wv p'op.o ""''"s '"e n's' c"thpaisn' that the
e ~, " "'oo, W. 4"es''oh "h'cA concerned
~ 'e '''.'S'S' p''ohec" 10 ne peo-
p1 r.. a"u y wv peop'o s"on'o properly be de-
In Nc