The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1880-06-03
PENcpLAw IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

u.ive Committee Of Chester, s. c.,
in reply to letter from Dir. Asa
Darby of this county:
CHESTER, s. G., May "a, 1880.
Mr.. ASA DARBY-Dear Sir: 10
reply to your request made on the
9th inst, as regards the law regu
lating the fencing of stock and the
cultivating of lands ad libitum, |
will attempt to give you the advan-
tsges as far as | can. At the outset
can say that those who most OPP
posed the change, are now earnest
advocates and fully satisfied Of its ad-
vantages. 1t is nothing else but law
based upon reason and common
sense, for any man willing to do to
others, as he would have others do
to him, could not for moment claim
the right of forcing his neighbor to
fence his entire domain, to keep
others from using it for the benefit
| of a stock range. You have just as
much right to claim the use of any
thing else of your neighbOr when not
actually il service.
White and colOred are all perfect~
" satisfied we have less trouble
than ever before; it has increased
tho value of both land and stock,
and the latter have been generally
improved and more attention given
them. The people are taking a
deep interest in the breeding of all
kinds of stock, some are importing
cows that cost 1925, the finest ever
introduced into the State. Those
who opposed the change were most
" persons who owned no lands and
claim that the poor people would have
no place for their stock. The over
sight of that idea was, they had no
place before, except as others owns
ing lands gave permission to turn
upon their lands, and in order to
force them to ask such leave, had to
fence their lands up; do $50 worth
Of fencing TO keep out some one
else's COW worth So And now the
poor people, white and colored, all
have stock and better stock than be-
fore the change. Landlord and la
borers have understandings about
the regulating of their stock, and
but little trouble ensue. Lsborers
have less winter work to perform,
and more time to manuring and im>
proving their farms.
Some of the town people opposed
the measure because they imagined
it would increase the price of milk
and butter, and they as consumers
would be the sufferers. But heard
merchant in town who opposed it,
say that it was all right, and milk
and butter was cheaper than he ever
knew it in our town before.
cannot say what the law is in
your State, but in this State, land it
was plan adopted to some extent)
if your neighbours stock got upon
your land, he could get them away
without trespassing and therefore
become liable to Indictment, and be-
fore the law Twas changed, turned
out good portion of my place and
when freedman's cow came upon
my lands and injured my crop, |
resorted to the double barrel shot
gun, denied the charges and de-
manded the proof, and if the owner
came on my lands to see after them,
gave them to understand they were
tresspassing, and liable to criminal
action, | had but little difficulty in
carrying out my purpose, sowed
wheat and oats outside and managed
to preserve them. Now we can SOW
every corner that before Was 10
broom-sedge. The small grain crop
is much larger than before, and is
helping very much to redeem our
State. Considerable attention is
given to the grasses improved i'm
plements is superceding the old time
honored ones, and the old ship of
State is gliding smoothly along upon
the sea of prosperity.
Our people are going into manu-
featuring, three companies have
been chartered in this county, stock
subscribed, and companies organic
ed, and within twelve months to
come the busy hum of the spindle
will be heard in our land. Old Ches-
ter is keeping abreast of the times,
have become a Railroad centre, and
grown almost to be city, and is one
of the leading cotton markets of the
State. The foregoing fails to set
forth the advantages of our new law,
but my time is so occupied that |
will not attempt to go into the mer>
its. A. w.
SAyEn nv Hrs WATru "A simon