The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-02-06
The Fence Law Again.
Editor OrangcJurg Democrat:

WatchS last Article on the above
subject calls forth rejoinder, though
l have no disposition TO enter into u
discussion Of any length. If, how
ever, these articles for and against
the fence law, be instrumental in hav.
ing our farmers 10 study and agitate
this question, tie end desired will
have been accomplished. I would
judge from Watcifs extreme opposi-
tion to change in our fence laws,
that he lives in IL locality highly fav-
orcd with plenty Of good rail timber,
and that he writes more from person
al interest than lie does the general
welfare Of the county. If lie will
move into locality where it would
be "dilllcult 10 fence lis fields. | will
venture to say that he would soon be
u new convert TO the cause we are
advocating. 1t is for the interest OF
those Of our people SO circumstanccd,
as well as OF the general good that
would result .tlcrcIrom, that VIC de-
sire this change in our system Of
fencing. The writer is Of The opin-
ion that the fencing on most farms in
our county far exceeds in value The
amount OF stock owned by them.
Wa:ch's estimate of the value OF
fences, based upon the calculation
hat our stock are worth annually for
making manure so per head, Sc per
mead in increase and 81 per head for
milk and butter is simply absurd, and
to borrow an expression of his "thc
most ignorant know BETTER" or if his
thco y is correct we ought by all
means to have law requiring al:
stock to l'e penncd every night.
The plan Of "Gencing in" crops did
very well years ago, when most Of
our people owned slaves TO do their
work, when our country was
sparscly settled and they had large
pine forests from which to draw their
rails; but with advancing years thou
sands Of acres have been brought IN
der cultivation. A great revolution
has swept over our land and we now
in this "rcconstructed" if not adyanc.
ed age, end ourselves confronted by
entirely different circumstances. Eve
ry days work now done, must be done
by yourself or paid for, and it be-
hooves US to make such changes in
our laws, as will best meet under pres
cnt circumstances, the wants OF our
people.
The country is being rapidly set
tied up, large farms are being cut in
TO smaller ones, and with the cXtrav-
agant and reckless cutting Of timber
as now p-acticc1, it will not require
many genera ions TO cut every tree
from which 4 rail could be split.
With these facts tcrorc us, it would
lie wise for us to make such change
in our fencing laws, as may save our
timber, and hereafter prove great
blessing to the generations which will
follow us.
"Watch" says We shouid be com
pellcd 10 have our fences as high as
the law prescribes. This is one law
that lever has and never will be en-
forced. II he will ride over the coun-
try, lie will find the fewcst number Of
fences that would meet the require
nc, Of the law, and not in few
instances is the poor and rotten
fences the cause of much trouble and
litigation umOng neishbOrs. AS Lc
says, "had fences mike bad stock" i"
and lie might have added bad stock
make bad neighbors. HIS idea OF
settling This matter by submitting
it to the voters at large, does not ac-
cord with ours. The landholdcrs
alone should settle the matter, and
de crmine whether they will fence in
their crops or their stock. When our
Legislative Assembly considers this
matter, it would be just and proper
to conlinc The settlement of the qucs-
ton entirely to those who own the
land. With the passage Of this law,
Il new era of prosperity will have
dawncd upon our country.
EDIsTO.
FoHK EDIsTo, Jan. %, 1880.
A lcvcl-headcd correspondent OF
the New York Sun says that "if
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