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

From message of Gov. j. Fl. Adams,
to tho Legislature, in 1854, we mako the
following extract, in relation to tho stock
law:
81 recommend an alteration of our en-.
closure laws, as measure demanded by
our interests and necessities rs an agricul..
tural people. When timber was abundant,
and but little of our soil brought into cul.
tivation, these laws may have been proper,
but the total change which has taken piaco
in our condition, brings along with it
necessity for corresponding change of our
policy. The system should now be reversed.
and instead of compelling tho oultyator Of
the soil to fence iu the crop, tho owner
should DO required to opcloso his stock. Til.
laGc 10 our great interest, and should no
longer DO eubjcctcd to tax SO oucrous and
unnecessary. 1t IL vastly cheaper to fcnco
our atock than our crops. Tho time and
timber annually consumed in building and
repairing fences, (Which fairly estimated
"ou,a amount TO an enormous sum- is so
much capital orally sunk, with no return
whatever. The products of the soil will
mature as well without as with fences. and
Tho law should protect them from tho do.
pseoa'ion OF tue stock of tho country. Wo
arc not stock raising people, aud if VIC
were, our present method is the worst pos
s'olo Plan that could be pursued, to accom-.
p'sh the object. a change of our policy
Is dees'rabic, considered simply in reference
70 Us chects upon stock. Their value
would 90 greatly enhanced, for animals, like
human beings, thrive in proportion to tho
care bestowed upon them. I hazard little
ID saying that in five years, under the better
treatment they would receive, tho entire
stock OF the State would bring more money
in market than they would at this moment,
~bl'e IN the meantime their vauo as
means OF enriching our impoverished lands
would 90 increased to Gn extent almost in
conceivable. On the othcr hand, it is
diihcult to estinatc the advantages that
would result from tie proposed change. A
stop would be put to the annual custom of
burning our forests for paeturagc-a prao.-
tice dangerous in itself and injurious both
to soil and timber. liability to accidents
on Oh; railroads would be lcsscncd and
our courts would be rid of tho petty, and,
tear, dcmoralizing litigation growing out of
the killing of stock by these roads. Tho
iand now taken up by these fonces-and it
Is rlch, and embraces thousands of acres
over tie State, would be at once brought
into cultivation. The time now wasted in
the construction and repair of fences would
DC devoted to the improvements of our farms.
The timber that is left in our forests would
become money to our people. Such law
would infringe upon no mans right, nor de-.
prlve him of single privilege to which he is
properly entitled. 1t would impart now
lie to agriculture, give new direction to
Its Efforts, and add largely to the aggregate
wealth Of the State. I know that there arc
portiono of tho State that do not, and pcr.
haps may never feel tho necessity for this
Change of our policy, but is it wise or Just
that tho great permanent interest of the
State should DO sacrificed in nero Difference
to the mistaken and erroneous potions Of
our people on the subject of stock raising
aud its supposed privileges"