The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-03
GENERAL PRESS REVIEW,

barbed wire monopoly, tAkestho poslllOn tha'
barbed wire fence Is An absolute necessity.
We do not believe that. The country did very
well without II before II was made, before the
idea, which was stolen, was put into definite
shape, and we do no, consider it a necessity
now. 1t is a convenient fence, 1t is true, but
most cruel one, and we doubt II in cattle
grazing districts is use ought to DO permit
ted at ALL IL wo were legislator No should
most assuredy urge the passage OF law pro-
hlbiting its use Ia the cow counties oil inc
state. Tho Iowa farmers are fighting the
patent on the ground that tho idea
was in common use before lhe
barbed wire wac patented, and TINS Is lho
truth. The man who got tho patent Tor The
barbed wire was passing along road one
dsy and he saw stretched along the top oil
farmers fence small rope with sh'rpened
malta driven through it every few feet the
purpose being to keep out some fence broak-
jns cattle in the neighborhood. Ii waa.an in-
SEPARATION to him and he AT once figured out
tho barbed wire for fencing and patented II.
B,inC patented it Is ofcoursc monopoly, for
all patents are, aud the company owning it
Is coming milions in the way Of oxtortion -
indeed robbing the people by its excessive
charges for tho material. Tho Republican
sayf:
The fight which the Iowa farmers are ma
king against tho barbed wiro monopoly is
NOT limited in it's interests and its effects TO
that state. Every state in the west is con-
oernod in It. aud every farmer in the west
has cause for wishing that the monopoly
may DO beaten. Experience proves that barb
cd wire is tho host material for farm ienc'
ing that can be had, partly because OF It's
lasting qualities when galvanized, partly bo-
cause of its effectiveness in turning stock,
and partly because 1t Is exempt from the
danger of fires which destroy wooden fences.
The material is coming into general use in
the western states and is most highly estoems
cd in the prairie regions where timber is
scarce and cattle grazing the lending
Interest. But barbed wire Is a patented
device and the monopoly that con-
trolls it exscts a heavy royalty upon every
pound OF il used. It's tho old sewing ma
chine pa,en, over again in another form; the
invention is 40 effective rs to have become
indispensable to farmers; but the grssping
owners, gauglng their prices, not by cost oil
il, but by tho needs OF consumors, wiring from
western farmers the last fraction OF cent
per pound they can force them tot pay The
Iowa farmers are endesVoring to overthrow
the patent by showing that the principle of
the invention WAS used before the invention
was patented and 1t may be that they will
succeed In tho end but tho monopoly Is
wealthy and powerful; II uses tho largest
Gums Of money which II EFFORTS from the
farmers in the prosecutions against thea;
and il will continue this M long rs it can
maintain its footing In the courts. Theprce
charged the Iowa farmers for tho wire is ten
cents \ pound, when II is stated that II con be
made and sold AT a profit Of seven and threoS
fourth cents a pound. Tho difference be'
tween the two prices amounts to forty-1ve
dollars on every ton Of wire used--which is
regarded as II heavy and unnecessary tax on
tbs farmer. Tho amount Of wire needed III |
the state 10 tho next ton years IS estimated
at 100 900 tons q year and tho difference OF
two and ono-fOurth cents pound calculated
on this will amount to 5000 OOO-which is
the extra toll single state must pay for tho
privilege OF using fencing material that has
become Indispensable. The Iowa State
Farmers Protective association is the agency
through which tho farmers Of that state are
making the battle sgainsl the monopoly
and every west IN farmer'a earnest wishes
will be on It's side.
The Now York Evoniny Will gives an iu~
teres!ing account OF colony tho Duke Of
Sutherland il about to establish in this
country. aud makes soma reference to
Rugby, an English colony established in
Tonnessoo,b by Mr.. Hughes, member of paylis
mon. and author Of como popular and intor-
esiing literary works This puts US to think
log, and tho moro wo think tho more We are
opposed to those colonization FchGmes--we
mean of the nature Of tho Tennessee Rugby
and of the Duke Of Suthorlnnds coutom~
plated colony. Oars is republican form OF
government and every man isa sovereign
equal under tho law to tho highes! dignitary
in all tho land No man holds
office save by tho vote and tho
will of tho people, and these facts being
con,iiNr,i We deem it y menace To cur t,oo
Institutions, 70 our form OF government, for
colonies of Eiglisi or colonies from any
European country whore monarchy Is the
iorm of government, in our midst, to roiain
thoir moBarchia ideas and 10 disseminate
them. We don't care how many Eoglish.
men or lrishmon or Germns or Fronchmcn
or Italians or people Of any nationality
saving and excepting tho "hoa,hcn Cbinoe'
always come TO this couotry, but wo want
them to como and scatter ont among our
people 30 that they can learn what our ins,i.
tutions are and assimilalo themselves with
u.s. and no. go together In COLONIES
70 retain their old notions, and
never to DO absorbed into tho
body polite OF this country.
We are opposed 10 these colonization
schemes and We no, only think that public
opinion should prescribe them, but tina,
they ought to DO prohibited by law. The
Mail says:
"Ragby's fsiluro--it II bo a failure.-will
not proven, schemes to establish other Eng
lish cololits 10 the United States. Several
fuch colonies arc already In nourishing
condition. the one at Lemsrs, Iowa, having
sce,ially attracted the attention o, tho
Duke of Sutherland during his rccant visit