The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-09

Returns were made from. SAG coun.
ties, nearly all answering every question,
some very fully AS sample of the
most exhaustive, the following, from
Hon. JohncM. Millikin, of Butler coun-
ty, Ohio, is given in full:
l. Our farm fences consist of common worm
rail fence, and (what can hardly be called a
fence( OF Usage orange hedge. There are no
lata oy whlcn 70 determine accurately the pro
portion OF each. My estimate is so per cent
rail fence, 10 per cent board fence, and 5 per
cent hedge fence.
-, z. Our worm rail fence varies in height.
Ihey are from seven to nine rails high, inciud
ing riders Our board fence is usually made Of
10 loot boards, inch thick and inches wide.
fosts feet apart. Black locust posts always
preferred. Red cedar. white cedar, and oak
posts all used, and esteemed for durability, in
the order named. Most people make their
boa fence five boards high, and then cap it.
Recently many ar only using four boards, and
capped with the fifth. 20 ur.TT
3. In 1857 made very careful estimate of
the number OF rods of fence in this county, and
the cost of the same. l also estimated the
annual interest on the same, and the annual ex.
pense of keeping the same in repair These es-
Inmates were made for the purpose of showing
the necessity of having law enacted to pre-,
vent cattle from running at large. presented
my statement to the State Agricultural Conven
ton. and the ultimate result was the passage of
a very valuable law restraining cattle from
running at large. AS yet, it is not generally
entored, but is accomplishing good results. My
data, then used cannot find and must. there
tore, hastily make another estimate So much
preliminary. Our farms, of 100 acres each. will
average from S75 to $50 rods of fence-say fully
900 rods III 1'-roL = 10y
4. We have in this county about 4 600 farms
varying IN size from 80 acres to 400 acres. OF
the latter we have some thirty or forty. Each
farm, on an average will have about eight
helds, and we have. therefore, "of Enclosures or
helds at leasts $4,000 This estimate does not
include numerous small lots which every farmer
has In Immediate connection with the barr-yard.
o. The average price for fencing boards is
about go per thousand
Good oak rails are worth $40 per thousand
Z. Nearly all Enclosures are now provided
with gates. There are scarcely more than one
PAIR bars to fifteen gates. In some neighbor-
moods bars have been entirely superseded by
ga.es yates are usually made with common
ienclng boards, one inch thick and six inches
wide; post by at one end and by at
the other end Braces of boards of like size.
extending from bottom of the larger post to the
top OF the smaller. Cost about $3.
o. New worm fence will cost about 81 rs per
roo" fost and railfence has almost gone out
OF use have seen none made within the last
twenty. years. with the exception of one string.
II would cost per panel of ten feet about 81. so.
Board. fence per rod, good lumber. and locust or
RED cedar post, will cost about So four boards
high, and $2.l5 to 1920 FIVE boards high.
stone walls are not constructed and used as
fences In this country.
8. know of no way of answering this oues-
ton satisfactorily, as the annual repairs viii so
much depend upon the age, material, &C., of the
fence. From the investigations I have made
am satisfied that it will take Is per cent per
annum of the original cost of the fence to paw
interest and keep up repairs.
n. ~; Farmers prefer oak and walnut rails.
The latter would probably cost $12O per thou
sand, and are now used. Where rails are used
now, farmers are willing to make them out of
almost any kind of timber Where board fence
is made, pine boards are preferred Locust and
red cedar posts are preferred, costing about 35
cents each Oak posts are somewhat cheaper
but less durable.
IL. Locust posts are believed not only to be
stronger than cedar, but they hold nails better
and are more durable
Permit me to add further We have in this
county 293,000 acres of land, all inclosed. We
have at least 100000 rods of fencing, some
costing largely more yes, four fold the price at
@ S; 1 nave estimated our fences per rod. But
Tor the purpose of estimating the annual cost of
maintaining our fences, including interest. let
me put the average at 81 per rod 100000
rods OF fences, at So will cost S. 200 600.
Annual cost of maintaining same, Gncluding
INTEREST," at 10 per cent on original cost, $780,
0OO. These figures astounding, and vet l
believe that they are not too high. Material
for rail fences will soon be out of the question.
and lumber of every kind is annually becom-
ing scarcer, and necessarily will increase in
price Is 1t not, therefore, highly important
that laws restraining stock from running at
large should meet with more favor; that fields
should be enlarged that soiling should be more
practiced, and that farmers should thereby be
relieved from the great burden of paying such
immense sums for fencing2"
ITO be Continued)