Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-07-17
department.
For the Monitor
BARBED WIRE FENCE.

introduced in this section of the coun-
try, it is well to, consider both the
advantages and disadvantages of its
use. There seems to be only one
disadvantage or objection raised by
those opposed to it, and that is the
liability of stock being injured by
running against it. "Well now,'' it
would be a novelty, and something
which has never yet occurred, for any
new invention brought before the
public to which there was no objec-
ton. There are objections to rail
roads, steamboats, and a thousand
and one inventions which are in gen
eral use, and which we could hardly
do without. People are liable to get
injured or killed by railroads and
steamboats,; but is this single objec-
ton sufficient to overcome the many
advantages and benefits derived from
their use? 1t seems not. And the |
single objection to wire fence will
come under the same rule. The many
advantages derived from it's use east
ly overcome this single objection,
and as the public are generally apt to
recognize a meritorious thing we pre-
dict that wire fence will be generally
used, and will be the fence of the
future. And now let us see what are
some of its advantages +: 1t is the
cheapest fence in the world it is the
easiest and quickest built; it takes
less posts than any other; it is the
most durable-fre will not burn it I'D
nor wind blow it down; stock will
not rub it down; it protects itself
it acts on the defensive; it takes but
little room-you can cultivate close
to it and weeds can be kept out of it
you can draw enough at one load to
fence farm it prevents snow-drifts
in roads and lanes it prevents quar-
rels, hard feelings and lawsuits be-
tween neighbors, for it is sure pre-
ventative of their cattle trespassing
upon each others premises. With
these and all the other advantages
not mentioned, it is bound to be the
farm and railroad fence. The Grand
Trunk Railroad Co. put up over one
hundred tons of it last season, and it
gives perfect satisfaction. All who
have used it are highly pleased with
it. AS there are several kinds in the
market, let consider which IS the best
adapted to our use here in Vermont.
The Iowa Wire Co.'s and Burnell's,
made in Canada, are alike, made in
the same manner and same weight.
and is the kind the most generally
used. 1t consists of two strands of
No. II wire twisted together just
enough to allow for the contraction
and expansion of the metal caused
by cold and heat, and has the four
pointed barb securely locked around
and between the wires so they cannot
slip towards each other, and there
being four points standing at right
angles the wire cannot be approached
in any direction without hitting the
barb. There is Another kind in the
market which consists of a single
wire with thin strip of galvanized
iron wonnd around it, with pointed
sections standing out to form barb.
There are several objections to this
kind. One is that the barb is fiat
like blade and cuts instead of prick
ing; another is that it costs more per
rod on account of its being heavier
than the twisted; another, and the
greatest one, is that if you strain the
wire as tight as it should be for fence,
the cold weather will cause it to
break. Fence cannot be built of a
| single wire that will stand as well as
the twisted. AS | stated in the COM
mencement of this article, there is
but one objection brought by those
opposed to wire fence, and it is so
small, and the instances where stock
have been injured are SO few, that it
can hardly be called an objection.
Barb wire can be used to great adj
vantage in repairing board or rail
fence, by putting one wire over the
top on posts anywhere from 80 to 60
feet apart.
ADVANTAGES OF SMALL FARMS