Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-12-27
protection for Farmers.


time set tor advertising the same Is so
short that it expires before farmer
can ascertain whether it is really an
ostray or not. Often he supposes that
they belong TO 8 neighbor some distance
off and intends to notify that Deighbor
that the estray il in his possession. but
before he has sn oppostunity to do so,
the time for advertising expires, and
when he does notify him, he finds to
his dir appointment that it does not be
long to him. He Is then in a dilemma
and caunot proceed in legal manner,
and for not doing 80 he makes himself
liable for any loss that may occur. The
psrsou to W HON the estray belongs can
demand his property without giving
recompense to the farmer who, possibly
ont of the generosity of his nature, kept
them until the rightful owner could be
found. We know an instance Of a far
mer who kept several estrays few days
over tho time for advertising under the |
impression that they belonged to a |
neighbor, but when he came to investi- |
gate the matter, he found that they |
did not belong to that neighbOr ard he
could not find out who they did belong |
TO. Being helfers they became little
expensive as the severity Of winter
came on, and he came into the city to
see what TO do about it. He found that
the time for advertising them had gone
BY and he could not then 60 about End
ing the owner in q legal manner. de
concluded to turn them out and let
them seek either their owner or fresh
pastures. In doing this he was again
running risk, tor if the heifera were
never found, or were killed by rail
road train, it was question whether
he woLld not be liable for their loss to
the owner for not proceeding in legal
manner in five days time to find an
owner. Happily for our farmer friend,
q notice of the estrays in the RKPUHLI-
CAN, struck TIE rightful owner add he
was relieved of the responsibility, which
was becoming little burdensOme. The
matter of compensation, however, Ii
left altogether with the person to whom
she estrays belorg. TIE farmer could
Uiaim nothing for his trouble, because
he had not advertised, and the owne:
If he saw proper esd not compensate
him, also because he did not advertise
Another objections be phase OF the law
In its present shape, Is, that the carry
ing out of the strict letter Of the law il
80 expensive, that the price Of the ea
tray is more than eat up il COSTS, which
makes it d dear animal to the farm er
even after having proceeded in a lega
manner. Several timer farmers haze
had difficulty with estrays, the law IL
regard to them being SO intricate thai
they could not understand 1t, and i
they did understand i. the expense in
volved was rather discourAging fea
ture.
Another evil of which farmers very
justly complain, is the increase OF
chicken thieves. Scarcely can far
mer raise a few choice puIlets, aud Of
ten not 20 choice, but they are subject
to being purloinei in the dead hour Of
night by thievet, who, al aggravated
manner, carry off the chickens, leaving
nothing behind to remind them, but the
heads OF his iavOrite pu lets. Scarcely
a farmer has not suffered more or le4s
from these midnight mauraders. The
punishment for chicken theft is AZ So
we're az for any other Kind Of theft, and
IT. u difficult to see l:OW more can 1t
d9ry than has been already done tC
&5pssLend and punish this species Of
thj3 gery. Mucn chicken lL.evlug could
be- prevented by providing secure hou.
seB for rO0sts. In most instances where
IhlChtub nave DtCu oNy4tbI lIC lOD' Y
were expUsed, aud il II house, til,
doors were uubOj!ed ami Unlocked
This is careloasnts5 on the farmer
part L. COS . bus .lttIa 10 have seaur'
poultry houses and uoors tuat con b.
securely locked.
Both the rstray question and the chick
Gu thief que-tion should torrn topics to
interesting dirCu~siOn and luycsDlsa
tion by the Farmers Protective As9o
citation, which meets III this city o.
Saturday, January 9Th. This meeting
should BE- largely attended, as deter
mined autioI taken by farmers wOul
result in modifying the laws in relatio
to tstrays and in tbs protection Ut thei
poultry, if in no other way, by the cor
struCtion Of improved poultry houses