, 1882-10-13
What Is the Legal Eencel


The Indianapolis Journal has taken
pains to gather information as to the
laws regarding the fencing Of railroads
in sister States. In Massachusetts, the
legal fence is four feet high. A "suffi-
cient barrier" only is demanded, whether
the equivalents be furnished by streams,
bitches, live growths, or constructions
in wood, stone or other material. Yer
mont and Connecticut legal fence is Ave
and half feet high, with provisions es-
sentially as above. In Maine and New
Hampshir the legal fence is four feet
high Rhode Island, stone or wood
fences must be four and half feet high
hedges and bitches are deliberately de-
scribed.
New York-The town meetings pre-
scribe what shall be deemed legal
fence in each town. Assessors and
Commissioners of Highways perform
the duties of fence viewers. -Four and
half feet is the usual height pre-
scribed.
Pennsylvania-Towns and counties se-
cure special legislation for fencing rail-
way lines, and to prevent running Of the
stock at large.
New Jersey-Fences are to be four
feet, two inches high, of wood, brick or
stone, and four and half feet if OF other
materials.
Delaware-Four feet, with ditch
within two feet, is lawful fence. Wood
or stone fence, or hedge, four and half
feet high.
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolins,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas,
Tennessee-Legal fences five feet high.
West Virginia. Illegal fences four and
q half feet high.
South Caroiina--Fences must be six
feet high, OF wood or hedge, or bitches
equivalent as barriers
Missouri-Hedge five feet, fence four
and one-half feet.
Kentucky--"All sound or strong
fences five feet high, so close that stock
cannot creep through" d" is the definition
Of the legal fence.
Ohio-"A fence, Of whatever mate.
rial, constructed in oil respects such as
good husbandmen ought to keep"
Statute OF 1865.
Illinois," Fences four and one-half
feet high, Of whatever material the
fence viewers shall deem sufficient"
Michigan" Fences four and one
half feet high OF rails, timber, boards,
stone, or other things deemed equiva-
lent thereto in tho Judgment OF fence
viewers"
Wisconsin," Fences four and one
half feet high" etc. BY act Of April,
1878, barbed-wirs fence is defined rs II
legal fenoe.
I Minnesota" Fences four and one
half feet high" etc. Barb fence defined
by tho act OF 1877.
Iowa" -Four AMI one-half feet high,
or tifty.four inches" Barhtdwire fence
described as legal fence, 1876.
Texas" Five feet high" Bsrbed
wire defined az legal fence.
Kansas" Worm fences four and one
half feet; turf four feet with bitches;
wire fence, posts twelve feet apart.
Nebraska The legal fence is lie
scribed as "such fence as good hus-
bandmen generally keep"
California-The legal fence is de-
scribed with great particularly. Wire.
post and rail, brush, picket; ditch aud
pole and hedge wire fences, not less than
three separate strands, the first eighteen
inches from the ground, the others two
and one foot apart.
Colorado, Arizona, Montana and Utah
-Four and one-half feet high.
New Mexico, Idaho and Washington
-Four feet high.
In Washington Territory barhed-wite
fence must carry top rail Of wood.
Indiana-Any StructAre IN the nature
Of fence, such as good husbandmen
generally keep.