Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-20
FEMcE-PosTs.

III seems certain that steel or iron
barbed wire will in the future super-
sede boards for making farm fences.
Ihe objections TO it are few, and arc
gradually diminishing as animals be-
come accustomed TO it. The advan.
tages of it are many. IL is cheap, easy
10 transport, durable, and convenient
TO put in position. Prairie fires do
not burn il, and violent winds do moi
blow IL down. A fence made of il
does not harbor vermin, or provide a
place for nursery of weeds and
bushes. II does not occupy the space
of Virginia rail fence or stone wall
IL does not trespass on the ground, or
inJure growing crops, like the roots OF
hedge plants. Ii is easily removed, il
II is no longer wanted in the place
where it was first erected. Barbed
wire has obviously come TO STAY. |,
is likely that it will be improved and
cheapened, but il is not likely that il
viii go out of use. There is now an
excellent opportunity for inventive
talent to find substitute for the or.
binary material for farm fence-posts
Cedar is fast becoming scarce and high
The largest trees are used in the man.
ufacture of cooperage and for various
fancy articles. The tallest trees are
employed for telegraph poles. A vast
number of cedar blocks are now used
Tor paving streets. Numerous large
cedar forests have been DESTROYED BY
lire during the past few years. There
are few or no cedar trees within easy
reach of the territories that are now
being settled up. Chestnut, which fur
nishes the best substitute for cedar,
does not grow to any considerable ex-
tent in the west. Some varieties OF
oak that grow in the west make very
good posts, but most Of them do not
The southern pitch-pine and cypress
make good posts, and it appears
strange that they are not more gcner-
ally used fer that purpose.
Much has been written during the
past few years on the advantage of
employing living trees for supporting
boards or wire employed for fencing.
The appearance of farm is greatly
improved by having it surrounded by
stately trees. If these trees could be
used for the purpose OF supporting
fence wire, they would be both useful
and ornamental. Great trouble, how
ever, has been found in attaching wire
TO them. As the trunks expand they
grow over the wire, cause il TO rust,
and finally to break. OF course it is
impracticablc to remove the wire after
il has become imbedded in the wood
of the growing tree. \ correspondent
of an eastern paper suggests boring
holes through the trunks of the trees.
and passing the wires through them.
This plan, however, would not prevent
the wires from becoming imbedded in
the wood on the sides of the trees,
while the injury done 10 the centre
would be likely TO cause the trunks to
decay. A better plan would seem to
be to take a piece of iron tubing, like
gas-pipe, and put il through the au-
ger hole. This would exclude the air
and allow an opportunity 10 stretch
the wire when il becomes necessary.
or TO remove ii altogether. In some
of the eastern States granite fence
posts have been in use for more than a
century. They are heavy to transport,
and are liable TO be broken by having
carts run against them. They are not
liable 10 decay, and of course cannot
be injured by ordinary fires. There
are machines for drilling holes into
them for holding nails or staples. and
the latter can be fastened into place by
the use of molten lead or sulphur. In
many parts of the west are deposits of
limestone that would make excellent
posts. 1t is easier worked than gram
lite, and lighter 10 handle. In a few
instances posts of earihen and con-
crete, as well as of artificial stone, have
been used. Iron is so well protected
that the prospect of using it for pro-
tecting fields appears to be very poor.
-Chicago Times.