Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-04-10
FENCING AND FARMING,
some Interesting Views Touching the
Wire Fenee.Lock From a Live
Business Man.
From the Columbia Herald

From the Columbia Herald.
Dir. Hoibrook, for many years
one OF the strongest business men of
Chicago, was in Columbia last week
on business, leaving on Monday.
MIR. Holbrook was burned out by the
great Chicago fire IN 1871. since
which time he has been engaged in
farming near that city. He has had
large experience in business, both in
the city and country, and in CONVEX
sation shows he is full of ideas. He
was much impressed with the wire
fence-lock invention, which he had
never seen before and. after examin-
ing 1t declared at once that it was
destined to grow into universal use.
"Do you not KNOW" remarked Mr..
Holbrook to a Herald reporter, just as
he was leaving on Monday morning,
THAT the fences of the United States
cost as much as the buildings of ev-
cry kind in both city and country"
The reporter expressed surprise at
the statement.
"Well, such is the case. Not only
is that true, but you can take any
ordln ary farm and fences comprise
fully one-half the investment.
mean to say this: If you will take a
farm. say of l6O acres, worth &c.
900, you will find that upon the aver
age, the fences have cost $4,000 of
this amount. OF course every rule
has its exceptions. But this is the
rule
"Now," proceeded Mr.. Holbrook,
''you can realize the Importance to
the farmer, of economizing IN this the
heaviest of all expenses. A big
point is gained when we can get a
fence, of which no part goes in the
ground. This is the trouble with
plank fences. Posts rot every seven
years, and the fence has to be re-
newed. If proper posts are used
they will last loL ger, but this is rare
ly the case. The farmer cuts the
posts when he wants them, wllethe,
the sap is in them or not, and they
are rarely put in the ground proper,
ly. One of the greatest defects Of
rail fences is the rotting of tht
stakes.''
''What do you think of the fence
lock as a remedy for the trouble?'
inquired the reporter.
''It strikes me as meeting the olf-
ficulty thoroughly. 1t not only re-
lieves the fence in this respect, bu
it makes it in every way stronger ant
more durable. 1t is the only inven
ton havo over seon that will max,
fences strong enough to resist tn,
heaviest storms or floods. You know
that q strong wind rarely comes tina
it does not blow down rail fences
1t seems to me that this invention
will make fence as strong as a ston
wall, and one that will last for twent,
years. The astonishing featur
about it is that no one has thought o
it before. 1t is certainly practicabl
in all respects"
"Do you think it will be easily pu
up?''
! Il do. Any farmer of averag
intelligence can fix it. The wire ca
be bought at any ordinary hardwar
store, and the whole cost ought nc
to exceed So per mile. Then the eS
pense of putting it up is almos
enough less than that of fixing stake
to pay for the wire
"What sort of wire should b
used!'
| ANY good stout wire will dc
But I would prefer galvanized wire
because, it does not rust, but an
strong wire will last a long time"
"What effect do you think the il
PRODUCTION of the fence-lock will hay
upon rail fences?''
Il think the result will he to brin
them into very general use IN timber
ed regions. They always have bee
the cheapest and most practicab
fences for such sections, but the di
fculty heretofore has been to max
them strong enough to withstan
winds, floods and breachy stock"
"What about the barbed wire!'
ut is we'll adapted to enclosir
large prairie ranges, as in Texas,
to run along railroads, but for d
mestic farming, where farms are CT
tup into small sections and fences a
being frequently removed, it is Ii
suited. 1t soon gets broken, xii
stock and is general nuisance.
would not have it as a gift. II
portable rail fence is the only ol
that will answer
"You say that in your opinit
fences comprise at least half tue CO
of a farm. If that be true, farmil
must be an expensive business"
sit Is. Why, sir. but few farme
themselves realize how much the
farms have cost. have studied tt
subject no little and l know what
am talking about. A farmer pu
a lot of raw land for S15 per acl
By the time he has it fenced and b
put the necessary houses, barn
wells, and other needed i1proV