Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-06-16
The Cow Nuisance.

That the running at large of cattle
within the limits of the city of AL
pena is a nuisance to the general pub
lie, is becoming more and more ap
parent every day. Complaints ar
numerous in regard TO the dcpreda
tions committed by cattle running a
large-shadc trees broken down
fences leveled, and cattle feeding upor
the garden or grass plat of some citi
zen, gates being torn from theil
hinges, and lawns taken possession o
by cattle, cows supplied with bell'
roaming about at night, and the tinkle
tinkle of the cow-bell all night, tC
the annoyance of the tired, sick oil
restless citizen. And all this in di
rect violation of the laws of the
State of Michigan, from which We
quote rs follows;
The People of the State of Michigan
enact:
SEC. 306S. That il shall not be
lawful for any cattle, horses, mules,
sheep, swine or goats to run at large
in any public street, lane, alley, park
place, or highway in any city or vii
iage within this State having a popu-
lation of seven thousand or more in
habitants; and it shall be the duty of
every commissioner of highways,
pound master, marshal, deputy mar
shall, policeman, and constable of any
such city or village to seize and take
into his possession as herein provided,
and keep until disposed of according
to law, any animal so found running
at large. Provided, the city of Lud-
dington be exempt from this act.
Sec. 1869. 1t is hereby made the
duty of the Common Council or
board of trustees of every such city
or village to provide one or more
suitable and convenient pound or
pounds, and to appoint one or more
pound masters who shall have charge
thereof, and such poundmaster or
other person having charge Of such
pound shall receive and keep therein
any animal mentioned in the first
section of this act, that may have
been or may be found running at
large contrary to said section, upon
the request of any person. And it
shall be lawful for any person to
seize and take into custody and re-
tain till disposed of as required by
law, any animal mentioned in said
first section of this act, which may
be trespassing upon premises owned
or occupied by such person, or such
animal may be driven to and kept in
said pound as herein provided, and
any inhabitant of any such city or
village may take into custody till dis
posed of as required by law, any ami
nal found running at large contrary
to said first section Of this act, if at
the time there shall not be kept and
within such city or village
a suitable pound within a distance
Of not more than two miles from
The place where such animal may be
found, or if there shall not be a
pound-master in charge thereof, who
will receive and keep the same as
herein provided.
Hundreds of cattle arc daily pas
tured on the public highways of the
city and upon the property of real
estate owners; and we may well add,
that this is one of the great causes of
he lack of shade trees and other i'm
provements on many of the public
thoroughfares.
Bitter complaints, too, come from
he settlers in Alpena township, who
ire every day pestercd by city cattle
roaming out into the township, break
ing into the fields of the farmers and
destroying crops. But we are pleased
10 learn that the farmers are waking
up to the necessity of the times, and
hat they propose to rid themselves
Of the intolerable nuisance and the
cattle owners of the city may, some
Of these fine days, find that their
narauding cattle are detained ut some
Of the township farms, awaiting the
owners to call, prove property, pay
damages, ETC., and take cattle away.
The State law is very plain, and
there is no difficulty in determining
whose duty it is to put stop to the
cow nuisance.