The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-04
THE STOCK LAW QUESTION.
Why Cattle Should Not be Permitted
to Run at Large.

WILMINGTON ISLAND, May 31.-Editor
Morning NetOS: My attention having been
called to the mention of my name by DR..
Dupont in his communication to the Times
of the 10Th inst, am constrained to say
have by no means the largest area in the
county under tillaGe. This Is not the first
time DR.. Dupont has disparaged the agri-
cultural interests of Chatham county.
About two years ago the Truck Farmers
a ISOLATION took notice of a miSrepresanta-
ton in the report OF the Commissioner of
Agriculture of Georgia, and during the re-
Sulting correspondence it was traced to him.
| am, however, the oldest truck farmer
in Georgia, have for thirty years taken a
deep interest in the develoI mont of the ag-
rcultural resources of Chatham county,
and avail myself, therefore, of this oppor-
tunity 10 appeal TO the citizens of Savan-
nah 10 come forward when the fence ques-
tion is to be decided at the polls, and vote
on the side of equity and progress.
The present law is destructive of any nat.
ural improvement If the soil, and is only
adapted to an unset led country with large
areas of land pro iucing nothing but scant
cattle food. So soon as the yields Of few
farms exceeds this scant heritage in value
crops should be protected by the enactment
of the stock law. If DIR. d. and
othor owners of cows, without land
to feed them upon, can prove
that more capital is invested in the cattle
industry Of the county and the city; tnat
it supports more labor: that, therefore, Sa-
vannah and her transportation companies
derive more benefit from stock than from
truck and other agricultural products, they
might then with more propriety ask her
citizens to uphold tho present outrageous
and Anticipated law 10y their votes
II this is to become a question OF charity
instead Of one of justice aud advance, ]
would suggest to DR. d. to present a petit
ton to Council in behalf Of the city's ''poor
sellers Of milk" for permission to pasture
their cows in the public squares and parks.
There would, at least, be more justice in it
than to compel the farmers in the vicinity
to maintain expensive fences for protection
against their depredations.
These milk sellers are, however, no such
paupers, nor would a change of tine law
put an end to pasturing cattle south and
east of the town. 1t would simply compel
the owners of such pasturage to enclose the
land from which they derive an income,
instead Of forcing hundreds of farmers to
relieve them of that necessity at heavy
expense
As the doctor has DIRECTED attention to
my farming operations. | will state the
effects of the present law on this island.
Until within the last few years, 1t has been
the understanding that cattle should not be
permitted 90 rul Mt large at least duriug
the spring and summer. Generally, il has
never been possible to raise winter crops.
Fortunately for myself, my place is
bounded by water on three sides, and l re-
quire, therefore, a comparatively short
fence. We have little or no rail timber and
have to resort to more expensive boards or
wiro for fence material. The largest land
owner is prevented from planting crop Of
only few acres by his inability TO enclose
l,250 acres for protection against worthless
stock. some of which belongs 10 persons not
owning foot Of land. Most Of the negroes
who rented land on the southern part OF the
islaud have lett it in consequence of having
their crops repeatedly destroyed by stock
A. OEMLER