The Greenville times., 1889-01-26
Fence or no Fence.
Holly Springs Reporter.l
Published by request1

L G1L@-~- - ~ ANN@~-
CHARLOTTE N. Q. Jan. 4, 1884.
Dr.. =. B. shuford. Holly Springs. Miss;
The fence, or stock law works well
for this county, indeed, l may say the
same as to all the counties of this and
the adjoining State of South Carolina
where it has gone into extensive use.
II has been in successful operation in
portion of this (Mecklenburg) county
for ten years. The first bill introduced
and passed by the Legislature of this
State for this county (this county be-
ing believed the first in the Southern
States to introduce the system) con-
tanned provision authorizing gen.
eral election for all the Townships in
the county a majority of the entire vote
to control; with provision that if a
majority OF the county voted against
the law, those townships voting for the
law should have the right to the en-
forcement Of the law in the township
declaring majority for 1.-THE town.
ships voting were required to fence of
their townships from the townships
voting against the law. The result Of
the first election was a large majority
against the law. Three townships
however voted for the law and took
the necessary steps to enforce the law
by building fences. erecting public
gates, etc. This worked well but was
found to be expensive and incon-
venient. Another election was had
for the whole county, which resulted
as the first. The land owners deter
mined to have the law for the ENTIRE
county-they resolved themselves into
a public meeting at the Court House,
prepared a memorial to the Legisla-
ture then In session sent out numerous
persons to procure signers to petition
to the Legislature, paying them liber-
ally for their services, utilizing our
colored friends to an amount not nee
essary to be mentioned, by this means
within a few days thirty-fve hundred
names were obtained to the petition, a
majority of our members from this
county being committed and some Of
them voting against the law. With
this petition two of our best men went
before the Legislature (Democraticl
and demanded and procured the pas
sage of this bill. The last bill has been
in operation for seven years. We find
| 1t works to the entire satisfaction of all
classes-if possible 1t Is better [forl the
negro than the white man. And the
negro has been prompt to enjoy the adj
vantages of the law. The COW now is
a thoroughly domesticated animal
She accompanies her master to the
field and Is staked and feeds upon the
most nutritious grass Of the negro's
farm or tenantry; and Toni his return
to his cabin the COW with her we'll
filed bag accompanying her owner is
turned over to his wife.
have been rather prolix and have
spun the COW question most too fine,
and will close with the general state
ment that the law has given us more
milk and more butter and better milk
and better butter while our beef has
been immensely improved. | will
add that our lands have greatly in
creased IN fertility, swamp places and
gullies are being overgrown and filed
up by growth of different kinds OF
vegetation in and upon them. Finally
In answer to your question, the stock
law Is decided success In this county.
Yours, &c. W. r. MYERS.
S.-Don't submit the question to
the people at the ballot box, If you do
defeat will be certain. Petition Is the