The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-12-26
Farmers Maetine.

meeting of the farmers OF Augusta
was held IL the supervisors room in the
Court House Monday last to consider tie
subject OF the proposed amendment of
the fence laws OF the State.
The meeting was called to order by j.
w. Churcllnan, Esq, on whose motion
Maj. Absoiom koiner was elected char
man and DR.. M. G. HiIdebrtnd was cleo
ted secretary. p. T. Burlholder ex plain
ed that the meeting had been called to
consider the question of amending the
fence law of the State as proposed by
senator Berry of Amherst county, by
the insertion of the words, amy other
natural or designated line to be law
full fence. Mr.. Burkholder said that his
attention had been called to the matter
by Senator Echols, who had sent him a
copy of the bin, with the proposed
amendment, and it was desirable to know
what the sentiment Of the farmers of
Augusta county was on this important
subject. He asked that Senator Echos
be requested to appear before the meet
ing.
Senator Echois came before the meet
ing and explained the proposed amend
lnent offered by Senator Berry.
Mr. Burkholder advocated the law as
proposed by the bill now pending in the
Senate. He thought no man wanted his
neighDor
Mr. Riel Gilkeson asked how drovers
were to be protected under the new law.
Mr. Hoover said there should certainly
be law against hogs and small stock.
Fences would be washed away by high
water, and it was impossible for farmers
to protect themselves.
Senator Echols in response to inqui-
ries, said that Senator Berry's people
were interested in the law, and he sup
posed it would meet their wants. He
did not know how it would be with Au-
gusta.
Maj Koiner said he had a farm in AL
bemare county where the nofence law
was in operation. It had not proved
satisfactory-cr bad feeling among
neighbors He had left Albemarle and
had come back to Augusta, where the
law was more satisfactory. He thought
it the part OF wisdom to so slow. Posi-
bly, u law as to small stock hogs, sheep
and goats, might do, but i'll a county
like Augusta, where there were grazing,
as well as farming lands, he did not
think it would be good policy to make
such radical change in the law as to
cover large and small stock alike. There
would always be a large business in stock
droving in Augusta, and such an indus
try should have protection. Farmers
could not entirely dispense with fences.
1t would be very difficult to improve
lands without fences. He thought with a
law against sheep, hogs ana goats, a
three-strand wire fence would be suffi
cient against large stock-such as cattle
and horses, which would save at least
one-half Of the lumber.
Mr.. P. T. Burkholder wanted 1.-THE
whole hog or none 1t was a question
of whether the farmer should forever
bear the burden of fencing, Or whether
each man should take care of his own
stock.
Mr.. John Wallace came from Able
marie county where he, too, had had
some experience as to the no-fence law in
that county. He thought there should
at least be Il hog law. Hogs destroy ed
the public roads and did great damage.
He moved that the meeting recommend
the law as to hogs.
Capt Geo. w. Shuey moved to amend
so as to include goats and sheep
Mr.. Burkholder offered as a substitute
that all kinds of stock be prob
from the public highways and commons
within the county, except Pastures dis
trict within certain lin its.
Tie SUBJ titute of Mr.. Burkholder was
10 It by decided vote; and the motion
of Mr.. Wall5ce, as amended by Capt
Shuey, was adopted us expressing the
view of the meeting.
On motion Of NJ. Churchman, com
mittee of three was appointed to lay the
action of the committee before the su-
pervisors. Dr. NJ. G. Hildebrand. Col.
+. F. Sterrett and Capt. Geo. w. Shuey
we're appointed the committee. Mr.
Churchman asked to be excused from
serving on the committee.
Adjourned.