The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-28
An Address to the Voters OF Chatham
County in Favor OF "No Fence"
SAVANNAH. Ga. Jine q. 1889.

election to take place on Wednesday, July
s. proximo, to decide whether those cult
waiting the soil shall BE- compelled to con-
tinue 70 fence their crops, as now required
by law, or whether the owners of cattle
shall inclose their stock, that this enormous
incubus of compulsory fencing entailed
upon tho agricultural interests Of the
county may be lifted from their shoulders
by the abolition of fences.
In Europe and the older states Of the
union, fences around crops have long since
disappeared.
In South Carolina the happiest results
have attended the operation Of ''no fencen
laws, and the same with equal truth can be
said of the counties of Georgia where
fences have been abolished.
It is certainly very much to the credit of
ssno feucen legislation that no community,
section. state or country abolishing have
ever reversed their decision and returned to
compulsory fencing in of crops.
In many Of the communies that have
compelled the inclosing Of cattle to protect
agriculture, stock-raising at the time, was
successful and profitable industry. Since
the change greater interest has produced
greater results, raising the standard of the
stock and increasing the quantity and COM
mercial value of their products until as in
Putnam county, the value of cattle to the
county is second only to its cotton crop,
and rapidly tending to rival that
8 On the other hand, Chatham county never
has been, is not now, and from various
causes never can be made a natural sus-
tanning range for CATTLE
But Chatham is an agricultural county
and capable of unlimited development in
that direction when relieved Of the iniquit-
Gus imposition OF compulsory fencing and
fostered by kindly legislation, for her soil
is ever generous to the husbandman's labors,
and tounteous nature gives almost trop-
ical luxuriance to her productions.
And as if pre-eminance were thrust upon
her as an agricultural district. quick and
varied modes of transportation make the
world, at all times, the market Of Chatham
county.
With these natural and artificial advant-
ages, and under more enlightened policy
about fencing sought to be inaugurated by
the votes of the people of Chatham county
on Wednesday. July 3, proximo, no one can
estimate now the great impulse that will be
impaired to the agricultural interests of the
county. and the favorable influence it will
exert in improving the grade of our stock
and the quality and quantity of their
products; but by the parallelisms of sections
that have lead In this reform the grandest
results can be anticipated.
was done when a similar appeal was made
twelve years ago for the abolition of fences
around crops, and what can be expected?
just what has come of the defeat twelve
years ago, comparatively no agricultural
advancement and a retrogade in the cattle
industry, so great in the latter that the
shipment of western slaughter house beet
at prices that even now has driven the
meat of scrub cattle from its own market.
Thara lie 0plv &O0 00Q IL, Ina o. taoIr of
all kinds in the county proper according to
the sworn tax returns of its owners qnclud-
ing the stock Of no fence advocates) that
demands that the land and crops of the
agricultural interest. representing quite
SO, 100000 in taxable values, shall continue
to be fenced for the benefit of stock owners,
involving burden to them represented by
tens of thousands when a few thousand
would provide enclosed pastures, affording
better sustenance for stock than is or can
be obtained by wandering al large over tn
county, and giving vitality to the iniqui-
tous class legislation that legalizes tresspass
and enf0rces a virtual servitude of the ag-
ricultural to the cattle interests of the
county that, in conspicuous instances, own
no land and pay no taxes on the stock pas
tured at the neighbours expense.
But there are other aspects of this cues
ton in which the entire county, particu-
larly the city of Savannah, have deep,
personal and abiding interest.
In the growth of agriculture, under more
economic surroundings, the value of lands
will be enhanced, supplying increased ma
terial for tax assessment and a lighter bur-
den of taxation to each individual tax
payer That this result would follow the
growth of stock raising at the expense of
agriculture in Chatham county by main
tanning the present fence laws even the
most enthusiastic champion for fencing
crops and influencing cattle has never had
the temerity to claim.
But aside from matters of reduced taxa
ton, and personal advantages that might
flow to each citizen of Savannah as a COM
ponent part of Chatham county, graver
question confronts the good citizen, over
shadowing every other consideration in
shaping his course on the issue of fence"
Appalled, by the danger that rears its
hydra head in the broad light of day, the
commissioners of the county, like faithful
sentinels at their post, have sounded the
alarm, and its echoes have reached every
corner Of the county. In words that blaze
forth, like the handwriting upon the wall,
they tell you that the expensive systems
of drainage, iaaUgurdted By an er-
trGordindfy grant of state aid, called
forth while the dread scourge of 1876 still
lowered over the city, and nearly completed
for sanitary purposes, the result Of years OF
thought and labor, involving, besides, very
large outlays of money drawn from county
taxation, in their construction, have already
had their efficiency greatly impaired. and
are threatened by greater dangers from
stock being permitted to roam at will over
the unfenced lands of the county through
which the canals and bitches of these sys-
tens course.
1t is the maddest folly to decry this warn
ing, and seek to break its crushing force
against the present intolerable class legisla-
ton in regard to fences, bv intimating or
insinuating that the commissioners, in the
discharge of sacred obligation, have
under official disguise, for personal aggran-
disement, sought to control an election, OF
dictate how voter of Chatham comfy
shall cast hiS ballot The very mention OF
the names OF the honorable gentlemen who
compose the board of county commissioners
is sufficient TO bury together the Islander and
the slanderer in deserved obscurlty.
Had they failed to speak out under the
circumstances they would have been recre-
ant TO their trust and unworthy servants.
Their aim, stripped to its naked truth, was
to serve the public good, and without fear
or favor they discharged the duty deyolv-
ing upon them as they conceived it, and as
every voter of Chatham county will sustain
them in doing, when he can calmly and dis
passionately reason with himself upon the
Atuation.s Passion and prejudice are out of
4 place with this burning issue, pregnant as is
its wise disposition with so much of good or
Ill 100000 valuable lives.
Down the valley Of death rode horse
FNuw. -. n 4 IL r..