The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-02-19
Republished by request.
The North CarOlinn NO Fence"
Law and How il Works.
To the Editor of the FLoRID1AN

Dr. Laird, of North Carolina, is among the
present visitors at Tallahassee, and your c)rres-
pondent took an early opportunity OF interview
ing him on the practical working of the "no
fence law in his State To the several oucstions
we propounded, the doctor replied =
The law works admirably tor all parties and
the curious feature is, that the very persons who
at first opposed it most violently, are now most
heartily in favor ofit. Il has increased The value
of land and improved the condition of the live
stock. Formerly, a few scrub cattle coul1 he
seen ranging along the public roads and Dickino
up most precarous sort OF existence. So weak
and bony were they, that when they Law down
IN the road, they had neither strength or willing
ness to rise, and teams would often drive over
them. Halt starved pine rooters" (rczor
backs would scour the country trying to find
some falilble point in the fences whore tbev
could crawl through and devour the rrowing
crops. Ii there Was rotten board or rail. they
were sure to find it,
Bat now, al this is changed
Fences, with all the expense and trouble at
tending them, have disappeared from the conn.
try, except where they have been Constructed
for pisluieS, ana TO lence in stock. The crops
grow safely and uumocs ed bv the roa1-s;des
and the iarmel is saved all ihe unnecessary labor
and yearly tax upon his limited capital, OF keep
ing up miles of icncts, simply to afford his crops
a chance 10 grow.
the cattle the ls-lycs are also better off than
they were before Olly those that are worth
raising are retained, and these are properly cared
i~r. Pastures are fenced in, and are sowed down
with clover and various nutritious grasses Hogs
are tel and tatened at home, and not allowed
to range at large. The result is fewer and better
animals. Formerly good Oeet, butter anl milk.
could not be I'd. Now, under the no fence
law, the best OF beef can be had, An good butter
and milk are abuadant, Til" profi.s In dairy
farming have also become far greater than be-
FORE
The amount of land under cultivation has
also increased. Before, only plantations that
were entirely fenced could be used; but now.
the richest spots of land can be selected and
utilized wherever found.
A railroad passes through DR.. Lairds estate
and previous TO the no fence " law, the number
of claims against the company for cattle acci-
dentally killed amounted to considerable sum-
But now such claims rarely heard of A
strong argument for the :" no fence law is, that
where ii has once been fairly tried, it is never
repealed.
Everywhere in Virginia and North Carolina
where Ii has once gained footing, 1t has come
To stay The people recogaiZe its many adj
vantaEeS and see III once its reaSOnabeneS> At
fl st the Old ioges and the "culorea brethren
grOwled, but by the time the change had be-
come lnaugurtted, they were Won over to it.
DR.. LaircPs iathcr-in-law was he first progressive
tarm VINO look Tie initiative ana fought Tor the
new law. He met with the livelics opposition,
and it was predc ell that he never would be
elected TO any civil office. Bat the final result
was favorable to him and beneficial to the county.
The law was introduced by townships and
counties. Several conservative townships would
wait and see how the law worked in adj0inging
townships, and fences would be established be-
tween them. But the practical superiority of the
no fence law would snOn be seen and the
fences would be abolished.
Under the old system fightings and fouls in
Vulnerable were perpetually springing up be-
tween the farmers, because OF the incursions
the cattle and hogs would make upon their
crops. Frequently evi-disposed persons would
remove part of the fence and let in the stock
But now these ftu.lS are scarcely ever heard
Of tor no stock is allowed t. roam 1T l,rge. If
by chance or design Il cow, horse or nor is found
tresptssing it can be taken up by the land owner
and confined il a lot, and when The uwAcr is no.
lifed he III Isl ply all dam g.s b fDle he has 'he
right to recover his properly.
Ia case OF dispute regarding the amount of
said damages it IS decided by the local magis-
irate. After Il little While ownrrs OF liz: stock
find that il do not "pdy' y To let their animals
roam at large, and there ore the Causes OF all
these teulS and disputes are avoided
Could we only have fair trial Ct the North
Carolina No FENCE " law in Leon county,
your correspondent would guarantee that lands
would soon .be doubled in value, immigration
simulated, and the planter would have some
rights which the mig ger aud the razor back
would be bound TO respect.
E. WARREN CLARK.