The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-06-03

M s. - - - - & 81
Mr. EditorA AS you have kindly
invited discussion Of the stock 1aw,
/ take The liberty Of presenting q few
facts and thoughts thereon, which |
have. no doubt have already presented
themselves to many citizens Of tie
parish.
Firss--As to the stock ordinance
passed by the police jury at their last
meeting has been SO generally con-
ldemned by those who live under The
shadow of The 'court-housc, it will be
well to find out whether the above
mentioned ordinance was not made 10
correct great evil, to right great
wrong, before going to the general
question of sfence or no fence?y Now
what was the law before the passage
of the much abused ordinance l
quote from the aRevised ordinances
of The parish, page 5, sec. Is. All
lands fronting on the Mississippi river
or public road, or with leyee fronts,
and on Old RIVER lake and Lake
Providence, aud all other lakes or
streams in the parish, shall be en-
closed on said fronts by legal fence.
and the same to be kept in good re-
pair" As is seen, the only lands given
up or intended to be given up for the
public are the roads, the leyee and the
land between the levec and the river.
Now as every one knows the greater
portion of the land on the river side
of the levee, is or was when first
thrown out, cleared aud suitable for
cultivation. ] do not propose to dis
cnss the hard-ships of having levee
built through ones place with all the
attendant inconvenience and expense,
all for the public good. These front
lands are still private property with
full possession in them guaranteed TO
the owners, and yet as these lands
compose the principal part of the pub
lie range, il becomes necessary to
fence them to prevent depreciation by
ihe stock, aud these fences must be re-
built after every high water. Nor is
the law without it's inequalities aud
hardships on those who are on the
tprotected side of the levee, as il fire.
quently happers that one with quite Q
small place has very long front
while his ncighbor with much larger
place, has narrow front yet, every
one must keep UP his own fence.
Now of what benefit is this range to
the people? Certainly none to tht
travelling public who are So frequently
made to stop aud open tho gate. L
cannot be used to raise hogs on, al
many have learned by bitter expert
ence. During high water all the pub
| lie pasture is under water except thu
road aud levec. The notices postet
all over the parish notifying AL per
sons to have their stock put UP suffi
GENTLY testify that these cannot b,
. made use of by the public.
Now as to fence or no fence. In th'
first place, has the police jury tn
right to pass general fence law
That the peaceable possession IN th
use and enjoyment of ais property !
4 guaranteed 10 every man by the con
! stiluiion of the q S. as well as by th
constitution Of this State, which
! further strengthed by various acts Q
our legislature prescribing penallie
for tresspassing on private propert.
is fact TOO well known 10 be NOR
Than mentioned. Now in the face Q
!, this fact, how can the police Jury Civ
to live stock those rights which Meth
er Congress nor our own State legis
,, lature can give to human beings
!. Some contend however, that lie tenc
is a tax /; a tax imposed on the peopl
$ to encourage migrants 10 come int
s our parish, and il a man does not pa
his tax Chat is, his fence in his field
! he need not expect no projection.
, not property in the parish alread
! taxed almost to confscation to keep u
!. our levee system? Can any turtle
burdens be placed with safety upo
{ our people, at least Just at present
: Again, is il certain that the small b,
thrifty farmer would be benefite
/ after all, for might not large stoc
7 owners owning nota foot of land CON
!; in aud monopolize the range to IL
! det.imeut of the small farmer as we
: as the large planter CITIZEN.