The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-05-13
THE NO FENCE ORDINANCE.

efS Will HHu the mum - '
in many Instances, condemned, mo
fence ordinance"
We have perused it with close and
careful attention. for the purpose of |
making such impartial comments Oh
its contents as reason aud sound Judg-
ment might suggest, in the public in |
terest.
Our first impression of the ord.n-
auce regarded il as a serious new de-
parture from the custom q seifpro-
lection that originated and built the
old Virginia zig-zag fences-ten stout
rails high with stake ano rider, cat
tie proof and hog safe. iimes have
changed since then, aud The wider
ness that the land owners returned to,
in comparative poverty alter the war
some twenty-seven years. ago, JUSTIFIED
and compelled any kind of make
shit for the protection other crops.
Hundreds of plantations were with
out fences for length OF time, but
gradually better methods of crop pro-
lection became general as a matter OF
actual necessity. Within the past few
years the crop-growing condition of
things has changed up considerably !;
instead of one or two thousand acre
plantations, small farms have sprung
up in every direction, some owned by
whites but most OF them by colored
people. and this order of things is
steadily on the increase. These small
farms range from forty to one humid
red acres or more The negroes who
cultivate these small Firms are COM
!, posed of the most thrifty members Of
, the race in our parish; they build their
. own fences, cultivate their crops
, carefully, raise few hogs, have COW
or two and endeavor to be self-sup-
porting. We know quite number
5 of such people, aud they are the real
, cotton, corn and potato producers of
: our parish. These people are, and
e have been in the habit of letting their
;, stock run at large ia the range. to feed
' on the lands turned out and roam in
the woods where the underground is
g luxuriantly nutritious
b The enforcement of this ordinance
i means step backward-a retrogade
e move. 1t means no rage for the
# stock and no running at large, with
o no stock raising il our parish as q
e final result; and as a further serious
l. consequence very soon to follow, the
O loss of most of the real thrifty labor
that is helping to build up our parish
Their farms are too small to rais'
crops and stock without range. l
NAV be said by those in favor of -th'
ordinance, THAT is their misfortune
and their own lookout" but such mar
rowing down ofihings will not tent
:, to promote the prosperity of the par
- ish on the contrary, 1t will be a dc
- cided step backwards.
How will this ordinance affect tn
- large planter with his numerous mule
= cattle. hogs &c.l
- Ii is well Known that the low prlc
=, of cotton has made stock raising a
- actual necessity in order to make To
- plantation pay and prosper. Can b
raise stock successfully without range
:. No! Pend up cattle for prolific pnl
=, poses rarely ever prosper, to say notl
:. ING about the vast difference in the e,
"a pense compared with raising the1
No while running at large.
:. Another view presents itself in col
nection with this singular legipatio
The area in acres of East CarrAll
vi about 225,OOo acres of which 80!
~ only is in cultivation, fenced in no
-, or less, leaving $4,000 acres prnt
- pally wood land, where every bod
cattle and stock of all kinds luxuriai
,ha " roam in their respective neighbt
- hoods. Would II be the part OF W
-. ION to Withhold from the stock the
free bounties OF nature? The g
:, fence laws" virtually does this, for
animals could be permitted to run
-, large for fear of their damaging I
aid unprotected crops, which they wo'
,ss certainly do, because they would ma
rally frequent the places they had DC
accustomed to. The wisest legislatl
" is that which does the greatest go
nd to the greatest number. The no fel
nee ordinance cannot possibly have
fol- claims to come under that head.
,re- do not pretend to be fully posted
/ in the merits of this question, but sp'
of of it freely as it presents itself to
em and we would be pleased to furn
md ample space to any one who would
cry forth the reasons for enacting such