The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1895-03-08

Total ..........$ $50, 021, 1874
1t can be seen that the fences cost
over eighteen and one-half million
dollars more than all the annual
farm products, and over SO, 900, 600
more than all the live stock in the
State. Another costly operation of
the law requiring the fencing out in
stead of the fencing in, is the loss of
animals from being allowed to run
at large by the contraction and
spread of contagious diseases. The
State Veterinarian in his last report
says:
"The losses annually occurring
from Texas fever (mWrain), alone,
in this State will reach 5000, OOO."
The reports of crop correspondents
to the Bureau of Agriculture from
95 of the 90 counties in the State
last November, showed hog cholera
existing in 81 counties. In some of
the counties, it was reported very
virulent, almost decimating the en-
tire hog product. The loss from
this cause alone is estimated at
81, 265, $50. From the commnica-
BILE diseases, such as CHAMBERS, far
cy, influenza, distemper, anthrorax
affecting horses and mules, the an
nual loss is estimated at $1,000, 900
to the people of the State. Foot
rot and scab among sheepi is commu-
nicated in the same way, by being
allowed to run at large. While we
cannot expect to cure many of the
diseases, we can by proper precau-
ton require all owners of stock to
keep them inclosed or confined up
on their premises to prevent the
spread of such diseases, and thereby
protect the large and valuable live
stock interests, and save to the
State the So, 465, $50 now annually
lost to the people through these di-
seases.
By the passage of general stock
law, the poor man would be benefit
ted because rents would be reduced,
the expense of the farm in keeping
UP fences would be reduced and the
land owner be more able to pay
higher wages. The rich alluvial
lands now ''open" and wild along
the rivers, bordering and traversing
the State that overflow periodically,
making the building of fences inn
possible, as they would be annually
washed away, could be cleared and
cultivated in corn, cotton, and
meadow grass that would bring in
thousands of dollars to their own
ers. The depletion of timber and
its increase in value is a matter of
grave concern.
Georgia, Mississippi, North Caro-
lima, Illinois and other states have
passed such law, and while some
little dissatisfaction was at first
shown, now everyone, rich and poor,
are delighted with its workings.
A most anomalous condition
confronts us. If person
goes on the lands of another and
cuts down trees, the owner of the
land may sue such person for tres
pass, and compel him to pay dam
age, but should the owner of the
land plant field of corn or other
product unenclosed and expend his
time and labor in its cultivation,
the stock of another may destroy
the crop without making the owner
of such stock liable for damages.
And this is the perfection of hu-
man reason; that the wild growth of
the forest receives the protection of
the law, but the plants that sustain
life and require the strong arm of
industry to bring to perfection may
be destroyed by the property of
another without redress. The sra
zor back hog or the "scrub" bull
yearling is not made a trespasser by