The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-04
CATTLE MUST BE FENCED IN.
THE STOCK LAW GOES INTO EF-
FECT N CHATHAM TODAY.


strayIng Cattle May BE Impounded
by Parties on whose Lands They
Commit Depredations-The Cattle
Can BE Held Until the Damages Are
Paid FOr-The County Drainage
system VIII suffer nc Longer From
This AnnOyance-A General Idea OF
the Law on the subject.
The provisions Of the fence law 20 into
effect in Chatham county to-day. Ae-
cording TO the statute the law becomes
operative six months after il has been de-
clared effective. by election.
The election at which the law was adopt
ed in this county took place July g. 1855.
and the result was declared the day fol-
lowing. making to-day the day for its op-
eratiOns 10 begin
This means that the owners OF all cat
tie which are allowed 10 run at large Will
be held responsible for all the damage
and depredauons committed by such stray
ing cattle. BY the election there was
adopted as a part OF the law Of Chatham
county six sections of the code of 1SS2
from 1919 to 1854 inclusive-which are
known as the stock law
BY the law the boundary lines of each
lot or piece OF property are now de-
clared a lawful fence. Section l45O pro,
vides that no horse, mule, COW or hog
or any animal used or fit either for food
or labor shall be permitted to run at
large beyond the limits OF the land be-
longing to its owner.
The next section of the code on this
subject provides that whenever any OF
these classes Of animals commit dcpru-
cations on land belonging 10 other par
ues. such parties have the. right to inn
pound them and 10 retain them until the
owner shall make full reparation for any
damages sustained. including all costs of
court as we'll as the costs 10 the party
lmpOunding the animals for tccu-
ing. The next section provides
that notice shall be given the
owner, OF such animals within twenty
four hours, but If the owner be UNI
known the animals may be sold as estrays
within three days. The animals them
selves are made subject for any damages
that may be sustained through their be-
ing loose, that is if the damages are not
paid Within reasonable time judgment
can be secured against them as prop
erty. Section l43i of the code provides
for the methods of ascertaining the ex-
tent Of the damages the matter being
nrst brought up in "a justice court from
cases.
The owner Of straying animals is also
protected by a section which provides a
punishment for the illegal impounding Of
animals No party is allowed to impound
animals under the mere pretext that they
have committed depredations the penalty
IN such cases being not greater than a
me or 500 or imprisonment for one
month.
In Chatham county there are several
classes Of property upon which such dep
relations may be committed. The great
est destruction by roaming animals has
been TO the bitches and drains of the
county, which have been trampled down
and nlled in by cattle constantly walk
ing over them. Owners Of cattle which
VIII be responsible also for all damage
OF this kind to the county property, and
the county authorities, who worked hard
Tor the establishment of the law By cleo
ton. will see to it that this damage
Is stopped in so far as is possible.
The fact that the code provides that
the law shall go into effect six months
after II has been declared effective by
election is looked on as sufficient notice
10 every one owning cattle or other ami
mails OF the classes mentioned, so that
there viii be no excuse for any violations
OF the law. Cattle have been allowed to
run at large for the last two or three
arrangements by which they can keen
them within enclosures as soon as the
time arrives.
People who are not able to fence in
Their property, but who make a living off
their small farms, will be glad to know
that the law is effective and must be re-
garded But every taxpayer should be
save many dollar to the county formerly
spent in repairing drains and bitches
which were tramDlcd down and stopped mn
by roaming cattle. The law is a good
one and now that it is in force the people
should see that it is carried out.