Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-01-19
THE FENCE QUESTION.
(FOr the Gazette !

(fOr the Gazette
Many of your readers are glad to SO,
the move on the part Of our Boarc
OF Supervisors in the direction OF change II
our fence laws. 1t will be good thing fol-
the public when 1t Is arranged that neither
horses nor mules will be allowed to run at
large on our public highways. 1t is always
attended with more or less danger when
driving to encounter loose horse on the road.
Especially is this the case nowwhen so many
ladies' are doing their own driving.
The question very naturally arises, how
ever, will this be going far enough? Why
not have their action to cover all kinds Of
stock and to allow none to run at large? Tho
cost OF our fencing exceeds by far our taxes
on both personal and real estate, and there is
certainly no reason why We should be forced
to incur this unnecessary expnse. The fenc-
ing on farm for an ordinary lifetime Will
cost as much or more than the value of an
average farm. Besides this, our supply of
rail timber is getting quite short in many
localities. The writer's crops have TO be pro-
tected from year to gear by at least two
miles OF lane fencing, and there is not dav
from the first Of March to the first OF Deem |
Der in the usual way, that gap opening into |
the road can be left open without risk. No |
matter how frequently used in passing to and |
fro or how much time and trouble, all must
be kept closed. | say nothing about the i'll |
temper so often accompanying.
Some Will raise the common cry of the
poor mans cow" Now il the door mans
low has to be a charity, why should those
II us who live on public roads be at all of the
Expense of that charity while others bear no
'art of it? In a large majority of cases the
DOR man would be vastly better off If net
allowed to turn his cows TO the commons. Is
lie gets so little benefit from her and spends
o much time in hunting for her. More than
his, when in the employ of farmers, as most '
fthis class are,it would always have to be
ne understanding that w-pasture must be
lcluded in the contract. 1t would be an act
economy for any one not having land Of l
is own to pay for pasture rather than turn 7
ut on the public highway 9
Another consideration is lost sight OF. The :
-ass growing on the road enclosure through
y farm is just as exclusively mine as that 0
the middle Of my field. A road through h
farm gives to the public no right nor 7
1ylege whatever but to pass and repass, ana :,
at without unnecessary stopping II is y,
stake that many make in thinking that u
bic road belongs TO the public = b.
Another objection will be raised by some.
"iouitJ VI uilNlhS STOCK from place 10
ice without lane fencing. Those who have N
the opportunity to try it say that it is not W
difficult as would naturally be expected. N
ould it require more hands than are now ~ I,
'essary, let that be the lockout OF those OF
cerned an
hoIld it be made to appear that lane fenc- GU
is indispensable, let it be done at public NC
ense. This would equalize our expense in W.
direction and would very coon make all pre-
payers willing and anxious tor our Board ex.
make clean sweep. Then one would his
e only to fence in our own stock and not =
nee out other peoples stock
II, '9S SEMEN.