Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-06-03
The mo FENCE" PROPOSITION.
WATERPROOF, La, June |, 10.
Editor TeasdS Gazette,
ST. Joseph, La.

Editor TeasdS Gazette,
st. Joseph, La.
In reply to Mr.. Lynch's letter,
published some time ago in your
paper, would say that Mr.. Lynch
has fully stated his objection to the
proposed NO Fence Law" and
what he has had to say is all that
can be said in support of the pres
ent law that requires land owners
to keep up system of costly 5lrb
wire fences for the protection OF
growing crops from the depreda-
ton of cattle and other stock, owned
in the majority, probably, by peo-
pie who own no lands.
In no other instance can you find
existing laws supported by such
weak and himsy arguments as those
set up by the bencficiaries OF the
fence law, especially where such
laws have tendency to put the
rights of one class of citizens be-
Meath the feet of others, and the
present law makes Just this possible.
Mr.. Lynch says i'll substance we
ought to continue with the fence law
because, in his section, a lot of
Northern investors have bought up
tracts of timber lands, and these
lands afford splendid grazing for
the cattle in that vicinity. He says
the grazing keeps the underground
down and explains that this will
finally be of considerable benefit to
the timber workers when the tim
Der is to be removed.
Pause a moment. What a grand
display of chivalry! Certainly such
kindness deserves applause. Isn't
it surprising that some other public
spirited citizen would attempt to
do more and to 50 do prune the
trees for the poor capitalists? Sure
ly this is twentieth century idea
of development and soon the real
estate men of the parish will adver-
tise to Northern investors the fact
that the residents will keep the un-
derbrush down and prune the cruel
thorn trees, if necessary. All OF the
wild woods will be sold now, for is
there a more attractive offer to be
made the poor saw mill man who,
heretofore, has had to scratch him.
self on the clinging blackberry vines,
blistered his hands on the poison
ivy and ripped his jeans on the
thorn trees whilst he felled the
mighty oaks and rolled the logs to
the banks of the Tensas, than this
new offer? Positively wonders are
becoming more numerous every day
and if you do not depart too soon
you may yet see good roads. | am
now sure that people are becoming
better and better every day, for is
the example of brotherly love UNI
like the Good Samaritan?
| But to be serious, that's why Mr..
Lynch wants the fences. He says
he has the cattle and of course the
cattle have to he pastured and he
would rather have the undisturbed
right of the free use of the magnif-
icent wild lands without expense il
/, all of the other planters 30 have to
spend thousands annually to keep
his and other peoples cattle off Of
their crops. There are others, and
can you blame them from wanting
/, a fence law?
. Bro. Lynch is wrong in thinking
Private Citizen" owns pasture
and thereupon are grazing sleek
Jerseys and saucy Hcrefords, romp
L. ing sheep and braying asses, and
. has an axe to grind. Il have al
axe which cost a dollar, but | won't
, accept an invitation to join you il
pruning those trees for those timber
| folks am in a position to know
what a vast sum Of money is need.
r lessly drained out of the pockets OF
the planters and sent away from the
I parish by the nonsenSical and eX.
: travagant notion that thousands o.
, dollars in fences must be kept w
because a few people own cattle and
, have provided no place for theil
, maintenance. The principle is wrong
and only few believe it is right
| so if the majority rules may we not
have a No Fence Law, and right
| away, soon, at once? Here's hop.
ing. Respectfully,
s. \ PRIVATE CITIZEN.