The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1959-10-15
BemoanS Court Order
Banning Hen House
Elizabeth, Pa.
October 10, 1859

October ID, 1859
Republican Office
Oakland, Maryland
Dear Editor:
| am really very sorry to hear
of the tragedy that struck Garrett
County last week, county on the
mountain top with a population of
around 21,000. This county is
farming section where every farm
er has a road of some kind leading
to his farm. He works long, hard
hours, rears his family, sends his
children to school and, of course,
pays taxes. This has been going on
since pioneer days of a hundred
years or more.
Deep Creek Lake was built
about "a years ago. A beautiful
lake, peaceful and enjoyed i'm
measurably until outlaws came
along. For a $500 boat license they
can kill, steal and what have you?
They kill the innocent while SWIM
ming and steal the night time for
skiing. The day just is not long
enough. 1t is just an accident.
"Carelessness," Respect" or
my Brothers Keeper" are struck
off the book. We are proud of our
lake. 1t could be the best known
of the eastern United States. But
it will take cooperation of farmers,
businesses and everyone in the
county to make it so. The climate
on the mountain top and lake is
equal to those lakes in the High
Sierras which is known the world
over. In making Deep Creek Lake
a pleasant place, we, as well as
vacatiOners, must strive together
to meet this goal.
Farmers have fences along the
highway, on their own property, to
keep their cattle, sheep, horses
and hogs from entering the high
way. They also raise chickens and
turkeys for a livelihood build their
buildings in convenient locations.
The ringing of COW and sheep
bells has been ringing for all time.
Everything has been going along
smoothly and peacefully. Then the
ole farmer plods along and must
move his fence and out buildings
300 feet from the highway, kills
his animals due to the fact that he
is not allowed to have bells about
their necks. The chickens must be
killed because the rooster doesn't
dare to crow nor the hen to cackle
for their good deeds of the day.
The ole farmer is convicted because
he has Judge rather than a jury
trial. Garrett County is in the wide
open spaces, there is law and or
der but no ZONING in the country
area, the law is laid down and you
obey the order.
This particular farmer referred
to last week has a chicken and
tool house that cost him about
$4,000 to build, but it is and has
been assessed at $4,000. Isn't
he paying revenue on it? 1t is too
valuable to be destroyed. The cows
and sheep that have roamed the
land up to the highway until re-
cent years, have now and always
had about 2 or 3 bells about their
neck. They are now and have been
for the last couple years fenced
about 800 feet from the highway
or business establishment. Yet the
defendant has been ordered TO re-
move the bells from said cows and
sheep which belong to another
farmer.
Old Billy Drane wore salt sack
on his back and free ranged his
cows and hogs to eat acorns and
chestnuts all over this particular
territory. He died few years ago,
natural death, when there was
peace in the valley
The tavern owner dances with
gee. He has his business along the
highway and carries on into the
wee hours of the morning. The
juke box can be heard half mile
away. A war Whoop is left off any
hour of the night He and his fam
lily operate a riding academy along
privately owned road in front of
the next restaurant, where the
sweet smell of horse manure can
be smelled as it cooks on flam-
ings fire. So what? 1t is all within
a day, striving for a livelihood.
We have those Quick Rich Over
nighters' who would like to sneak
liquor into the county and they are.
you can take this any way, to your
own thinking) Tourists have left
this county to eat breakfast else
where for this very reason.
Farmers and farmerettes of Gar
rett County, THINK" carefully.
We never were run and we never
did run. Come on, let's stand up
for the good of Garrett County as
whole, and make it what it really
can be. The majority of us have
been lifetime taxpayers. United
we stand, divided we fall.
Mrs. Charles Leasure
r. d. 2, Elizabeth, Pa.