BARB WIRE FENCES. 227 



more than half a mile, probably; but where I have made a 

 permanent fence, I have used four wires, for the purpose of 

 keeping dogs out of my sheep-pasture ; but where I put only 

 cows, I have used but two wires. 



Something has been said about fencing woodland. I have 

 had some experience in that respect. I ran two wires on one 

 side of a pasture which I owned next to some which was 

 owned by other parties, who of course would not fence. I 

 have run two wires the whole length of that part of my pas- 

 ture and have thus saved the posts, and have been to the 

 expense of only twenty-two cents a rod. When you once 

 get this wire up, it is a permanent thing; it rarely breaks 

 unless you draw it too tight. I think you may make it too 

 tight, so that it will break in very cold weather ; but I see 

 no reason why it will not last for many years, where it is 

 nailed to trees that are alive. 



In regard to the danger to cattle. I do not apprehend that 

 we shall have much trouble in regard to that. We may have 

 some trouble, as we do with picket fence. It is but a few 

 days ago that a friend of mine had a very valuable horse 

 killed by going onto a picket fence. I have known many 

 horses that were killed in that way, and yet we do not aban- 

 don the picket fences. I do not like them; I do not think 

 they make very good fences ; and yet I have never heard of 

 any one abandoning them because horses get killed on them. 

 I do not know of a single instance, in three or four years' 

 observation which I have had, where an animal has been in- 

 jured by the barbed wire. 



In regard to the ribbon wire, so far as my observation 

 goes, that is very apt to break. There does not seem to be 

 that " give" to it that there is to the twisted round wire, and 

 I should very much doubt whether it would be advisable for 

 farmers to use it at all. But the barbed wire, I think, is 

 something that we are going to use. 



The Chairman. I want to ask Mr. Smith one question. 

 Do you know the comparative amount of metal in a strip of 

 ribbon wire half an inch wide, and the amount of metal in a 

 double-twisted wire? 



Mr. Smith. The weight is about the same, and the ordi- 

 nary price is the same. I think the ribbon wire is a little 



