FENCE OF WIRE AND PICKETS.
Fig. 57.—Fence Of Wire And Pickets.
The fence shown in [figure 57] has been introduced in some sections, and is becoming more popular every year. The posts are set ten feet apart, and are so placed that they will come on the right and left side of the fence, alternately. The pickets are split from oak, or any other hard wood, and are four or five feet long, and an inch and a half or two inches wide. When the posts are set, brace the one at the end of the line, and fasten the ends of two number nine, unannealed wires to it. Stretch the wires along to the other end of the line, and a few feet beyond the last post. One pair is to be stretched near the top of the posts and one near the ground. When the wires are stretched taut, fasten them to some posts or other weight that will drag on the ground; the upper and lower wires should be fastened to separate weights, and these should be heavy enough to keep the wires at a great tension. Having done this, you are ready to commence building the fence. One man spreads the strands, while another places the picket between them; the other end of the picket is then raised up and placed between the upper wires, and then driven up with an axe or mallet. In inserting the pickets, the wires are to be crossed alternately, as shown in the engraving. The pickets should be dry and should be about three inches apart. It takes two persons to build this fence successfully, but it can be built more rapidly by three; one to spread the wires, one to place the picket in position, and one to drive it home. This is especially adapted, for a line or other fence which is not required to be often moved. It is fastened to the post by nailing one of the pickets to it with common fencing nails. Fences of this kind are also made with straight, round limbs of willow or other trees in place of the split pickets. Several different machines have been patented for making this style of fence.
CHAPTER V.
BARB-WIRE FENCE.
The invention of barb wire was the most important event in the solution of the fence problem. The question of providing fencing material had become serious, even in the timbered portions of the country, while the great prairie region was almost wholly without resource, save the slow and expensive process of hedging. At this juncture came barb wire, which was at once seen to make a cheap, effective, and durable fence, rapidly built and easily moved. The original patent for barb wire was taken out in 1868, but it was not until six years later that an attempt was made to introduce it into general use, and more than ten years elapsed before the industry attained any considerable magnitude. The rapidity and extent of its subsequent growth will be seen by the following table, showing the estimated amount of barb wire manufactured and in use during the years named, the estimated length being in miles of single strand:
| Year. | Tons. | Miles. |
| Totals | 716,805 | 1,433,610 |
| 1874 | 5 | 10 |
| 1875 | 300 | 600 |
| 1876 | 1,500 | 3,000 |
| 1877 | 7,000 | 14,000 |
| 1878 | 13,000 | 26,000 |
| 1879 | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| 1880 | 40,000 | 80,000 |
| 1881 | 60,000 | 120,000 |
| 1882 | 80,000 | 160,000 |
| 1883 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| 1884 | 125,000 | 250,000 |
| 1885 | 130,000 | 260,000 |
| 1886 | 135,000 | 270,000 |
There are now fifty establishments engaged in the manufacture, and the output for 1887 is estimated at 140,000 tons.
Fig. 58.—The Kelly Barb Wire.
Barb wire is not without its drawbacks as a fencing material, the most common one being the liability of serious injury to valuable domestic animals coming in contact with the sharp barbs. Many means have been devised for overcoming this evil. Some of them are illustrated in the next chapter. The direct advantages of barb wire are: First—economy, not only in the comparative cheapness of its first cost, but also in the small amount of land covered by it. Second—effectiveness as a barrier against all kinds of stock, and a protection against dogs and wild beasts. Third—rapidity of construction and ease of moving. Fourth—freedom from harboring weeds, and creating snow drifts. Fifth—durability.
Fig. 59.—Horse-nail Barb.
Barb wire, like the harvester, the sowing machine, and most other valuable inventions, has attained its present form from very crude beginnings. The original barb wire consisted of double-pointed metallic discs, strung loosely upon plain wire. The next step was to twist this with another wire, as shown in [figure 58].
Fig. 60.—Crandall Barb Wire.
Fig. 61.—Sterling Barb Wire.
Another crude beginning was the “horse-nail barb,” which consisted of a common horseshoe nail bent around a plain wire, and the whole wrapped spirally with a smaller wire, as shown in [figure 59]. Various forms of two-pointed and four-pointed barb wire are manufactured, the principal difference being the shape of the barbs and the manner of coiling them around one or both of the strands. A few of the leading styles are illustrated herewith. [Figures 60] and [61] show two varieties of two-pointed barb wire.
Fig. 62.—Quadrated Barb Wire.
Fig. 63.—Iowa Four-pointed Barb Wire.
Of the numerous styles of four-pointed wire, three typical forms are illustrated in [figures 62], [63], and [64].
Fig. 64.—Lyman Barb Wire.
The Glidden patent steel barb wire is made in three styles, as shown in [figures 65], [66], and [67]. [Figure 65] shows the two-point wire, in which, like the others, the barb is twisted around only one of the wires. [Figure 66] shows the “thick-set” which has barbs like the other, but set closer together for such purposes as sheep folds, gardens, or other places, which require extra protection. The four-point barb wire, [figure 67], has barbs of the same form as the two other styles, that is a sharply pricking barb attached to one of the wires of the fence strand, upon which the other wire is twisted, holding the barb firmly in place. The barb is at right angles to the wire, and does not form a hook, but a straight short steel thorn. A sharp point which inflict an instantaneous prick repels an animal more safely than a longer and duller barb.
Fig. 65.—Glidden Patent Steel Two-point.
Fig. 66.—Glidden Patent Steel “Thick Set.”
Fig. 67.—Glidden Patent Four-point.
Barb wire of nearly, if not quite all the popular kinds, is shipped from the factory on strong spools, each holding one hundred pounds in weight, or eighty rods in length. These spools are bored through the center to admit a stick or bar, which can be used as an axle in unreeling the wire. The following table shows the weight of wire required for fencing the respective areas named:
| Area | Length of Boundary. | Weight of Wire. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Strand. Lbs. | 3 Strand. Lbs. | ||
| 1 Acre | 60 Rods. | 67 | 202 |
| 5 Acres | ⅜ Mile. | 167 | 400 |
| 10 Acres | ½ Mile. | 183 | 548 |
| 20 Acres | ¾ Mile. | 273 | 820 |
| 40 Acres | 1 Mile. | 365 | 1095 |
| 80 Acres | 1 ½ Mile. | 547 | 1642 |
| 160 Acres | 2 Miles. | 730 | 2190 |
Fig. 68.—Brinkerhoff Steel Strap and Barb.
It will be observed that the larger the area enclosed, the smaller is the amount of fence required per acre. The cost of fence complete can be estimated by adding to the amount of wire indicated in the last column, the cost of sixty posts, and three and three-quarter pounds of staples, for every sixty rods. To ascertain the weight of wire required for any desired number of strands, multiply the figures of the first column of “weight of wire” by the number of strands proposed to be used.
Fig. 69.—Allis Patent Barb.
Fig. 70.—Brinkerhoff Fencing Twisted.
There is a kind of barb fencing in which flat steel straps are employed instead of wire. In the form shown in [figure 68], the barbs are bent around a plain strap and the whole is then galvanized, which firmly fixes the barb. Another form shown at [figure 69] consists of a solid piece of steel, ribbed through the middle, and with barbs cut on both edges. These and similar forms are more expensive than wire, and are employed only in limited quantities for enclosing lawns, paddocks, etc. Still another form is like that shown in [figure 70], without barbs, and twisted. This is much used to enclose lawns and ornamental grounds. It is light, neat and strong, does not harbor weeds or make snow drifts, but is comparatively expensive, as five or six strands are required to make an effective fence.
Fig. 71.—Two Strand Twisted Wire Fencing.
Still another form of unarmed fencing is shown in [figure 71]. It is simply the ordinary wire without barbs, and is used in limited quantities for fencing ornamental grounds, barnyards, etc.