The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Fences

A ROUGH-HEWN oaken gate post of the long ago, about one foot square, and still showing marks of the adze or broad axe used in shaping it. Also the old iron supports of the hinges set deeply into the tough wood, and the upper hinge still hanging dejectedly. The gateway no longer used, the wire fence has been fastened to the still useful post.

The lower drawing depicts a fence of plain barbless wire, six strands, stapled to the posts, and topped with barbed wire. The corner posts were cleverly braced by squared rails set into their bases and near their tops. The rails were secured by thick wire looped around them midway of their length, and around the upper part of the posts. It was tightened by inserting and rotating a stick midway between the rail and post.

THESE were often the gates and fences of the Canadian West, made from poles and therefore known by that name. Jack pine or cedar or even poplar was used. But with the scarcity of wood on the prairies the advent of wire was a true godsend. Remark the care with which the gate was made, and the cross bar to keep it from sagging, and the type of stout metal hinges and fasteners. The latter defied the best efforts of the livestock to open.

As will be seen, the poles of the fence were nailed to the posts in alternating fashion for rigidity.

HERE are two drawings of rather unusual-style fencing. The upper is a wooden picket fence bound with twisted wire, held up by metal angle irons. A kindred type fence with the pickets closer together has latterly been used in Ontario as a snow fence. It is erected in the fields in the fall and dismantled in the spring, alongside the highways where drifting formerly occurred, and sets up the drifting in the field, rather than across the road.