Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1880 — Barbed Wire Fence. [ARTICLE]

Barbed Wire Fence.

1 ’ll EmTCOTMT* ik^Tl. la to pieces only an inch and a half wide, and hung them to one or more of the wire* that composed the fence. The plan worked well, and he had barbs manufactured In s factory that were sharpened at both aids. He pat these barbed attach meats on all the wire led6e abom his place and they attracted considerable attentton. Boon afterward he obtained a patent on his invention and commenced u- sell tana,* township and county rights In the count of a year many miles of wire fence in tot northern part of this State were equipped with fheee barbed attachments, the only objections to which were their, cost end their liability tosagandwsip unless they ware secured with Several pieces of cord or Shsall wire. Hir inyention sO|nula»ed others wherever It wis introduced. At least a dosen patents were issued for barbed fence w*re or barbed metallc fenc lag of some sort in the course of the next year. It a short time several suits for infringement were brought by the proprietors of these pal eats, that had become very valuable. In the meantimes large number of machines were invented and patented for making barbs or securing, them to wire. - In 1874, it is stated ten thousand pounds of barbed fence-wire were maonnetured in this country. This year the total manufacture will probably reach fifty million pounds. Almost all railway companies have adopted it It U finding itself into regions where rails, boards sod stones have been employed since the first settlement commenced.— Chicago Times.