![]() ![]() ![]() And to display how easy this was, Glidden built himself an enormous ranch on the near grassless plains of the west Texas panhandle and housed there the near unimaginable number of 20,000 head of cattle. The change derives from the simple fact that the first purpose of the wire was to keep animals in, not to keep people out. The first purpose of the wire was to keep animals in, not to keep people out. His early demonstration of the usefulness of his creation had one unanticipated consequence: It helped in no small measure to bring about a signal change to the American diet, almost overnight. The man who, with this elegantly incomprehensible description, lays the principal credible claim to the first patent for it in late 1874 was the son of English immigrants to the United States and named Joseph Glidden. The idea behind the invention that has at least half a dozen claimants to being its originator is simple: “two wires, twisted together, with a short transverse wire, coiled or bent at its central portion about one of the wire strands of the twist, with its free ends projecting in opposite directions, the other wire strand serving to bind the spur-wire firmly to its place, and in position, with its spur ends perpendicular to the direction of the fence-wire, lateral movement, as well as vibration, being prevented.” The American invention that is most traditionally placed to deter intruders from trespassing - and one which has spread worldwide since its invention in the mid-19th century - is barbed wire, the devil’s rope. Warning signs themselves do not keep people off another’s land. ![]() A landowner may exclude others, may forbid others to stray onto his property, and has a right in law to demand that enforcement officers compel the person who does so - who trespasses - to leave. One who acquires land gets to enjoy the right of possession, the right of control, the right of enjoyment, the right of disposition - and, most relevant here, the right of exclusion. Central to the concept of owning land is the right to tell others to get off it. ![]()
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