What Is the Purpose of Having Barbed Wire Fences?
What Is the Purpose of Having Barbed Wire Fences?
Barbed wire fences are commonly found in agricultural areas but have uses in other contexts as well. Barbed wire is a type of wire that is twisted in certain areas to expose pointed ends of wire.
History
Lucien B. Smith of Kent, Ohio is the inventor of barbed wire itself. The percusor to the modern barbed wire fence was developed in 1873 by Henry Rose, an Illinois farmer, for the purpose of preventing livestock from leaving the pasture area. Joseph Glidden improved upon Rose's model and received the first patent for a barbed wire fence in 1874.
Agriculture
Barbed wire is currently used by farmers for the purpose of keeping animals within an enclosed area.
Security
Barbed wire and a variant of barbed wire called razor wire, has been used for security purposes. Razor wire is frequently used by prisons in order to help prevent prisoners from escaping.
Marking Boundaries
Barbed wire was used by railroad companies in the late 17th century in order to mark land owned by the railroad company.
Legality
Contact your local zoning office to inquire on the legality of barbed wire in your area. Laws regarding barbed wire vary between different localities.
