Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1850-07-15
For the Banner.

For the Banner.
Mr.. EDIToR-SIR: By your permission
l will throw out few suggestions through
the columns of the Banner to his excellen
cy the Mayor, and the honorable City Coun-
Gil of our prosperous little city. The SUBJ
ject of my remarks may appear dogged
small, but the evils that may accrue to CON-
munity consequent to its neglect, may be
of the most distressing and serious charac-
ter. allude to the crying necessity Of a.
dopting some measure, to lessen the num-
Der Of dogs in our midst, which we all know
is grievous injury and aagrant nuisance
to any town or city.
We have had laws heretofore of pro-
hibitory character (not sufficiently SOY
which were never enforced. 1t was then
contended by some that families ought to be
allowed to keep dogs, to guard their gar
dens against the depreciation Of herds of
swine that infested the town. This argu-
ment cannot apply to the case now; since
We have had hog law, member Of the
narrow faced family is almost stranger in
our streets. Nor is it valid argument at all.
1t would be like the man who jumped in
the river to avoid the rain. Dogs do more
injury to gardens than hogs. If the latter
can root up and eat more vegetables, good
fence can turn them; whilst the former are
privileged characters. yelling, bowling,
paving and frolicking where they please.
IF either is untaxed, it should be hogs, for
they are of some utility. But there are 9th.
er reasons why the canine army should be
reduced in Louisiana Of a higher and more
important character. The citizens gener-
ally, and the children particularly, are LA
bic daily TO fall victims to the poisonous
fangs Of these worthless brutrs. ] do not
know the feelings Of others, but presume
they are similar to mine. could see eve
ry dog in my knowledge "guillotined, "
sooner than have ny flesh, or that Of any
one near to me, mangled by the fapgs of a
ruthless cur; and should it happen, ! would
feel like waging war upon them myself.
What is the lives of . ack Of brawling culs.
to the life, health or comfor! of single cit
izen? How would your excellency, sir, or
any of you gentlemen law givers feel at the
sight of mangled limb Of one of your babes
by snappish and merciless cur9 and yet
arg you not daily liable to see such sight?
But, gentlemen, have not yet presented
to you the most shocking contingency in
this matter, and one by no means unPrece-
dented or improbable. "Dog days" arc
fast approaching, when any Of the family
are liable to be seized with hyd:ophobia,
and with propensity to snap every child
or person in their range-thereby leopard
tizing the lives of scores of human beings
And Oh, what death! death from hydro
phobia. Still we are in eminent danger
| have already seen statements in papers
warning the people against m1i dogs that
were be ecoming too common. Now, gentle
men, sincerely doubt whether there is q
single town or city in Missouri, or else
where, with as many dogs in proportion tt
population as Louisiana. 1t is earnestly
hoped that our city Fathers WILL at thei
earliest convenience, do something to re-
Iieve our city of such an annoyance. Apro
hibitory law believe would bs acceptable
to majority of the citizens. OF this a
least am satisfied, If persons will disturb
the quiet of the town, and endanger tn
comfort, yea lives Of their neighbors, the.
!, should ray we'll for the privilege;