The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-20
SATURDAY EVENING, JAN. 20, 1872
SHEEP VERSUS Digs.

Lave FARMERS any FIgIIS lndt uOSS are
bound to respect?
No country on the globe is better adapted
to the production of wool than Virginia.
Our climate and soil are favorable. Our
vast ranges Of mountains and rich valleys,
alternating with broken slopes, furnish ex-
teuSiye ranges of the finest feeding grounds
for sheep. Our mild winters are favorable
to cheap feeding and the rearing of early
lambs, enabling the farmer to add to his
profits that Of the young lambs. But our
State is almost destitute of sheep. Here
and there we find small flock, generally
showing little pains or care in breeding. A
few Hocks of fine sheep may be met in the
Southwest, but as a whole, the sheep inter-
est is nearly abandoned. Wool is high
and mutton is readily saleable, and nearly all
our farmers are anxious to keep sheep.
But they are practically forbidden to do 30
BY the barbarous customs of the country.
1t is held to be legal in Virginia to keep
beasts Of prey, which roam over the coun-
try at will, and feed upon sheep as their
most available food. The owners of these
dangerous, worthless beasts, are, for the
most part, pecuuiarily irresponsible. They
have no stake in the interests Of the coun-
try. and if their dogs eat sheep every
night Mey have none to be eaten, and so
feel indifferent. TIE loss to the State from
THIS cu1tSe cannot be estimated al tess than a
H,iiljon ,loiisos Annually. VIII our Legis.
isature adjourn without making law to
meet this case? Can we afford to grow
half a million of worthless ours, dangero US
to our children and to our ilocks, roaming
at large at all times of day or night ?
Can we afford to lose the advantages of
great industry, in order to gratifya child
ish desire for class of pets which are,
generally, valuless ? Above all shall we
permit this outrageous violation of the
rights of our farmers to go on longer
Has any man q right to keep lion or a
tiger running at large without keeper
las he a right to breed venomous SER
penis, which glide out of his gates and
bite the wayfarer, or enter the en-
closures of others and inhict wounds
and death upon man and beast? How long
would such man or his pets be permitted
to live in any community where he showed
such wilful disregard of the rights and in
tercsts of others Yet precisely this in
effect, is permitted in Virginia. The laws
give no protection against these dangers tc
life and property. The time of our legisla-
tors has been so fully occupied i'll taking
care Of capitalists, that they seem to have
forgotten the existence of men. Our farm
ers have no time to form rings or money tt
pay lobbyists, and so they suffer these out
RACES without remedy. -r.
There are one or two simple propositions
which commend themselves to every MAJ
who has any clear sense of justice.
First. That dogs are usually in the ma
ture of superiluous property, owned rather
for qualification than for use, and should BE-
taxed at a high rate.
Second. That dogs are beasts of prey
domesticated to some extent, but liable tt
become dangerous to men and animals a
any time, and that hence should be kept
under restraint upon the premises Of the
owner.
Third. And as necessary result of The
preceding, every dog owner should be for
hidden to allow his dog in the highway o
upon the premises of another, and made t.
give bonds for the good conduct of the do!
if caught at large, otherwise he should b,
punished as criminal. The people&aoe
right 10 demand ttis amount Of protection
from on outrageous and dangerous nuisance
and no just man can refuse to accord it.
We hope our Legislature has plucl
enough to take hold Of this matter in tn
right spirit. ill.,