Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-12-14


offer 10 agriculturists sphere of action which
can be followed in this State with peculiar ad.
vautages, and in pursuing which, remoteness
is of little account; which the very steepnsss
of great deal of the land is an indispensable
advantage.
We must rise to the conviction of ali In
disputable fact, namely, that West Virginia Is
not only peculiarly adapted for sheep culture,
but that it eau be pursued here with al great,
| if not greater profit aud advantage than It eau
realize in any other part of the world. Aud
more than that; that no other branch of sg-
riculture can possibly ever be followed amongst
rs With as much profit as this.
Why is this so2 Because West Virginia
has cool climate, and sheep must have that
Because good grass cannot exist without =
plentiful rainfall, and We have that.
Because, sheep never do their best except
and we have that in perfection, neither too
much mountain, nor too little.
Because while n small fraction of our State
is rich enough for any grains or any stosk in
the world, there is very small fraction in
deed of really barren land but tho vast ma
jority Of our acreage will spontaneously pro.
ducc exactly that herbage which is best suited
for sheep.
Because We have proved in our Panhandle
counties that We can raise tho best wool in
North America and they. which are our
sheep counties, are the most prosperous sec>
ton of our State.
Because it has been also proved that the
average profits of sheep raising in West Vir-
ginia, if conducted as any business must bo
for profitable results, are about 100 per cent.
per aunum.
Because We are all people OF small cspital,
aud sheep culture requires smaller capital
than any branch of farming.
We must then make our country known
to outsiders az prominently \ sheep raising
country; and offer solid inducements to them
to como in and try it. Roo By raising
the art, practising it, and thus Offering the
best OF all proofs that what We allege is true.
by looking at Pennsy tho largest
sheep raising State of all-when she wanted
to encourage sheep culture, enacted that for
term of years sheep should not be taxed
Look at the result Aud our State is better
for the purpose than Pennsylvania. BY pdv>
ing the 'cGy for a strong dog low, BY eau>
eating our mountain farmers to hte truth that
the sheep is the poor mans triend-dnd If
properly cared for, has surest and most Ger
tain means Of proft-that the day of ,colres,
bear, deer and dogs is surely passing dpGy,
and that the best and easiest nledns Of main>
tenance for the mountnineer is a flock of sheep.
And then. BY taxing dogs SO thoroughly
and judiciously that, while any man shall be
able to keep ope good dog or two if he chooses
to; the non taxpayer and the actual pauper
shall not be able, as they mo,o are, to Keep
four to six, and prevent whole neighborhood
from profitable sheep culture, and by provid>
ing for the prompt slaughter of any dog on
Suho ho 70 Sa h. 10
in disturbing flock.
There is another pressing need in our State,
besides the need Of men-the noed of money.
We are nearly ali Of US, land-poor, and in
debt. We have large tracts of cheap land,
whose taxes are consuming us. How, we ask,
can we induce not only the sheep farmer but
the capitalists too, who are the chief buyers
of suoh tracts, to invest with us, and SO re-
lievs us from our burdens? =? With immigfa>
ton very slack, and the whole world bidding
for it, what can We do to bring it here among
our mountains
answer. that we can bring il if We will.
What iS needed 10, that we should rise 10
sense of tho situation, and initiate an immigra>
ton policy which is at once thoroughgoing,
broad, aud wise-which shall offer the maxi
mum of inducsment to the foreigner, at the
minimum of Inconvenience to ourGslves-to
make to him proffeT which shall ring true
to his intelligence, and strongly bias his self
interest. Pennsylvania, as l have said, be-
eamo the largest sheep growing State by q
temporary remission of taxation. New Zea-
land took iron makers to the Antipodss by
Offering bonus Of $4,000 for the first ton
Of iron produced within her borders. South
America drew thousands of immigrants to her
barren Pampas, by remittiug tue taxes upon
bona ide immigrants land.
Here are hints for N. We cannot offer
large bonuses; but wo can say to THO immi-
grant-come among us, and your taxes shall
never distress You. Let this State guarantee
that for twenty Eve years an immigrants, or
bona fde investors taxes shall not exceed
rs cents on the Sl00, and if possible, that
for two or three years the immigrant shall not
be taxed at all, and she speaks at once and
most directly and persuasivsly to every hearSr
who has money to invest or homo to estab-
lish.
I am quite aware that such policy as this
is new to most minds, and is likely to be
strongly opposed But in what other way
can we offer any tangible inducement to the
Immigrant And in what way can We be the
worse for our offer The immigrants como
in, and pay considerable sums for land, which
monies permsate through a whole district,
and bring relief everywhere; moreover, they
buy food, stock, implements, clothes i'm
fusing stream of rigor into every trade and
relieving many burdened tax defaulter. Is
il not worth while to offer them an induce
msnt? They need it toe. For two or three
years, they are making little money, but are
learning how to get along. what prices to pay
for things, what men to trust-all of which
experience is expensive TO them and to be
aH FpnTTI ta~r- II =
ment is unproductive, is only just relief.
Then again, the proposed guarantee Of low
taxes gives every proposing investor at once
u