The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-01
GFor the Dispatch
Advantages OF q Dog Tax.

Advantages Of Dog Tax.
First. AsM. s. E., of 'Henrico, dated Feb
ruary 18th, says "To kill of all the dogs
belonging to poor people," =, ;,
Second. To kill of, as far as possible, all
the dogs belonging to rich people.
The poor man is taxed on all property that
is of any service to him, and he grumbles
about taxes and the high price OF bacon. Al
the same time he taxes himself with the sup
port OF useless dogs; or, rather, he most
generally burdens himself with the support
of dogs, not only useless 10 him, but posi-
tiyely Injurious. He does not feel the llttie
bread and meat he gives his dog, he tells
YOU, but the payment Of tax OF one, Two,
or three dollars on bis dog would be such an
intolsrable burden be would be forced TO
kill his dog rather than pay the tax. very
good. Force him to do it. And then let
him take q little pig and feed it the amount
of food the dog would consume in twelve
months, and at the end Of that time he Will
have from one hundred and fifty to two hun
dred pounds of nice fat pork, worth Sc or 81
Der hundred. l don't think his bacon will
cost him as much by $40 or $50 the next
year. All be has paid for it, according TO
his own statement, is the life Of the dog
Which dog was not In any way convertible
into food except for the Heather Cbinee.
Further: The destruction of all the dogs
would open The field so freely for sbeep.rais-
ing that mutton and wool would be worth
in a year or two just about half what they
are now. Mutton is far more Wholesome
and nutritious diet than bacon, especially IN
the Woodworking, hot summer months,
when the poor man needs such food as will
furnish strength without heating the system
80 fiercely in the process Of digestion. And
wool makes a more durable garment, and
one which protects better against the eX-
tremes of heat aud cold, and the trying
effects of sudden changes Of tempe.
nature thar any other material. hili
of the dogs, then, that the poor
man may be able to make, if he Will,
more bacon at home, and for nothing,
or at least for what he considers nothing, as
be don't feel it--and also to raise his own
mutton and wool, which he will then have
chance of doing, as when they are abun dant
be can get few ewes or lambs for so much
less that he will have some chance and en-
couragement 10 try it, both from the less cost
and greater security in breeding and Keep
ing the sheep; and, further, can buy NUT.
ton, wool, or clothing, for so much less.
Take care, sir. The man who works "tcn
or fifteen colored hands" nowadays may
he more Interested in keeping up the
prices of food aud clothing by scarcity Of
mutton and wool than in preserving the
poor mans dog. But the greatest grum-
bIers about taxes are the rich men after all.
Force them to kill of, too, as far as possible,
and we shall have new era in our affairs !;
for it is the rich man who tells you his half
starved dog don't kill sheep, and won't let
IL. h .ha, foil n i'm
from your flock. And I have never yet bad
a poor man refuse to let me kill bis dog for
killing my sheep. / have tested both. .
Third. The encouragement given to rails
ing sheep by an efficient dog-taX-one with
ADEQUATE provisions for its enforcement
which can be made without driving the dog
any way necessary TO the comfort Of his
family or remuncrative to himself will not
only speedily result in 4 greater and con-
stanily increasing abundance Of cheaper meat
and clothing, but it will also result in rapid
increase in the cereal products of our farms,
and thus bread will he more abundant and
cheaper; for there is no stock that improves
land and increases the fertility OF the soil so
rapidly as sheep, whose deposits Of highly
nitrogenized solid eXcrement are more readi.
y incorporated with the soil, and are not
made in such quantities as to smother out
vegetation like that Of larger animals, while
their liquid eXcremeIt is richer in valuable
fertiZing salts than any other except, per-
haps, that Of the COW, aud is, like the solid.
deposited in quantities too small to scad and
burn the grass, as that of the larger animals
does.
Fourth. Abundance Of bread and meat
will result 10 greater abundance Of labor,
and therefore cheaper labor, In consequence
of both the iDfui- of capital seeking secure
and permanent and highly remunerative 10.
vestment 10 fertile lands, and the tide Of im-
migrants seeking employment where living
is cheaper in proposition than the wages Of
labor, and finding homes and occupation in
land filled with the comforts, ccapeniences.
and blessings Of civilized institations and
Christian society. Nor let the producer be
alarmed by the prospect of lower markets.
This will be compensated by the diminished
cost of production, on improved lands, re.
curing less area and less labor to secure
larger crops.
Fifth. Manufactures of all kinds will
spring up more readily in consequence of
greater abundance Of the raw material, more
abundant supplies at their doors without add
ing the cost of transporting them long dis.
tances, and cheaper labor. And 10 these the
producer will be amply repaid by the greater
demand at bis own doors for the products of
his lands and tlocks-saring him the cost of
transporting bulky products to distant mar.
kets, and fading his wants supplied at home
with the same saving from cost of long trans.
portatioD. And cheaper labor will likewise
be compensated by cheaper markets to sup
ply its wants, thus enhancing its savings.
Thus an almost fairy future is possible to the
people of our State, both rich and poor, if
her legislators had the courage, the mani.
ness, and the wisdom to force the people by
just law to enter q course of prosperity
which little exercise of wisdom, patience.
and prudence would soon make almost mar
veous.
1t would of itself directly replenish the
treasury Of our State and restore her credit,
by sho wing the world she dared force herself
into action 10 protect, encourage, and develop
her agricultural and manufacturing resources.
1t is no fanciful picture. An Englishman,
q settler in our State, writes the american
Farmer that he cannot encourage bis friends
in England 10 come here, though many Of
them are anxious 10 come; for, he says, they
cannot raise sheep in land Heaven Intended
for sheep-raising, because of the intoera BILE
nuisance of dogs. These dogs are worse
than wolves. They kill more sheep, and pay
no penalty for it to the law.
Three dollars on each dog and five on
.Hch bitsh within ninety days from the act
"a Sscd, and afterwards one dollar on each |
og and two and half on each bitch, would
NY The interest on the State debt without
,uch ing another thing for the first years
nd By reducing the ply of the Legislators
, fotn dollars day all the expenses OF
tate gov eminent could afterwards be borne
U tbe dop> ana in q few wears the sheen