Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-01-06

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worth more than all of Clay
county. In Coffee county there
are l 1915 men and 2,211 dogs
In Fentress county, 629 men tc
1,137 dogs.
In Giles county there is the
enormous number of Z ,250 dogs
But that is a moderately thick
ly populated comfy, there be-
ing 4, $50 men in it, or not quite
two dogs to one man.
In Hancock there are 921
men and 1,667 dogs. Henry
comes nearer to being an even
thing, that county having 1904
men and 3,299 dogs. Marshall
has 2,57O men and 4,O37 dogs.
Moore has 957 men and 1,501
dogs. Monroe has 1851 men
and 1881 dogs. Perry has 914
men and 1916 dogs. Polk,
1872 men and 1,112 dogs. Trous-
dale has 760 men and ], ,346 dogs.
White has 1,189 men and $3.50
dogs. NIB.
By men, as here used, is
meant all voters under fifty
years Of age, or ''polls." They
are listed by the Assessors a.
long with the dogs, except such
as are over age and therefore
not subject to poll tax. There
fore it would be fair to add a.
bout ten or twelve per cent. to
the number Of men here given.
But still the dogs would be
largely ahead. And, for that
matter, there are no doubt more
dogs not given in than there
are voters in the State who are
exempt from poll tax on ac-
count Of age.
The total valuation of real
and personal property in these
thirty counties foots up $57,-
802,750. Last'year they were
$57, ,912,317, showing a slight
decrease.
LOST SHEEP.
You will notice that there
are 1850 dogs in Giles County.
Last year there were 1850
sheep in that county killed by
dogs. These figures are mute
appeals in favor Of the dog tax,
more eloquent than words.
Last year in Coffee County,
$50 sheep were killed by dogs;
in Perry county 800, in Hay
ward, ] ,147; Wayne, 500, Rob
ertson, LIS; Sequatchie, 660;
Decatur, 1855; Sumner, 800.
So far as the dog tax returns
are made up we find that those
commissioning most dogs have
lost heaviest in sheep. From
what few statistics we have
from sheep slaughter in some
Of the counties, it is safe to say
that fully $4,000 are killed year
ly in this State by dogs. Add |
the value Of these sheep to 9th
er dog expenses, and we have
a sum total that is significant
answer to the question, "Why |
is Tennessee poor?"
[ know an instance where
twenty thousand dollars was in
vested in factory for the man
nfacture Of woolen goods, Civ
.ng employment to fifteen per-
sons, and representing saving
Of over ten thousand dollars an
nuaHy to the county in which
t was located. But the dogs
destroyed the sheep to such an
extent that there was little wool
o be had, and the factory be-
came silent. The little Zine of
industry is closed, and the sec
ion is a dreary and unprofita-
lie waste, given over to weeds
md the dogs.
There is Il clamor upon the
part Of coon hunters still-house
and cheap demagogues
hat the dog tax" be repealed.
t has aroused a degree of OPP
position that is positively dis
.ouraging. If the clamor should
)e needed and the law repealed,
hose who propose to engage in
heep raising in connection with
arming wouId do well to seek
ONE other location. But | dc
lot believe it will be repealed.
cannot think the people Of
Tennessee will elect a Legisla-
ure that will stab the best in
erests Of the State in that way.
the dog law is inn
nensely unpopular now in sec
ions of the State where they
ave most dogs and least Of any
hing else, yet strong and
rowing sentiment is in favor
f the law. The man possess
Nc really valuable dog should
ot object to paying one dollar
pom him, while the tax will
]