Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-01-10
SHEEP RAISING.

Perhaps there is nomore important and
indispensable Industry in any branch OF
business than sheep husbandry. While
everything has been depressed during
the dull times through which we have
passed, the products of the flocks have
invariably brought remuncrative prices.
Now that the commercial horizon is clear
ing up and business is revlving, the pro-
ducts OF sheep husbandry advance and
take their place In the front rank. "Not
a WOODEN mill in The country Is now idle
from the lack of orders, "(says the Nation
al Live Stock Journal,) "while many are
running extra time to meet the increas-
Ing demand upon their resources" Fair
prices are being realized for all kinds OF
WOODEN goods, and manufacturers ma II
pays to bid up on wool. saa:
The immense and growing trade in
meats between the United States and Eu-
rope i. creating a steady demand for good
mutton at prices which fully compensate
the producer for his time aud trouble.
Among The operations of agriculture the
sheep industry stands confessedly ut the
head to-day. And yet in the face OF all
these facts, in country where all the
advantages and facilities are unsurpassed
the sheep business in Jefferson county Is
a mere tribe compared to what it ought to
be. The reason is not far 70 seek. The
wool-growing interest has been so COM
pletely at themercy of the great rival and
dominant interest-the dog growing in
terest-that farmers would not throw
their labor and capital away upon 1t.
When you talk about these facts the peo-
pie gap and wonder that such thing
could be possible. The subject has been
discussed repeatedly before the legislature
but nothing cfiectual has been done. The
reason is plain enough to be seen. There
is no more difficulty about devising ana
executing good and efficient dog law
than there is about other legislation OF
the kind The average member OF the
legislature is au aspiring politician and
wants to 90 to Congress and be PRESIDENT.
The great natural interests of the State
are nothing to him. lie knows that he is
Indebted, for his seat, to Dick, Tom and
Harry, each of whom has half dozen
worthless ours at his heels and is further
more very sensitive on the subject of his
dogs. Now if the great material interests
of the State are brought before the legis-
lator in competition with the voters
love Of dogs, they must go to the wall;
there is 10 help for them. That vote must
be secured at all hazard and consequent
" he will turn and equivocate and erode
when there is any talk abouta dog law.
1t Is very small estimate to say that $780,
600 dollars over and above the present
assets is annually kept out of our county
by this senseless and inexplicable lack Of
of dog law that is efficient. This addi-
tional money would go to giving employ
ment to labor and the improvement OF
property. So we see that the laboring
man is the suffering victim of his own
foolish and absurd love for his dogs. If
the farmers and business men Of all classes
can afford to stand having this great and
lucrative industry practically banished
from our county, for the sake Of fondling
and earessing "poor Dash," we suppose
the remainder of our people can do SO too.