The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-01
CATTLE. sHEEP AND DOCS.
A sensible Letter from Man who KnoWs
whereof He Speaks.

A Sensible Letter from Man VINO AnoMs
whereof He Speaks.
oLARKsBrRe, W.syA., December %.
Editors IntsliEeueef:
The citizens Of this county are much
pleased at the course Of the INrEtLleENeER
relating to the raising Of sheep in this
State. tits an undeniable fact that the
cattle grazers OF this county, and presuma'
bly, 1t is pretty much the case oil over the
State, have during the last three or four
years, cleared but very little money, II
any. Many, l am certain, have cleared
none. So that large number are not In
that easy and prosperous condition In
their financial affairs that they were In
former times. This is MOTTO be wondered
at when we take into consideration the
disadvantages they labor under in trans.
portatisn. And they feel the necessity oil
making a change to some extent at least
Most OF them, think, deem it advisable
to 20 more extensively into sheep rails
ing. Some think 1t advantageous to
encourage the diary and cheese making
business. Our cattle grazers Conpara'
lively have but few cows and calves, but
snpplied their cattle for grazing from 9th:
ar sections, formally from what are called
the base counties. That Is the counties
living west OF and between, this region and
Kentucky and Ohio, and some from those
States; but OF late they get a great many
from Cincinnati aitf echieago. When
they are purchased in those cities, they
are shipped here by railroad and it costs
them as much to ship them from those
points 10 Baltimore. After grazing and
otherwise preparing them. for market,
thew arc again shipped on the railroad at
n charge again as great as shipping from
those points, Chicago and Baltimore, 10
Baltimore. So to get his cattle 10 market
the Gra2er paws twice the rates from DIN
cinnati or Chicago TO Baltimore. So 1t is
clear that the shipper here can not COM
pete with those who are more tayoraoly
situated as to transportation. =. - :
1t seems to be conceded on all hands
that West Virginia as to climate and soil
| Is as well adapted to the growing OF sheep
as any other section. The staple OF the
clip can compete with the world, At the
Worlds Exposition at Philadelphia, the
premium for the best fleece was given to
this State.
The great embarrassment In sheep rails.
i ing in this State is their destruction By
dogs, the people heretofore being oppos'
ed 10 indemnify the owners OF sheep
when destroyed by them. There have
been various laws upon the subject, but
owing to public sentiment against them
thew could not be enforced. ! have to
some extent ascertained the public senti.
ment al this time on that subject, and
think that public opinion in this regard
has been revolutionized. 1t Is certainly
80 in this county. l am inclinedsssy.ls
opinion that II a proper and general law
was passed applying to all the counties in
the State, and made mandatory on
the courts to enforce 1t, that 1t
would be popular and highly advantage
Gus. In early days in regions sparsely
populated, dogs were actually necessary to
enable the settlers in frontier sections 10
destroy wolves and other wild animals that
proved upon their sheep and other proper
ty, but that necessity does not now exist.
These destructive animals are rarely to be
found in the widest portion OF the State.
So that any number OF sheep could Craze
undisturbed in the woods and natural pas
lures OF the State. But such a Law cannot
be obtained until the Legislature meets,
more than twelve months hence. 1t Is
desirable that this delay, as much as prac-
ticable, should beavoided. This can only
be done by the County Courts exercising
tho power given them by the act of the
sd OF December, 1875. This act, 1t will be
seen, is well digested, and II enforced
by the courts OF the counties, would
be efficient and answer any purpose. But
to make It operative for the next year, 1t
is necessary that the County Courts take
action at their next term, by directing, in
pursuance OF the first section OF the act,
the assessor to ascertain all the dogs in
their districts or equities, so as to enable
the Court at its levy term to lay tax on
the dogs to compensate the owners Of
sheep ior sheep killed by the dogs. ! do
not think this law Is generally known to
the people OF this State for see 1t seldom
referred TO, owing no doubt 10 the fact
that at the time 1t was passed that 1t was
supposed it would be dead letter on the
statute book, In consequence OF the senti-
ment OF opposition TO the taxing OF dogs.
| respectfully suggest that, il you could
spare the space in your paper, you not
only refer TO this act but publish it, and
advise its publication in the other papers
OF the State, You would greatly promote
the prosperity and interests OF the State.
The people OF this county are deter.
mined to take immediate action on the sub
ject, and at the next Legislature to endea-
vor to have the law enforced throughout
the State. GRAzlER.