The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-09-13
WOODUhUUkS.
The Report of a Committee Appointed by
the Now Hampshire Legislature.

the New Hampshire Legislature.
The special committee, consisting of
representative from each county OF the
state, which was appointed by the New
Hampshire legislature to investigate the
yoodchuck question, has just made its re-
port. 1t seems that the New Hampshire
farms are overrun with woodchucks, and
The farmers were offended because the leg
stature refused to offer bounty of fifteen
cents head to encourage the Killing OF
woodchucks. IN consequence OF the pre-
test of the offended farmers, the special
committee was appointed: This was the
way it described the woodchuck:
The body even in very young wood
chucks is inclined to be gray-a very sig
niHcant circumstance IN the mind of our
committee, when the total depravity OF
the animal is considered. The predatory
habits of the animal make it the common
foe of mankind, for it is sneak-thlef hrst,
last and all the time. Like thieves IN all
climes, the woodchuck remains securely
concealed it its hole for great part OF the
day. Its only purpose in venturing forth
during the daytime is to get good lay OF
the land. The woodchuck devours corn,
vegetables of all kinds even pumpkins,
and it Just dotes on nice grass. Your
lmmittee was very much impressed
with the similarity existing between the
| woodchuck and the otficeholders. Ihey
both prefer to live in clover. Your COM
mittee does not, however. regard this Pc
culiarity in any way as an eXtenuatlon or
palliation, either for the woodchuck or for
| The postmasters. The woodchuck, despite
detormlties of both mind and OF body,
| possesses some of higher civilization. IL
cleans its face after the manner OF SOUR
rel, and ticks its fur after the mannerot
cat Your committee is too wise, now
ever, to be deceived by this purely superb
cial observance OF better habits. Contem-
poraneous with the ark. the wookchuck
has not made any material progress In So
cial science, and it is now too late TO at
| tempt to reform the Maynard sinner.
| While your committee does not wish to ad-
vance apy startling theory relative to the
bibernation of the woodchuck, it begs
leave to say that it has strong impression
that it is ALTERNATING animal. Experl-
ments concerning this particular feature
have been tried in various parts OF tire
world. and IL is almost the unanimous tes-
timony of scientific men that such is the
fact. The animal, so they say, takes It's
he'd about October 1st and becomes torpid
and 10 all appearances dead. Unfortu-
nately for the farmers, this interesting
habit only goes into effect at that season
of the year when nobody cares snap
about the woodchuck or the clover crop.
/ L
has nothing to do with smitten conscience.
| II has been limited in some quarters that
the passage OF the bounty law would
amount TO legalIzng trespass, and that
farms adjacent to the woodchucck farms
might thereby become overrun and serious
ly damaged. In answer to this your COM
mittee would say that 1t is one OF the
worst of common foes, and every owner
Mo may feel agsrieved by the bands OF
eager avengers who overrun bis acres in
the chase must, on maturer reflection. re-
member that his exemption to-day may
become his liability tomorrow.
Your committee has given this impor'
talt subject most thorough examination,
and finds the wood-cnuck one OF the worst
enemies ever known TO the farmer anu un,
less the legislature do something TO rid the
state of these animals, the chances are that
the yood-chuck will have things its own
| Way.