The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-09-28
A Way out Of the Woods.

wetteBt spells thai we nave had This sea-
son. Being confined indoors, I have
concluded to give you short article on
the crops, condition Of the country, and
such remedies as occur to me that would
materially improve our condition. Our
own crops are about as good as the land
can make; cotton only tolerably good
have our barns pretty we'll filled with
corn fodder, pea vines and rag weeds,
bnt in spite of these favorable conditions
there is a deep depression amongst our
farmers, caused principally by the low
price of cotton.
The present working generation have
known no crop out Of which to realize
money but cotton. With 1t they buy all
they eat and wear, and much Of what
their animals eat. The sudden change
in the price of cotton left them in debt to
the merchant who supplied them with
food and raiment at price to be paid
with the money that the cotton was ex-
peoted to bring, but the drop in the price
Of cotton caught most Of us In
debt, without any other means to pay
with; the merchant wants his money
which he invested in these supplies,
very reasonable demand, which often
causes the farmer to sell his little all of
stock to pay up bis shortcomings. This
sometimes causes bad feelings to grow
ND, until there is in many sections q very
unreasonable prejudice against the mer-
chants. This Ii too often encouraged by
designing demagogues to promote their
own selfish ends. This should not be so,
for the merchant is necessity in every
community, and when honest and cor
rect, ss think most Of them are, should
be respected and supported in their bust
ness. II caught acting unfairly they
should be passed by, but this class pre-.
judioe will ruin our social relations and
finally the country.
You will find even among the most in
telligent farmers q great difference Of
opinion as to the remedy for their trou-
bles. Some expect to get great relief
from legislation, but exactly how they
don't seem to know. Others, again aeem
to be on the right traok--after the opo
pressive tariff. It would be great relief
to us to get the tariff down to strictly
I can't see where Congress or our State
Legislature Is to benefit US. There is
one way that this Legislature can work
q. reform that would add millions to the
income Of farmers, but whether they will
have the courage to enact such law I
doubt very much. T allude to a rigid
dog law that will 30 tax the dogs as to
cause the killing out Of all the worthless
ours, which is at least SO per cent. Of the
whole lot, and thereby protect our chill
dren from hydrophobia and sheep from
being killed,
This Legislature will be composed al
most entirely Of farmers, who are seek"
ing something 10 reform, and here ID
q chance to do tho county great service
and injure no one. A few years ago there
were few more dogs in this county than
sheep and goats both. A man may go
out q half-rnlle from here and blow
horn or start rabbit and in few min
utes can start fifteen or twenty dogs.
One negro has fye. Now, ifa man feeds
his dog at all, don't see how it will cost
him less than tea dollars each year.
This would raise q hog or several sheep.
# we had no dogs, or those we have were
confined, as they should be at night, ev-
ery farmer could raise few sheep, If
only ten. It would add millions instead
Of the loss from worthless, unrestrained
dogs.
form? Could not the Governor be In
duced to recommend such law7
know the Constitution forbids per cap
ita tax, but that can be gotten over by ma
king it q license to own sdog. I preaume
there are not less than one hundred thou
sand dogs in this State. A license Of one
dollar each added to the school fund
would be quito an Item. Think OF 1t and
calculate for yourself. Charge the dog
with his feed at ten dollars and you have
g million Eaved, and charge him with
sheep killed and not raised, where they
would be il not for the dogs, and 1 don't
know where 1t would 60, but this Is the
night thief we have to deal with. II
sheep and Angora goats were introduced
into our State, enough to consume the
would II properly managed make ma
nure enough to fertilize all tho cotton
lard that we ought to plant, saving the
guano bill.
will not at this time undertake to say
how many sheep this State Is able to sup
port, but It would 60 into the millions.
Make law thai will insure them against
the dogs and they will be raised, but as
it Is few men axe willing to risk their
money in animals that every dog In his
vicinity feels privileged to kill. The dog
in an unframed state feels that the sheep
ia his lawful prey. A friend was with us
q short time since who is fox hunter
and Keeps a pack Of hounds, To my
surprise he expressed the opinion that
ali the dogs in this country ought to be
killed to stamp out hydrophobia. One Of
his neighbor's children had just been
fearfully lsrcerated by rsbid dog.
This, with the tendency to kill sheep,
suck eggs, etc., ought to cause something
to be done to restrain the dog, and not
allow him to range at will TO the detri-
mept Of his neighbors.
T.. WASHINGTON WATTS.
Laurens, s. c., September n.