The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-10-27
WASTED POWER.
The Tremendous Idle Force IN Our
Vagabond Dogs.
An Interesting Paper by an Americas
Official in Belgium on ;.le EsiIlx.-
ton Of CANNES for Indus
trial Purposes

{
try. 1t IS very interesting paper.
says the Boston Herald. and il coald
be wished that il might have an in.lu-
ence in determining the future OF the
canine race in this couatry. Speaking
OF the working dog as the first iistinc-
tive institution that attracts the a.
tention of 4 stranger in Beigiunl. MIR
Smith says: Prom time immemoriaI
this hereditary loafer has been given
over TO pleasure. but like certain other
OF the privileged classes in this revolv-
ing world Of ours he has had his day
al least in Belgium"
1t appears that Liege. which is
wealthy and industrial city employing
as many horses as any other town OF
its size IN Europe, shows at least two
dogs in harness on its streets for every
horse that can be seen Dogs are em-
ployed by market gardeners, butchers,
bakers, grocers, porters and express
men, The dog step is so much quick
er than that of the horse that he will
in an hour cover twice the distance
and carry with him greater burden
in proportion to his size Consul Smith
says that a pretty, bareheaded Walloon
peasant girl moving briskly at the
side of q flower cart drawn by d stall
wart mastif is a pleasing vision To the
early riser.
The usual draught Of an ordinary
dog is six hundred pounds. though
mastiff is often taxed with as much
again. Dogs are also used in treadmills
for moving light machinery. Here is
good hint for our farmers, who might
turn their vagabond dogs TO good ac-
count In the working of churns. cut
ting of food for cattle. saving wood,
etc They also might be made of valu-
able service in running the family sew
ing machine, pumping water, rocking
the cradle, grinding coffee, and per-
forming other domestic work where
motive power could be made available.
Consul Smith relates that gentleman
In Liege, after losing the use of his
legs, had 4 perambulators so constructed
that a Danish hound, which had been
his companion for years. could be
hitched and almost concealed be-
tween the wheels, and now appears as
at his old haunts on the
The dog is described as being not only
as happy as when he loitered at his
masters heels, but manifestly proud of
the service he renders him
Dogs as draught animals are utilized
extensively in Germany end other
parts of Europe, but Consul Smith says
that in Belgium this is a comparative
latest and most approved developments
of that country's civilization. Dogs
are kept like horses ct livery in con-
sidera bic NUM- bcrs at 4 cost of five to
six cents day, horse flesh and black
bread forming the staple OF their food.
Where one or two dogs are kept in a
family the cost is practically nothing
and their service is made very valua
BILE
Experiments of breeding. like those
which have been so successful in the
of horses, are now being
made with dogs 20 produce a style of
animal especially fitted for harness. 1t
IS thought desideratum TO graft the
splendid chest aud breathing capacity
Of the bull dog upon the stalwart stock
If the mast:ff, which has been found
100 long in the back and legs. There
IRE markets in Belgium where dogs
ire bought and sold for draught pur-
poses, as horses are at Tattersalls s. and
L is not unusual for compactly built
md well-broken dog to bring twenty |
% twenty-five dollars.
Consul Smith points ont that force |
,qual to that of Niagara is running to /
taste in the United States at the very /
reels of the people lie estimates |
hat in our wasted dog power we have /
IN idle force in America OF at least |
hree billion. five hundred million /
pounds: reckoning the strength o. u
log at five hundred pounds, which is /
much below the average. |
The consul says that there is not an |
rticle of merchandise, from ton Of I
oal to loaf of bread, sold in any of !
ur cities. which might not be more
delivered by dogs than /
" horses, and he points out that ia
dvantage would be gained. for the
liter made by horses Is the most fruit
ul source OF dirt in our city, 10 say
othing of the great saving in the
year and tear of pavements-
Consul Smith presents the case In
avor OF the industrial utilization Of
ogs very we'll, indeed. and, although
. may not be found practicable in this
ouutry, owing TO our different meth
ds OF doing things, nevertheless IL
light be worth while 20 try the ex-
eriment- II somebody would make .
ood start AID prove suecessfal, Il Il
kelly that tie example would bc
-ideIy followed II Is no cruelty 20
ae dog 10 give him useful occupation,
nd, IN fact, the testimony is that be
sally likes Il II dogs could generally |
Q made SO healtfIly tired by useful
-orsl ali the day that they would sleep
1undly at night, the innovation
.ould DO hailed with joy By hundreds
I thousands of people Eli over the
0untry whose peace - disturbed by /
1eir nocturnal yclping and bowling. !
> !" bH+0 ~ q DFSA S9S~' ~ NC sup
ression o. our annual Fourth Of july
arse
-ysxed W ifs--''Tbere Is 10 calamity /
sn befall woman tina, / hare not !
lffereet ABia bic Husband-"Hron !
y dear, now yop have ne~er been a
-ldo~." Nexed Wife, said eaIarrs-
3 SIR HALO
EEH. - "a ~