The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-11-15
WHY NOT a DOG LAW e?
From THE CoTToN PLANT
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From THE CoTToN PLANT
Col j. Washington Watts, of Lau
rens County, has been raising sheeI
for AT least three score years and whol
member of the Legislature he mad
strenuous efforts to have dag Law
passed SO as to encourage the indus
try of sheep raising, but his efforts
were in vain nd his fellow members
rcckoncd him little daft on the ques
ton of dogs and sheep, considering
their relative Importance to the State
Col. Watts still believes that he was
right in advocating a dog law, and has
recently expressed himself as hoping
that the people will yet send enough
men to the Legislature with the cour-
age of their convictions, who will pass
"a rigid dog law, which is indispensa-
bic to the raising of sheep, and would
add millions to the incomes of our peo-
pie, who would soon see the difference
between five conts cotton and twenty
live cents wool" In the line of his
suggestion, we copy from the Atlanta
Journal the following statement of the
dog and sheep situation from the pen
of Mr.. G. II. Jordan, whose articles
are always worth reading:
1t is to be hoped that the members
of tho general assembly will not longer
treat with ridicule the introduction of
Il good dog law. The time has come
when an imperative demand is made
by the farmers of Georgia, for protec-
ton to the sheep industry of the State.
Wool is today selling IN the markets
oi our country for thirty-sevcn cents
per pound and there is no likelihood of
an overproduction. With rapidly IN
creasing population among the nations
of the world using woolen goods, it is
fair TO presume that the wool industry
of the country will not grow beyond a
strong and healthy demand, which will
exist at all seasons of the year. Aside
from wool, mutton has become within
the past few years a favored article of
food, and the entire area Of the United
States is unable at the present time to
produce enough mutton annually for
home consumption. We found it nee
essary to import nearly three millions
of mutton sheep alone from Canada
last year, and the purchase of wool
from foreign countries during the
same period amounted to many millions
of dollars more, to meet the demand
for domestic use. So that in the sheep
business we have most profitable
field for investment, and with the pas
sage of a good dog law the farmers of
Georgia, especially those in the wire
grass section, would be presented a
splendid opportunity for extensive
sheep raising. The mongrel cur should
not be longer allowed TO retard so i'm
pOrtant branch of our farm products,
aud if the present Legislature refuses
to give the sheep Industry helping
hand, by proper legislation ,Ithen every
county should make the dog law an is
sue in the general elections next year
of the members to the general assem-
bly,, where candidates are not outspok-
en- in their determination to meet the
wishes of the people on this line. be-
lievc that every man who owns good
dog, and is interested IN the future
welfare of his State is perfectly will
ing to pay an annuel tax of one dollar
on his dog. The taxes so paid would
go into the educational fund of his
county, and there be expended in edu-
eating the boys and girls of his COM
muni:y. Thousands of worthless ours
which travel the public highways after
night and roam under cover of dark
ness about other peoples promises, ex-
listing on whatever refuse they can find, ).
would meet fitting doom at the hands
of the proper officials. We believe that
hydrophobia is largely caused by pois-
onous substances which these half
starved, uncared for dogs devour, and
ofttimes the lives of valuable animals,
or even that of a human being is de-
stroyed, if unfortunately happening to
cross the pathway of these maddened
creatures. The we'll fed dog loves the
comfortable surroundings of his home,
and is apt to be found there at the pro-
per time defending his masters pos
sessions from the invasions of an en-
emy after nightfall.
The man who pays an annual tax on
his dog, aside from other considera-
tions, is likely to regard the possession
of the animal as something of more
value, and will give better care and
attention TO the needs of his dog.
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