The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-11-25
sHEEP RAISING.

private 20. a: dleH SOcg.sS q 1850.
sHERP RAISING.
Efforts Being Made to Revive this
Neglected Industry.
The Columbia State says 1t the ap-
preaching session as the general as
sembly reports may be made in re.
gard to the effect OF the new law
placing q capltation tax on dogs. The
law was passed in the hope that i
would give protection to those who
want to raise sheep. The payment OF
the capitation tax will be made just
as in the case with other property
tax, and as the fiscal year has not
closed, it cannot be said whether the
law has been successful or not.
The law provides: THAT there
shall be imposed and assessed on all
dogs In this State capitation tax Of
SO cents nrually on each dog, the
proceeds Of which shall be expended
for school purposes in the several coun
ties in which it is collected.
Sec. 2. That dogs shall be returned
In the sc me manner and at the same
time that OTHER property is returned
fer taxation.
Sec. 3. That the capitation tax OF
dogs provided for in this act shall be
objected at the same time and in the
same manner that other taxes are now
collected.
Sec. 4. That the capitatlon tax
n6 f,,r In
constitute, q first lien In favor Of the
State Of South Carolina on all proper.
ty owned by any person who owes any
such. capitation tax.
Sec s. That e collection OF the
capitation tax provided for in this act
may be enforced against any property
owned by the debtor of such tax in
the same way and manner as IL 1t were
tax assessed on that specific piece Of
property.
Sec. g. That no dog which is not
returned for taxation as required iD
this act, shall be h:li to be property
In any OF the courts Of this State.
Sec. T. That it shall be the duty
of the county editor and township as.
SCISSORS to enforce the provisions of
this act, so far as it relates to listing
for taxation"
The books Of the comptroller gener.
al In 1903 showed the following re.
markaole state OF affairs in the State:
Number. raiut.
| Dogs. -. SO 3l6 S47,366
Sheep and goats. 40, 1872 49.432
These figures may not be reliable In
any degree as 1t is prCbible that tie
returns were not made with care In
the several Counties. But accurate or
inaccurate, the staten ent shows a sad
lack Of interest In sheep raising,
Mr. Il. j. Watson, commissi ner of
agriculture and immigration, has re.
ce1Ved letters asking for information
as to the raising OF sheep in this State.
Thurs lay he wrote the following in
answer to correspondents: Your let
ter OF November 1st, requesting on.
best estimate of the actual figures c,
the number Of sheep on hand at the
spring she airing, he weight per fleece,
ana the an ount or the Il p In pounds
in this State, has been received.
Il is ex remely difficult to even
give you an estimate inasmuch as the
sheep growing in this S las up to
The pre- ,ent season been pra ,ically
undeveloped, and but few statistics
have been kept. When this d.part
ment was established last January, |
underio ook TO push the sheep growing
industry to the fullest extent. Up to
The pres, mt we have not made as much
aeadway as l would like, although al
present there is considerable increase
IN d number CT she, p being raised In
the State.
In the returns TO the comptroller
general for taxation FIR the current
year sheep and goats are numbered
G geNher and the total number is set
wn as only 46 1872 This figure,
however, l consid rthl ss be.
cause SO many owners Of animals fail
TO make returns Of such property.
In 1860 there were In The State 234,.
600 sheep.
| Toe decrease in the number has
been eady down to the census OF
800, when we find the tItal number
If sheep in South Carolina placed at
o2 coo. This dt crease has been in
la-se IN aSurc due tj tie ravages Of
| iogs, the nun b OF "l'.h h, notwith.
standing TIE tforti OF hundreds
owners 70 avoid taxalion, was report
I'd On January l,t last to te 90, 316
You Will note. 10y the census report OF
1900 that the number OF fieeces shorn
n this State in the fall of 1899 and
the spi'ng Of 1900 is given at 55 ,233
and the weight l75, 200 pounds, tn,
iue at 1881.
L would not venture any estimate
such as is requested 10y you, and
could only say that 1 have given you
the only available figures. 1 would
repeat, however that the principal
advance made by this State in sheep
growing In the last 20 years has been
within the last year and half, and
this increase has been very material
one. know OF two large places that
have within the last six months been
thoroughly. Gt' cked with fine sheep
brought from other States
l trust that next year we will be
able. to give you complete and accurate
statistics on this line"
Two Killed at Dillon.