St. Tammany farmer., 1908-03-28
SHALL WE HAVE A STOCK LAw7

lIoYdLlOIl IudFkS progress anu Improvement
or nips the privileges of pioneer customs will
have to contend with the opposition of both the
ignorant and the selfish. There is no law gov
erning community that is not Objectionable to
some. But the stock law will soon come. It
may be delayed, but Covington is growing too
rapidly to submit to the free ranging of cattle.
If those who own cattle would stop to consider
that the inconvenience caused by the passage of
such an ordinance would be more than offset by
increased benefits in the shape Of rents, money
spent in the town by visitors and added value to
property, they would withdraw their objection.
The plea made by Bono, F." in last weeks issue
of the News that droppings of the cow are not
uncleanly because used to grow vegetables, is
so ridiculous as to lead us to think that his main
object was to be funny" Every school child
is aware Of the chemical changes that take place
before plant receives nutriment from it. The
carbonic acid that means life for the plant would
be the death of Bono" We agree with him as
to the wholesomeness of milk, butter, cream
cheese and clabber; that is when it is not made
Iunwholesome by contamination or disease. Milk
and it's products become dangerous foods under
Iunsanitary conditions, and a stock law would
safeguard us from some of the dangers.
While we are in sympathy with the motive
that actuates ''Pessimist, we cannot agree with
him in his rating of the Council The Council
will be only too glad to pass a stock law when
it becomes evident that majority of the people
wish it, and we who desire the law may make
up our minds that unless majority of the peo-
ple can be convinced of the desrability of such
an ordinance, we are not going to have one.
By the reasoning of Pessimist we do away with
an important factor in the administration of all
public affairs, diplomacy and consideration for
the views of others. We must have public senti-
ment with us; and we believe that with full
realization of the benefits that will accrue from
such law all opposition to it will cease.
The question is, shall we unite our efforts to
make Covington an attractive, up-to-date town,
or shall we let it drag along in the same old rut
The situation of Covington, with two railroads
and navigation, it's reputation as health resort
and it's proximity to city that is to become the
greatest in the world, should arouse it's citizens
to realization that old-tirne simplicity must
make way for the growth of city. In short
time we will have electric cars. Picture the in
consistency of electric cars, automobiles, family
carriages and grazing cattle! Is it not an
anomalous picture? The incongruity is so ap-
parent that it hardly seems necessary for argu-
ment The Farmer asks the people to show that
they are equal to the OCCASION that their love Of
the town and their pride in it's prosperity and
o71 70
obstruction in the path Of it's progress.
| We believe stock law would be to the inter-
est Of the town, and our belief is based on the
usages and customs of towns that have reached
any degree of prominence, the complaints that
are constantly being made by visitors that cattle
and horses in the street are Objectionable and a
nuisance, and because of unsanitary conditions
arising therefrom
! Milkmaids may not be afraid of cattle, but the
lpeople to whom we extend an invitation to visit
us are unaccustomed to them and are afraid of
them. AS to sanitary objections, every inteli-
/ gent citizen knows and understands the danger
that turks in any refuse matter in the streets,
aside from the unhealthfulness Of cattle grazing
therein.
| We think that when the question is thoroughly
iCoHpieneuueu ndHy VIII WlIhudW 'Ine1F oJec-
ton to stock law.
But do not let us become spiteful and bitter
If there are arguments against stock law, other
than slight inconvenience or expense to owners
of stock, let us have them, and let the people
decide whether they are good and sufficient rea-
sons. But we reiterate our warning, that if
personal privileges or interests are allowed to
interfere with progress and Improvement, the
final result will be the suppression of energy,
the encouragement or enterprise and the with
drawal Of desirable element in the maintenance
of the prosperity Of the town.
Mr.. c. E. schwing, editor of the Iberville
South, and Mr.. A. R. Albretton, of the Land Of
flee in Baton Rouge, were in Covington last
o., L.,n;,.ocu o.al ---a... aA...s