The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-10
The Meat Problem. the sheep Problem III
Dog Problem

Commissioner Of Agriculture koiner, we
told fran Richmond, has beena summoned to
Washington for a conference with the secretary
Of agriculture on sheep raising The secretary
Of agriculture has been credited with the be-
lief that there great possibilities Of extending
the production of meat in this country by rails
ing sheep. His department has declared that
the number of sheep kept in Virginia might
he doubled without displacing A single other
animal, and with great profit to the State.
But there is apparently ar insuperable OBJ
stacIe. There is problem that must be solved.
and completely solved, before sheep raising shall
make much progress in Virginia in any other
southern State. That problem is the dog. So
long large proportion Of the people prefer
dogs and are both unwilling to surrender their
dogs to subject them to reasonable restraint.
then We can have no more sheep than now
nave: II any change, the number Will grow
smaller. If Secretary Houston. Of the depart
ment Of agriculture In Washington give
Commissioner koiner, Of the State of Virginia,
a practicable solution of the dog probiem then
Secretary f4ct1sto-r witt have The pleasure Of
seeing sheep culture in Virginia increase under
his administration Of the great agricultural de-
partment Of the government, If he cannot dis
pose of the dogs. then sheep
There ought to be a practicable solution of
the dog problem. Before we can hope to solve
IL must recognize the fact that people in
large numbers arc going keep dogs If every
ESheep in the universe is sacrificed. We
recognize the persisting dog therefore. as fact
lem and still have the dog? If there s not WE
might as well make up our minds that meat
shall continue 10 grow scarce, and that no more
sheep shall ne raised than at the present time
IN Virginia to fill the gap,
There is 6nly one way to arrive at a solution
/ nj the problem that it may benefit the sheep
industry and that is to induce the reputable
Wners of dogs to agree TO a plan that viii inn
pose restraint dogs; enough restraint
to make the sheep industry possible. No more
than the owners Of such dogs would impose on
I their own children, by seeking know at all
times whore the said children are. Every man
who has valuable dog ought to know at all
times where that dog is and both for the dogs
and in consideration of the rights of his neigh
Gegs te keep them safely at home in an en-
closure from which they cannot escape at all
times when they not under his immediate
observation.
II reputable owners of dogs would cheerfully
accept such rule this for their dogs
the Commonwealth could afford To disregard
the wishes of those who irresponsible, who
keep loI of dogs which they dodge paving
taxes. and who could not be depended on to
comply with any reasonable laws on the sub
iect.
Cannot those in the State who would like to
raise sheep who have the facilities for ii and
who would find it highly profitable, make terms
with the genuine sportsmen and other keepers
of high class dogs. by which some such ar
rangement outlined above may be effected.
and law enacted that will make it posi-
Bile To get rid of straytng dogs, some law that all
will agree to enforced?
Unless a compromise of this kind can be
reached we might as we'll dismiss all idea
OF raising sheep the farms of Virginia
Commissioner Koiner might profitably undertake
propaganda Of this kind with view to eff
fecting a sensible settlement of this question
--Isynchbnrg News.