Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1915-02-24
ENFORCE DOG LAW.
More Sheep and Fewer Worthless Dogs
Should Be the Aim.


. According to reports received by the
Department of Agriculture from the
, Circuit Court Clerk in every county in
! the state, the number of female dogs
registered in Tennessee for the year
1914 was 1878. According to reports
from the same sources, the total num-
Der registered in the state since the
law was enacted in 1907 is "a. los.
The act of 1907 was passed on the
demand of farmers in the state who
were engaged in the sheep industry or
who wanted to engage in it but were
deferred on account of the ravages of
the cur dog.
The act requires the registration of
female dogs in the office OF the Circuit
Court clerk of the county and the pay
ment of fee of So, which after de-
Quoting the cost of collars, tags, books,
etc, is to be turned over to the county
trustee and converted into the common
school fund, and prorated as other
school funds coming into the hands of
the trustee.
The act also makes it unlawful Tor
the owner of an unregistered female
dog to allow 1t to run at large. A vio-
lation OF the provision of the act is
misdemeanor, and the Circuit and
Crininal Judges of the state are re-
qured by the act to give this law IN
charge to the grand juries.
Law NOT ENFORCED
The law is not enforced in large
section of the state. One counyt.
Marion, reports that there has not
been, since the lawsswas enacted,
registration of female dog. Madison
county reports the largest total num-
Der. 800. Shelby county, the largest
in population IN the state, reports no
registrations for 1914, and only II since
the passage of the act. In Davidson
county, none was registered IN 1914,
and total of 720 was reported. Knox
couny reports none for 1914, and 131
total. Hamilton county reports none
for 1914, and a total of 263.
Of the amount collected by the Cir
cult Court Clerks, about 81 out of the
So is turned over to the trustees, which
would mean that since the law was en-
acted the school fund has benefited
about S48,00
If the law had been rigidly enforced,
as it should have been, not only be-
cause it was the law but also because
it would have been of great benefit to
the sheep industry of the state. the
school fund would have benefited by
three or four times as much as re-
ceived.
According to the Federal Census of
1870 there we're in Tennessee 795, 033
sheep in the state. With It's adaptable
ity to this profitable industry, there
should be four times this mum Der in
the State, and If the law already on the
statute books was enforced, and more
stringent laws in regard TO sheep kill
ing dogs enacted, the industry would
revive end Tennessee would be one of
the leading sheep and wool producing
states in the Union.
Tennessee is well calculated to be
great sheep producing state and has
possessed by few of the
states of the Union. The rich valleys
of East Tennessee, the vast plateau of
the Cumberland Mountains, the High
land Kim of Middle Tennessee, the
plateau of West Tennessee, offer ex-
ceptional opportunities and advantages
for the industry.
Farmers and live stock men of the
state realize the opportunities anG ad-
offered by natural conditions
uch as water, grazing, mild climate,
ETC., and many would engage in the ins
iustry who are not now interested, if
t were not tor the fear of the ravages
# the sheep-killing dog.
That Tennessee is capable of produc-
ng as good sheep as any state in the
Union, and much cheaper than most of
hem, cannot be questioned, and 1t is
o be hoped that the law requiring the
egistration of female dogs Will be
nore rigldly enforced, and if necessary
ther laws enacted looking to the en-
engagement Of this profitable indus
ry.-T. F. Peck, Commissioner of
agriculture.