Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-10-27
DOGS IN ARKANSAS HAVE A MAJORITY
 OVER THE GOATS
Loss to Cattle from Dogs in State Totals Thousands
 of Dollars Annually
JEFFERSON COUNTY
 HAS MAJORITY DOGS
Next Legislature Will Be Asked to Care for This
 Bad Condition.

Bad Condition.
 Special to The Graphic
 Little Rock, Oct 26.-How many dogs are there is Arkansas? Also, how many sheep and goats?
 Those two questions were propound- ed some weeks ago to the State Food Administration. A census was taken by County Food Administrators If it had been in an election between the dogs and the sheep and the goats the dogs would have had 'howling" success, for reports from fifty-four of the seventy-five counties in the state show there are 238,3O7 dogs and 128,105 sheep and goats. In other words, the dogs have majority of 110,202.
 That doesn't indicate, however, that Arkansas has "gone to the dogs" In fact, this data was asked of County Food Administrators with very def mite and serious object in view. The next session of the Legislature will be asked to pass a bill putting war tax on dogs and making those who own dogs keep them at home. This legisla- tion, in view of reports from all over the state of sheep and goats and even cattle being killed is deemed to be an immediate necessity. The average Ark ansas, especially those who live in citi- es and towns, states the Food Ad- ministfation, has no idea of the great loss in stock from attacks by dogs. In dollars and cents it would aggre- gate a startling amount.
 Interesting deductions have been made from the reports on this sub ject.
 Counties reporting an excess num- Der of dogs over sheep and goats are as follows:
 Arkansas, PTS; Baxter, 171; Boone, 1000; Calhoun, 278; Clark, 2,307; Clay, 1,500; Cleveland, 1,143; Colum- bia, 3.52O; Craighead, 2,875; Craw- ford, 2!351; Dallas, 995 Drew, g. 398; Franklin, 983; Grant, 2,3OO; How ard, BOAT; Independence, 3,161; Izard 1900; Jackson, 2,,13O; Jefferson, g. 900; Johnson, 2,987; Lafayette, 1,298; Lee, 9,828; Logan, 1859; Miller, 1,- 616; Mississippi, 10000; Monroe, g. 782; Ouachita, 9,S52; Perry, 7O9; Philips, 3,838; Pike, 1,545; Polk, 1, 379; Prairie, 37; Pulaski, 21 ,167 Ran dolph, 2,754; Scott, 3,28O; Sebastian, 5,128: Sevier, 1,1S9; St. Francis, g. 300; Van Buren, 1,69O; White, 4,640; Woodruff, 2,1OO.
 Counties that have more sheen and goats than dogs are:
 Benton, 1y5OO; Bradley, 300: Cross, 1,153; Garland, 1866; Lawrence, 1872 Madison, 2,OOO; Montgomery, 23; New ton, 750; Saline, 460; Searcy, $40; Sharp, 2,582; Stone, 17s; Washington, 4,730.
 The only county to report "nary'' sheep or goat was Mississippi. but in that district there are 10000 dogs the census taker quit when he reach ed that figure dogs of all sizes, color shape, breed and of various degrees of l social standing and servitude; dogs that apparently are giving no thought to "the high cost of living" or the great events now taking place-just dogs!
 Whether or not that is the price "dog county" in the state cannot be determined, for County Food Admin istrator Grover T. Owens, of Little Rock, who presides over the food sit uation in good old Pulaski, in sub- hitting his report, camly said:
 "The dogs have carried Pulaski county over the sheep and goats by a majority of 21,167." in other words, 1 MT. Owens checked up 24,OOO dogs and then they had to send out first aid' from the Red Cross to revive him.
 State Food Administrator Hamp Williams is not inclined to regard this data as a nobject for mirth. When some one suggested that it might be a good plan to ascertain how many of the dogs had been taught to carry parcels and use such canines in assist ing in distribution of the new Home 1 Cards. which will take place the first week in December he "clouded up'' and let fly this statement:
 "This is mighty serious proposi- tion for Arkansas. A fortune has been lost in sheep and goats and cattle by the dogs killing such stock. The state should realize those facts. There is vital necessity for war tax on dogs for an act that, if. people want dogs, let them pay for them and let the state realize a good revenue. That bill ought to be framed-and will be
 so drawn up-that dogs will nc
 longer be permitted to run at large
 especially in the country, killing val uable stock. It is crime. We are in a food crisis as we'll as military crisis of the nation. and war tax on dogs will certainly be one of the first bills the next legislature will be asked to pass"