Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-07-14
EDITORIAL
A WORTH WHILE MOVEMENT.

A WORTH WHILE MOVEMENT.
EEWER dogs in Georgia and more
prosperity and public safety are
the objects of a movement which
has taken form in Sumter county
and which its proponents hope will
quickly spread all over the state. AT
teh request of active proponents
who mostly are local sportsmen, Rep
resentative G. W. Riley of Sumter
county will introduce a bill at this
session of the legislature levying a
state tax on all dogs owned in the
state, the suggested amount $40 per
head for female and 81 or So each
for males. The obvious and desired
result Of such a bill, if enacted into
law and enforced, would be a rapid
disposal of thousands upon thousands
of worthless dogs in Georgia-which
to our way of thinking would be
one of the best things that could
happen IN this state.
The sportsmen are interested be-
cause dogs destrop game, particular
~ quails, by hunting out the nests
and eating the eggs or killing the
young. Many farmers who would
like to raise sheep are interested be-
cause they know they cannot keep
sheep successfully while the hound
dog exists in any considerable mum
bcrs.
A well known young farmer Of
the county explained the reasons for
such tax in this way
"A dog running loose about the
country will do more damage to game
than two or three hunters by de-
stroying nests and young birds. And
dogs are an expensive luxury on the
community. We operate a farm of
only 600 acres-not large one for
this section. The other day | was
bordering this dog question and de-
cided / would see how many dogs
were located on our farm. visited
all the negro houses and found
total of 81 dogs.
Il think it may be truthfully said
that the amount of feed required
to keep dog will make a pig thrive.
Thrty-seven pigs on that place, turn.
ed into meat or money at frequent
intervals, would be worth a great
deal more than ten times 81 dogs
and would do no harm.
Some will object to the doing
away with so many dogs by saying
that It would reach many a boys pet.
Such people let imagined sympathies
influence their best judgment. The
fact is that every boy would be much
better off growing pig and making
& little money for himself with what
attention and feed he would have to
give the dog.
Another thing, the state board of
health has recently pointed out an
increase in rabies in dogs, which is
a serious menace to human beings.
The most of the rabies comes from
our dogs which scarcely belong to
anybody, but which are constant
economic drain upon and menace to
the community.
If stiff tax were put upon dogs
and enforced it would have tenden-
cy to do away with the worthless
dogs and leave only the valuable
animals, which would be properly
saken care Of"
There is great deal of food for
thought in this citizens statements
Georgia could well afford to swap
her millions of dogs for few thous-
and sheep ard pigs, and increased
public safety and prosperity.
The stingiest man on earth re
sharpens his monograph needles.
If their dresses are getting longer
their legs are doing the same
Most of these men longing for the
olden days would cut their heads
off with a straight razor.
People get better every day,
says a preacher. What of the
nights?
Funny things happen. One day
last week everybody in Hollywood
was alive
You can't do much without capita
and you can't do much with capital
There are only 2700 Eskimos left
Where will we get our jantors next
winter?