Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1915 — Page 6

DOGS ARE THE FARM SHEEP’S WORST ENEMY.

If This Menace Were Removed American Flocks Could Be Easily More Than Doubled. Washington, D. C., Aprif 15. — The number of sheep in the 36 farm states, which do not include any in the western division, could be increased by 150 per cent, it is estimated, without displacing other live stock. Some authorities believe that, the increase could be even as much - as 500 per cent without serious interference with the number of other animals. An increase of 150 pe. cent in these 36 states would mean in money- $144,267,000. In a new publication of the department of agriculture, Farmers’ Bulletin 652, the responsibility for this loss to the country is laid upon the sheepkilling dog. Sheep-killings dogs, it is said, are the principal cause of the marked decrease in the numbers of sheep on American farms. In the 10 years between 1900 and 1910 the number of sheep in the country, exclusive of

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the states in the western division, decreased 3,000,000 head, in face of the fact that during these same years the market value of sheep rose so rapidly that the total value of sheep in this area was $19,000,000 or approximately 25 per cent more in 1910 than in 1900. Favorable though the market conditions were, they were not a sufficient incentive to induce farmers to risk the heavy losses from stray dogs. The number of sheep killed annually by dogs cannot be stated exactly since there are many cases which are not reported at all. Judging from the figures in those counties and states in which reasonable complete reports are obtainable, however, it may be said that in the 36 states more than 100,000 sheep are killed each year by dogs. This, it is true, is less than 1 per cent of the total number of sheep in this area, but a 1 per cent loss on a business that is being conducted on a profit basis of 5 or 6 per cent cannot be ignored. This estimate it must be remembered is also probably much lower than the actual

figures. It is certain too that many men have been kept out of the sheep business through fear that in their own particular cases the loss would be much more than 1 per cent. Any one who has actually seen sheep killed, injured, or frightened by dogs is likejy to think twice fore engaging in the business. In many cases while only 1 or 2 sheep may be actually bitten by the dogs, the whole flock is chased until it dies from exhaustion. a If the dog question could be satisfactorily disposed of there seems to be no reason why the number of sh«fep in the country could not be increased to the extent already indicated. In Great Britain there u one sheep or lamb for each 2.5 of the total area. In the 36 farm states in this country there is one sheep or lamb for each 31.8 acres. The British farmer handles his land on an intensive basis and feeds his sheep on rorage-crop pastures. Such pastures not only increase the fertility of the land but also free the sheep from many internal parasites contracted through

grazing upon permanent pastures. In particular the use of a succession of forage-crop pastures will prevent stomach worms, one of the most prevalent and disastrous scourges of young stock, and will enable the farmer to market by the end of June or the first of July, when market prices are usually the highest, the lambs' that were born in the late winter or early spring. Handled under such conditions and on highpriced farm land the importance ot a small flock ot' sheep.:: cannot be overlooked. , in addition to pointing out these facts the bulletin already mentioned, “The Sheep-Killing Dog,” discusses the possible means of preventing in the future the loss from dogs. At the present time the various, state laws on this subject differ widely, some states using the money obtained from dog licenses to reimburse sheep owners, while others permit the sheep man to recover damages from the dog owners and two offer them no recourse whatsoever. Dogs, 'however, are very seldom caught in the act of killing sheep. It is always difficult to determine their owners, and where the damages are paid by the state directly from the dog-tax funds the money very frequently is far from sufficient to meet all the claims. A remedy that is suggested for this situation is a uniform stats dog law embodying the principle of a tax upon dogs sufficient heavy to discourage those who are not willing to take care of their pets from keeping them. Under this plan all dogs over six months of age must be licensed each year, the tax paid at the time of licensing, and a metal tag bearing the license number attached to the dog’s collar. Any dog found without this tag, unattended and off its owner’s premises, may be killed. When found unattended on a farm where sheep are kept the dog may be killed whether it has the tag or not, and under any circumstances a dog caught chasing or killing sheep may be killed. All dogs which can be proven to be sheep killers must be killed whether caught in the act or not, and a reward of sls should be offered for any one identifying a sheep-killing dog. The money received from dog taxes should be devoted to reimbursing sheep owners for their lost stock and the county should in turn recover this money whenever possible from the dogs’ owners. A special license should be issued for kennels where large numbers of dogs are maintained under such conditions that they cannot possibly do any harm to neighboring flocks. While some such plan as this ns probably indispensable to the full development of the sheep industry in the United States, there are cases where the flock master will find in its absence the use of dog-proof fences very desirable. The grazing of sheep upon comparatively small areas of land sown to forage crops, instead of upon permanent pastures in larger fields, materially reduces the area to be fenced and makes, this a practicable precaution. In the west fences have been built which prove a satisfactory defense against coyotes, and the fence that will turn aside a coyote will turn a dog. A fence of this character can be built as follows: Posts feet in length, set 2% feet in the ground and 16 feet apart; a barbed wire stretched flat to the surface, of the ground; 3 inches higher a 36-inch woven-wire fence having a 4-inch triangular mesh; 5 inches higher a barbed wire; 6 inches higher a second barbed wire; 7 inches above this a third barbed wire. Total height 57 inches. It is important to remember, however ,that the bottom strand of barbed wire must be stretched flat on the surface of the ground at all points. If necessary the ground should be graded before the fence is built. Thereafter such small holes as appear may be filled’in. It is not always necessary to fence the entire pasture, for dogs usually attack sheep at night only. If a sufficient area can be fenced to give the flock protection during the night, therefore, they may be safely left in uninclosed pastures through the day. This method involves a certain loss of time in driving the sheep to and from the inclosure, but in many cases will be preferred to the expense of fencing on a large scale.— Office of Information, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture.

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True Temperance Sentiment Encourages Beer Making None but a pessimist will deny the growth of a healthy sentiment for real temperance during the last twenty years. The result has been a notable decrease in over-indulgence in alcoholic liquors. During the last score of years the brewing industry has doubled its output. There is but one conclusion and that is that the growing temperance sentiment is increasing the consumption of beer, the most temperate of alcoholic beverages. ‘■The introduction of beer in America has done more for temperance than all the temperance societies and all the prohibition laws combined,” says Col. Henry Watterson, veteran editor of the Louisville Courier-J our nal. / • • • ■ • ■ . "• - > Beer encourages true temperance because it satisfies the human demand for a mild stimulant without producing intoxication. Indiana Brewers Association

Notice of Bridge Letting. No. 2681. Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, May 4. 1915, the Board of Commissioners o’ Jasper County, Indiana, will receive sealed proposals for the construction of a bridge repair in Marion Township, between Sections 9 and 10, Township 28 North, Range 6 West. Said bridge to be repaired according to plans and specifications on file in the Auditor’s office. All bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit as required by law. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jasper County. Notice of Bridge Letting. No. 2679. Notice is herebj given that on Tuesday, May 4, 1915, the Board of commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana, will receive sealed proposals for the construction of a bridge repair in -Marion Township over the Howe Ditch between Sections 8 and 9, Township 28 North, Range 6 West. Said bridge to be repaired according to plans and specifications on file in the Auditor's office. AU bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit as required by law. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jasper County. Notice of Bridge Letting. No. 2774. Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, May 4, 1915, the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana, will receive sealed proposals for the construction of a new bridge in Union Township over the Dexter Ditch in Section 25, Township 31, Range 7. Said bridge 'to 'be constructed according to plans and specifications on file in the Auditor’s office All bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit as required by law. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jasper County. Notice of Bridge Letting. No. 2773. Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, May 4, 1915, the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana, will receive sealed proposals for the construction of a New Steel Bridge in Union Township over the Jungles Ditch, in Section 19, Township 31, Range 6. Said bridge to be constructed according to plans and specifications on file in the Auditor’s office All bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit as required by law. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of .the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jasper County. Notice of Bridge! Letting. No. 2775. Notice is hereby give'n that on Tuesday, May 4, 1915, the Board of, Commissioners of Jasper County, In-; diana, will receive sealed proposals | for the construction of a new bridge, in Newton Township, between Sec-1 tions 18 and 19, Township 29 North, 1 Range 7 West. I Said bridge to be constructed ac-

cording to plans and specifications on file in the Auditor’s office All bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit as required by law. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jasper County. Notice of Bridge’ Letting. No. 2776. Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, May 4, 1915, the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana, will receive sealed proposals for bridge repair in Union Township over the Dexter Ditch in the center of Section 36, over the East and West Highway, Township 31 North, Range 7 West. Said bridge to be repaired according to plans and specifications on file in the Auditor’s office. All bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit as required by law. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. 'By order of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jasper Notice of Bridge Letting. No. 2777. Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, May 4, 1915, the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana, will receive sealed proposals for bridge repair in Jordan Township over the Carpenter Creek, through the center of Section ■ 11, Township 28 North, Range 7 West. Said bridge to be repaired according to plans and specifications on file in the Auditor’s officer' All bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit as required by law. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jasper County. Notice of Bridge! Letting. No. 2798. Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, May 4, 1915, the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana, will receive scaled proposals for the removal and repair of bridge over the Dexter Ditch in Union Township at the corner of Sections 2,3, 10, 11, in Township 30 North, Range 7 West. Said bridge is to be removed, replaced and repaired according to the plans and specifications on file in the Auditor’s office. . All bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit as required by law. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board of Commissioners! of Jasper County, Indiana JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jaisper County. Notice of Administration. Notice is hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed by the Judge of the Circuit Court of Jasper County, State of Indiana, administrator of the estate of David M. Peer, late of Jasper County, deceased. Said estate is supposed to be solvent. EUGENIA T. PEER. Administratrix. April 15, 19,15.' a-17-24-m-l Let The Democrat supply you with typewriter ribbons and carbon papers. We have ribbons for all makes of standard typewriters, and handle the very grade of carbon papers.