The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-25
HACK HORSES.

Under this head are included all those horses en-
ployed in hacks hotel carriages, coaches, barouches
and all kinds Of vehicles hired out by the owners Of
livery stables, besides a considerable proportion
which are used particularly as riding horses. The
total number is estimated by Mr.. De Voc, the In
spector of Hacks at three thousand five hundred
They are an excellent class of animals, generally
larger than those used in the omnibus business and
of hardy temperament. Ohio and Pennsylvania
furnish the largest proportion, and Vermont, Maine
and New Hampshire have a fair representation
among them. About one.third are exposed TO all
kinds of weather on the stands throughout the city,
during twelve or thirteen hours out of the twenty
four. Although in harness all this time, they are
not employed more than three or four hours day,
about fifteen miles being the average distance ira
yelled daily by each animal Multiplying this by
twelve hundred, we End the total distance travelled
in one day, by one-third OF the hacks in New
York, to amount to eighteen thousand miles,
The hack horses OF all kinds are worth about one
hundred and fifty dollars EACH and five hundred and
twenty thousand dollars in the aggregate. The cost
of keeping these amounts to seven hundred and
twenty-eight thousand dollars year, that their
support costs more than is paid for them. Another
important item must be added to this, namely the
expense of shooting, which amounts to seventyseven
thousand dollars. But while the expense OF keepinga
horse is so great, it must not be forgotten that
his labor in this department will realize in year,
about three times his original cost.
OF the three thousand five hundred hack horses,
large number is employed during the night in at
tending on balls, parties, DC. Their work is not so
laborous as it is unhealthy and injurious, and, as
general thing, they not therefore so valuable
those employed in the daytime exclusively. There
many sorry looking animals among them, which
il would be bad policy to expose to the daylight or
to bring in competition with others on the stands.
Besides these there are four hundred riding school
and saddle horses and about sixteen hundred which
belong to hotel carriages, coaches or are used in
barouches and light wagons. The average price Of
each saddle horse is about two hundred dollars and
for particularly handsome and excellent animal
five and six hundred dollars is not considered ex-
travagant price. If we take two dollars as the
average daily sum realized by each horse, not in
GLIDING Sunday, land this is rather under than
the actual receipts) we will find that the total
amount paid for hacking and riding in this city
during one year, is 81, l9l 900
The number of coaches hotel carTia ges barouches,
rockaways, and other vehicles employed in the hack
business is fifteen hundred, the total value of which
is estimated at three quarters of a million of dollars.
This is exclusive of the cost Of the harness. set
of which will last about year. The total cost Of
harnesses alone for the $500, including those
used exclusively for riding amounts to one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. That we may not be
lightly accused Of exaggeraon in the presentation Of
these statistics, deem it but Just to those EN-
ployed Ia hacking, to state that we have estimated
everything at the lowest possible amount. Some az
the carriages cost nine add ten hundred dollars,
while there arc others that are not worth two hun
dred.
There are many interesting facts connected with
the hack business that may be stated here although
they have no drect bearing upon the subject under
consideration. The number Of men employed in the
different capacities Of drivers and stable or livery
nen, is about two thousand and their yearly salary
amounts in the aggregate 20 1852 900; the iron
consumed yearly in making shoes for the horses, to
half million of pounds, or two hundred and fifty
tons The average length Of the life OF hack horse
is about ten years, some living twenty-five. One or
two OF extraordinary longevity are recorded in
which they have lived to the age Of thirty years bat
such animals are regarded as prodigies
The following table exhibits. at glance the lead.
ing and most valuable statistics Of the hack business
ia this city -
Aggregate value Of $500 horses .... sj2j 900
Aggregate value Of carriages and other
vehicles ..,...............,,., $4,000
Annual cost of shoeing .....,..,..,., S77 900
Value of harness .........+...... $4,000
Aggregate yearly salaries Of drivers aud
ftablenien.. ts.... ...t.... a.>f.s Hsy&bJJ
Yearly amount paid for hacking ...,. s2,I5i 900
Aggregate yearly value Of labor OF hack
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