The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-12-04
The Government Horse Corral.

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and still fewer outside, who knew ofthc
great amount of business done here in
b,, ing of Government horses. Away
beyond the Presidents House, and
south Of the enclosure devoted to
Washing,on's equestrian statue known
as ",he Circle and adjoining the obser-
vatory grounds in fhe First Ward of the
city, is an immense series of shops
yards, and stables called the "Govcrn.
meDt Horse Corral" Here that bust.
ness is transacted, and the concern has
grown from small beginnings until now
it is one Of the great t,pyernmcnt in
dus.rial works, of lncalc,,lablc benefit 10
the country.
At this place all tho army horses and
mules are bought and inspected; sick
and worn ont animals put in hospitals
wagons repaired and teams furnished
the army and the commissaiics who
send supplies to il; and everything
done necessary to furnish adequate
anartcrmaster's supplies. The whole is
under the control Of Col. RuckGy and
Caps. Dana, OF the Quar,c,,na>,el : De.
partmcnt, though Mr.. G. II. Shay the
Superintendent is the man Who keeps
the machine in motion; and Mrssrs. j.
+. Allen and Gcrmon, h,s snbor.linates
>upe'intend the repair shops and Wagon,
parks.
There are orer 5000 men em,.ioved
III these shops and the eos. tlabor and
mat erial is nearly S40 600 Il month.
There have been MS many as 10, 900 hor.
ses anl mules i'm the curralS y, one
time, and the daily average is $4,000
Over 800 teams are kept constantly
at work hauling supplies to the forts
near Washington, and to Gen. McClel-
lan's army
In wagons and harnesses the place
docs an immense business. l. keeps
the ensirc army Of the Potomac sup
Piled. Old wagons an harnesses are
brought to this place and repaired,
being cent out ~ good as new. A di
la.,idated team coming TO the corral is
at once recruited. The horses and
mules are sent 10 the hospital; the
sarpess is rspairsd by the saddlers j;
the wagon is mcndcd, the wnccls re.
tired, new pins, bolts, and cover given
it, and the teamstcr leaves the corral
with a complete outfit. There are one
hundred sad'llers employed in repaixipg
harness. and before Mr.. Snow lis
establishment in operation, all the ma.
tcrial on which these Nrh work was
wasted. Three hundred carpenters
and wagonmakprs are employed, and
over six hundred men ply hammer and
lungs in tho blacksmith, and horse shoe
ing shops. Its repairs alone ii is es,i-
mated that ten ;hogsand dollars il saved
monthly; 10000 horse shoes are made
and put on i'll the same length of time
When contractor brings drove of
horses or mules to the establishment,
they are brought TO one of the outer
yards to bo inspected, and each one
passes mfler the experienced eye Of
one Of the best judges Of horsc-flcsh in
the country. About one half Of each
drove is rejected, the contractors en-
deavorlny TO folst all sorts Of stock upor
the Government. The ANIMALS which
are accepted are sent away to the shoe
ing shops, and thence to the stables,
whore they are DIVIDED into three herds
one containing those suitable for 3r-
tillery, another cavalry, and the third
teams. From these herds they are ser.
ved out as the wants Of the army de.
mands them.
The shoeing shops are the places of
greatest interest In one long shed a
hundred blacksmitbs are hanper;pg
away at horses. In another, the more
tractablc Of the mules are rut through
the same process. Usually, however,
these later animals arc such awful kick
ers and zngers that few men will At
tempt to operate upon them. For such
unruly gentlemen, Messrs Allen and
Snow, alter long and patient ilvcst;.
CATION, have invented process, which
FOR originality Of genias aHd Adaptable.
ty to the freaks Of the mulcs, cannot be
surpassed. An oblong pen is built Of
the heaviest timber a stont windlass
is at the upper end, and from the top
three broad straps hang down. The
machine il Of great strength, and very
simply constructed. It takes halt
do,on man fO Oncrafn II md = tnuln 10