Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-05-04
The Horse Question"

". SIIChulOlC VI Vic NCW vi
World, to prepare a paper on thu
"Horse question:" to be read before
that body. Mr.. c. has given the sub
ject a great deal of attention, an(
probably there are few men living
better qualified by special study O
the subject, to discuss it more intel
ligently, and hence we make the fol
lowing extracts from his paper, whicl
was read before the Institute on the
10th of April.
Gentlemen Of tile 1naerican Msti
tute Farmers Club:
Many thanks for your invitation te
prepare paper on the Horse CUES
ton, as embraced under the general
heads: Different breeds, crossing
breeds to produce particular results
or qualities, thoroughbreds, fancy
strains, and breeding for profit in
this section of the United States
I am afraid that what knowledge
possess on the subjects named is SC
meagre as to make it scarcely worth
your time or attention, but what !
have is at your command. Of the
first four points under the general
head, 1 really know nothing, except
that l believe that the American trot-
ting horse to be one of the most
useful animals known, not exactly in
the ligh. of a racing machine, but as
useful domestic animal, one capa-
BILE of being used tor every purpose
known, in pleasure or in business
1t is breed capable Of an immense
amount of work of certain kind,
especially light draught work; then
when hitched to a country wagon, or
carry-all, will jog along fast enough
for all practical purposes, while, as a
whole, ninety out of 4 hundred can
be driven from one end Of Manhat-
tan Island to the other by any man
or woman with average intelligence.
The improvement Of this class of
horses is worthy the attention of far
mers everywhere. not only from the
merely human point Of view, but be-
cause it must eventually be the
source Of great revenue to this coun-
try.
Therefore the fifth point of our in
vitation, breeding for profit, is sub
ject to which every farmer in the
United States should give most care.
full and thoughtful attention, more
especially that class owning or work
ing a farm for which is required the
labor of four, six or eight hors-
es, half of which should be marcs.-
In the little travel | have had during
Ahc last few years, ! have often
noticed that very many farmers pos.
sess fine-looking, big-bodied mares
many perhaps trifle coarse to crit
cal eyes, but not one of which could
not, with a little care and some judg-
ment,be made to produce good per.
centage on the capital invested in
her without any great loss of time as
far rs usefulness is concerned.
The natural tendency of the veal
thy classes of our large cities since
the war has been for show and dis
play in horses and equipages. The
light skeleton wagon is rapidly Civ.
ing way to the heavy pheatons and
dog-carts for gentlemen, and to styl
ish carriages and coupes for ladies'
Already we have a four-in-hand club
one member of which followed the
English style of driving a public
route, nearly the whole summer sea
son, with fair promise that he will
do the same this summer, with more
or less opposition from others anxi
Gus to shine in the same sphere
Now while these may be luxuries
that our forefathers would scarcely
think conducive to q republican form
of government, it is state of affairs
that every farmer possessing the
means should assist all in his power
for 1t not only means horsefesh, but
it means an increased demand 70,
hay, oats, corn, and other products
of the earth.
Of course, this is no defense of the
system from a political standpoint
All such aristocratic notions mean
OF course, a Capitalization of money
to the advantage of the rich and tc
the injury of the poor. But that the
fact exists there can be no denial
and that it will continue to exist tC
the end of time is nearly as certain
Consequently it behooves those in s
position to benefit by such ideas tc
make the most of the fashion by
raising horses fit Tor the work, anc
he who excels Will be the one t.
make the most money out of it.
Another feature of this breeding
interest should not be overlook
ed, and that is the chances this coun
try affords for being the basis o
supplies for European governments
to obtain horses both for cavalry an(
artillery purposes. Horses have re
Gently been shipped from Canada tt
England for domestic purposes
They found a ready sale, and wer
much admired; and no longer ag'
than last autumn, that distinguished
young statesman and turtle, Lore
Rosebery, said in my presence tina
he thought the domestic horses o
the United States were among tn
best that he had ever seen, and tina
he thought eventually there would
be great demand for them. Thi
must be taken in connection will
the fact that he was one of the orig
inal movers for the investigation Il
to the deterioration of horses il
Great Britain, and wrote the repor
made to the House of Lords on tn
subject. | know him to be an I'D
mirer of the products and industries
of the United States, and that tn
country has in him friend who will
not hesitate a moment to call tn
governments attention to the MAJ
kets of the United States, SHOULD
England ever need horsehesh for he
cavalry, artillery, or transportation
corps. That the continental gov
ernments may eventually be com
PEELED to look to us for the SAM
material of war is not unlikely, al
though as whole, they are at tn
present time better supplied witt
horses than England, having givel