Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-09-26
UNCLE SANS HORSES.
Substance OF tho Army Regulations Pre-
Nidinc. for Their Purchase.

Sub>tanCo OF tnc army regulations Pre-
VidiuS for Their Purchase.
For ten years following the close of the
rebellion the army was supplied with
horses which were gathered up wherever
they could be found. says the Detroit Free
Press. The cavalry horses came mostly
from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Mich
igan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Mis-
souri,. AS the Western States and Terri
tories became sprinkled with settlers, the
attention of the latter was turned to the
matter of breeding horses. During the In
dian troubles of 1875 and 1875 in the North
west and Texas il was found that the ma
tive-bred horses. although a trife under
the regulation size, were much better
adapted TO rough service than the Eastern
horses.
The commanders of the Indian division
communicated this fact To the department
at Washington: and it was decided to sup
ply the army of the West with these horses.
Quartermasters were directed to specify to
this effect in advertising for horses For q
couple Of years past the horses for both the
cavalry and artillery service Of the West
ern division have been purchased on the
coast, and there is no likelihood Of this
practice being discontinued in the future.
Lower Oregon and Upper Nevada are now
breeding the best army horses on the coast
The ranges in these regions are rocky and
hilly, and the horses are therefore provided
with hard hoofs, muscular limbs and a fine
development of chest and body. They are
considered far superior to the Kansas
horses. The stock-raisers breed them es-
pecially for the purpose of selling them to
the Government.
The army regulations provide for the pur.
chase Of horses in a certain routine fashion
As matter of course only geldings are ac-
cepted. They must be sound and In good
condition; that is, with no traces of consti-
tutional defects; the height must be from
fifteen to sixteen hands, and they must not
be less than five nor more than nine years
old. The specifications conclude with the
ambiguous statement that the horses must
also be in all respects fitted for the cavalry
service. This latter being solely a matter
OF individual opinion is the source of many
quarrels and disputes between contractors
and inspectors. More care is exercised in
the selection Of a cavalry horse than horse
intended for the artillery service Hemust
possess a bright, intelligent eye, a good
head, shapely shoulders and breast, and a
hard hoof, free from splints and unsightly
marks. His weight must be between 900
and ], 100 pounds. The color of the animal
has much to do with his being purchased.
Aut NOloTs WHICH arc pre1erreu are roam,
black, bay aud chestnut. Next to these
come iron gray and sorrel. Horses of "off ~
colors, such as calicoes, buckskins, etc, are
taken only when il is necessary to do so to
complete a contract. White horses are
rarely accepted for the ranks, although
they are sometimes bought and used in
mounting buglers or band The modus
operandi of purchasing horses is, as a rule,
as follows: At stated periods, say the end
Of each quarter, each company commander
OF cavalry troop makes out a requisition
on the assistant quartermaster of his de
partment for the number of horses which
he may need. When the acquisitions are all
in, the assistant quartermaster advertises
for bids for the horses wanted, the animals
to be delivered at a certain place for inspec-
ton on a certain day. Each bid sent in
must be in triplicate and accompanied by q
guarantee, indorsed by two responsible par
ties, that in case the bid is accepted the con-
tract will be fulfilled to the letter. At the
time and place agreed upon the contractor
must not only have the number of animals
actually required by the Government, but
also a sufficient number to select from in
caseof reflections, and he should fall short
of fulfilling the terms of the contract