Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-11-20
UNCLE SANS HORSES
Something About the Govern.
ment's Four-Footed Stock
An Animals Are Required to Conform
with Certain Reguiations-A Horse
Generally Lasts Six Years and
L. Then Sold by Auction.

CSSSlOn, the magnlnCent appearance OF tno
horses excites the universal admiration Of
the spectators, says the New York Sun.
Their size, for they are above the ordinary
build, suggests in itself the idea of strength,
while the uniformly shaped head and large.
prominent eyes tell of the intelligence OF
the animal. The horse is as much of the
cavalryman's outfit as his saber or carbine,
and he must needs possess the strength to
endure long forced marches, and the under
standing to be of the most possible benefit
to his rider in fighting by requiring the
least attention.
It is said that France expends annually
$500, 900 in the improvement of her horses.
with view to obtaining hardy-bred ami
mails, whose endurance makes them es-
pecially valuable for such irregular serv-
ices as is required of the Cossacks of Rus
STA, the Uhlans of Germany and our
mounted infantry.
The United States does not spend nearly
so much, but It secures a class Of horses
high above the average, and by proper and
humane treatment loses but q small per-
centage Of them. Moreover, the animal
when it becomes the property Of Uncle
Sam fares better than its fellows, and
ordinarily its life is continued in the service
for some years beyond that Of the horses Of
other armies.
Congress annually appropriates about
$2O0, 600 to be expended in the purchase Of
horses. This amount is divided pro rata
among the divisions Of the army, those on
the Atlantic coast not requiring as large
sum as the cavalry on the frontier, where
the life of the animal is not altogether one
of lazy contentment In Arizona, especial
ly, the equine mortality is greater than in
any other section, and more horses become
disabled and unfit for further service. The
burning sands and alkau deserts lead to
blindness aud diseases of the hoof, and the
animal has either to be shot or sold. The
lack Of proper pasturage and food also
cuts an important figure in the life Of the
cavalry horse in the remote garrisons of
the West, for while his Eastern brother is
feeding luxuriantly on a full allowance Of
o ats and corn twice day and sleeping in a
comfortable stable, the Western horse is
making q scanty meal on husks and sleep
ing in ramshackle building that seems to
have been especially constructed for a free
circulation of air.
There are nearly 10, 600 horses In use by
the United States army. OF this number
about ten per cent. are sold annually be-
cause of their unfitness for further cavalry
or artillery duty, and about five per cent.
are lost by death. So, in order to maintain
the standard, it Is necessary to purchase
about 500 animals every year. When the
stock of a garrison needs repIenishing the
Quartermaster Generals Department is
notified. An advertisement inviting bids
is inserted in the prominent papers and a
contract entered into with the lowest bid
der to deliver the horses at the desired
point, if, after suitable inspection by the
Secretary of War, they meet the require
ments Of the standard fixed by the army
regulations. The regulations require that
the horse shall be gelding of uniform and
hardy color; from fifteen to seventeen
hands high; from four to eight years old,
and weighing between 800 and 1900 pounds
for cavalry horse and between 1,050 and
1900 for artillery horses. There are other
requirements necessary, such as the gener-
al build of the animals and their health.
Whenever it becomes necessary to pur-
chase the half-breed horses of California or
Southern Texas the standard of the height
is reduced to Az hands. Long-legged,
e-jointed, long-bodied and narrow-chest-
ed horses, as well as those which are rest
i've or vicious, are rejected.
Most of the horses used in the army are
purchased in st. Louis and Louisville al
though the general rule of late has been to
obtain the animals in the neighborhood in
which they are desired for use, the idea be-
ing to obtain thoroughly acclimated ami
mails. The average cost Of horse is q trifle
over $134.
AS soon as the purchase is completed the
horse is branded with the letters s'U. So ON
the left fore shoulder, and a complete de-
scriptive list is made of him, which ALWAYS
accompanies him wherever he is trans
ferred. The horses are distributed by the
regimental commander, and the riders or
drivers are not allowed to exchange them or
permit any one else to use them.
With every troop Of cavalry q record of
the animals is kept, containing the descrip-
ton of every one received and transferred.
showing the kind, name, age, size, color,
marks, brands, or other peculiarities, how
and when acquired and disposed of, the
name Of its rider and driver, and the use to
which 1t Is applied.
The forage ration for horse is fourteen
pounds Of hay and twelve pounds o. oats,
corn or barley, and in special cases of hard
service or exposure the grain ration is usual
ly increased three pounds. In localities
where good grazing is practicable for con-
siderable portion Of the day, or during sea-
sons when little labor is required of the
animals, the ration Is usually reduced
The animals usually last about six years.
and at the end Of that time are sold at
auction, or before II they are disabled so as
TO be unfit for service. When sold the of
fcer puts another brand on the horse, mak
ing it impossible for the horse to be sold to
the Government at some other point. Con-
demned animals do not bring very much.
They are worthless for carriage purposes.
and are too much worn out to be it for the
more arduous WORK Of street car hauling.
They are usually sold to contractors who
employ them in hauling small loads. But
the army horse does not last long after he
nj ha rxytn I.
not amount to much when the Government
has no further use for his services and his
career thereafter Is as short as It is un-
eyentful.