Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-21
UNCLE SAMS HORSES.
Something About the Govern
 ment's Four.Footed Stock

Something About the Govern.
 ment's Four.Footed Stock All Animals Are Required to Conform
 with Certain Regulations--A Horse
 Generally Lasts Six Years and
 Is Then Sold by Auction.
 Whenever, upon the occasion of any pub lie parade, the cavalry stationed at the gar- rison at Fort Myer forms part of the pro- cession, the magnificent appearance of the 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 $500 600 in the improvement of her horses, with a view to obtaining hardy-bre ami mals, whose endurance makes them es- pecially valuable for such irregular serv- ices as is required of the Cossacks of Rus
 
 mounted infantry.
 The United States does not spend nearly 50 much, but it secures class of horses high above the average, and by proper and humane treatment loses but a small per- centage of them. Moreover, the animal when 1t becomes the property of Uncle Sam fares better than it's 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 800 900 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 8 sum as tho 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 alkali deserts lead to blindness and diseases of the hoof, and the animal has either to be shot or sold. Tho lack of proper pastunge and food also cuts an important figure in the life of tho 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 a scanty meal on husks and sleep ing in 8 ramshackle building that seems to have been especially constructed for free circulation of air.
 There are nearly 10, GOO 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. &c., in order to maintain the standard, it Is necessary to purchase about ], 800 animals every year. When the stock of a garrison needs replenishing tho Quartermaster-G 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 a 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 900 and 200 pounds l for cavalry horse and between 1,050 and 1,300 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 1 Southern Texas the standard of the height is reduced to 1415 hands. Long-legged | loose -jointed, long bodied and narrow-chest- l ed horses, as well as those which are rest, l i've or vicious, arc rejected.
 Most of the horses used in the army arc 1 purchased in St. Louis and Louisville, al l though the general rule of late has been tc l obtain the animals in the neighborhood ir l which they are desired for use, the idea be l ing to obtain thoroughly acclimated ami mals. The average cost of a horse is Q trifle ! over $134.
 l As soon as the purchase is completed the horse is branded with the letters "U. S." on the left fore shoulder, and Q complete de scriptive list is made of him, which always accompanies him wherever he Is trans | ferred. The horses are distributed by the l regimental commander, and the riders o, | drivers are not allowed to exchange them ol permit any one else to use them.
 With every troop of cavalry Q record ol
 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, tho
 which it Is applied.
 The forage ration for horse Is fourteen pounds of hay and twelve pounds ot oats corn or barley, and in special cases of hart
 service or exposure the grain ration Is usual
 ly increased three pounds. In localitie!
 where good grazing is practicable for 8 con siderable portion of the day, or during sea
 sons when little labor is required of th'
 animals, the ration is usually reduced.
 The animals usually last about six years
 and at the end of that time are sold a
 auction, or before if they are disabled so a.
 to be unfit for service. When sold the of
 icer puts another brand on the horse, mak ing it impossible for the horse to be sold t.
 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 fit for th
 more arduous work of street car hauling
 They are usually sold to contractors wh employ them in hauling small loads. Blu 1 the army horse does not last long after h.
 drops out of the service. Usually he doe 1 not amount to much when the Governmen
 has no further use for his services, and hi | career thereafter Is as short aS 1t Is uu