The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-01-25
The Small Breeder Speaks,

| tEu5b Inc lOW6sS-0UD, WHO ONoI JOu
is looking aboutf for the causes and tn
remedy, we have thought, amid al
the theories promulgated by learne
editors and laymen, that few word
; from a small breeder anent the situs
ton might not be out Of place. First
let US look at the peculiar conditions
industrial and financial, througl
which our country has passed during
the last quarter OF century.
The great destruction of horse
caused by the many vicissituGes q
war was great dram on the hors
stock Ut the country, and during tina
period when horses were being use(
up by the thousand there WAS but lit
lie interest taken in breeding ven
lures, hence when the war was owe
ana the swords were beaten into pillow
shares and the spears intOprunins
hooks and the people settled dow
once more and resumed habits anC
avocations of peace, horses, which haC
become comparatively scarce anC
high, were in good demand for in
dustrial purposes. The great devel
Opments which followed the closing
of the war, the multiplying of street
railways in all the cities, large anC
small, called for aud furnished EN-
ployment for thousands and thou
sands of animals and for services
which were 30 hazardous and destruc
tive that their ranks had 10 be con-
stantly filled up
With this demand and compare
lively limited supply prices were kept
up to highwater mark. With the in
crease of wealth which follows the
pursuits of peace came an increased
demand for gentlemen's Ioadsters,
and as the sport of trOtting became
more and more popular 1t took an i'm
mense number of horses tc supply
these demands. Under all these con-
ditions The breeding of horses was a
profitable industry as it was carried
on by the small breeder.
In those good old days, when horses
were comparatively scarce and prices
ruled high, before the large breeder
stepped IN, to tue injury of the bust
ness, buyers in the cities, which con-
stitute the great markets of the cOun.
try, had their eyes on all the good
colts in the territory comprising the
section from which they usually pur.
chased their stock, and could tell their
ages, and thus determine when they
would be suitable for the market. rhe
lovers of the Morgan strain know all
the Lambert aud Franklin colts roam.
ing over the Vermont hills, as did the
admirers OF the knoXes and the Drews
those bred and owned on the farms in
the sections of Maine in which the
above families fourished.
In those days, and under these Cir.
cumstances, a small farmer, who unit.
ed with the other branches Of his bust.
ness the breeding of d few horses, wss
sure, barring the usual accidents in
cident to any business, to reap q fair
compensation for his care and trouble.
There Was a healthy demand for his
products, and the price was regulated
only by the quality OF the stock he
produced. The breeding of horses is
"a Legitimate pursuit for the farmer
as the breeding of any class of live
stock or the raising of wheat, corn or
potatoes, and had the business been
kept within the limils to which it
legitimately belongs, while IL might
have been subject In a measure to the
ups and downs to which all lines OF
business are subject in greater or
less degree, there is no doubt even
though there is a lessened demand
for the The cheaper grades of horses
caused in part by the substitution for
electricity in propelling street cars in
nj ~
erly and even though these horses no
longer in use, have been turned back
by the thousands on the country to
make places in other lines of business,
but there might have been even at the
present time with the increase of pop.
ulation and wealth, q quick sale for
good horses at prices for which 1t
W, uld pay to breed them.
Ibis brings us then to the cause of
the present low prices, and to our
mind it is not far to see, aud may be
summed up In the one word lover
production" This causes us to pause
\ moment and ask how " all came
about and here again, we fancy, the
solution is not far off, and may, al
though it may he beresy to proclaim
it, be found in the forming of large
horse breeding establishments all over
the country. 1t has been q "fadn ex
tending from California in the West to
Prince Edward Island in the East for
gentlemen of wealth who have made
fortunes in other lines of business and
who love good horse, to establish a
stock farm and expend thousands in
perfecting it and in the purchase of
giltedge stock, simply, as is generally
explained at the outset, as side issue
and as meana Of recreation and en-
joyment.
So far such enterprises are worthy
of encouragement and no one would
wish to detract in the least from a
pleasure so innocent, and could the
matter end here all would be well,
but what is the result ? AS time
passes the stock accumulates until it
overruns the capacity of the farm and
is put upon the market in some form,
either by advertising through the
papers of by thu auction sale.
Others follow the example and in
time we find the large stock farms,