The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-31
THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN.
That's the Price OF Good Horses Out In
Wyoming Bicycle and Trolley
Have a DC pressing Effect on the Horse.
Oats and Corn Markets.

Oats and Corn Markets.
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
Three dollars dozen for horses!
Any body can ride who can raise a
25-cent piece. This statement seems
hardly credible, yet such Is the condi-
ton of the horse market In wyoming
at the present day. Sound unbroKeh
mustangs can be had for 81 a piece
For $6 to IS one can purchase thor
oughly broken horse, sound in every
way. A short time ago, when man
stole a horse in any OF the western
states or territories. he was quickly
pursued by vigilantes, and If captured
Judge Lynch soon settled his case.
Now all things have changed. When
man is found guilty of horse stealing
at the present time it is considered
''prima facia" evidence of insanity.
jury is at once appointed to examine
into his mental condition.
The direct cause of the falling off In
the price of horse flesh Is the introduce
ton of the trolley cars. The thousands
of horses that were required to pull the
street cars in the large cities previous
to the advent of the trOlleys were
thrown on the market. causing the re-
markable drop In the price. The west
ern states have always been the source
from which the eastern cities derived
their supply of horses. The demand
has now boone very small. but the In
crease In horses still continues. Some
provision has had to be made for their
disposal.
Canned Horse Flesh.
In Wyoming and Oregon horse can
ming plarEs are located. These estab-
llshments have all the facilities for
e. narkipo nd ri
horse meat for shipment to foreign
countries. Large numbers ofhorses are
slaughtered daily. 1t is expected that
1t will take the place to a large extent
OF the regular canned corn beef.
The liverymen in all the large cities
of the country where the trolleys are
being used all complain that it has
ruined their business. The proprietor
of one of the largest livery stables In
this city, when spoken to on the sub
ject, said: 81 have number of horses
which / hire out. A year ago | had
more customers than ! could possibly
accommodate. on Sunday our stalls
were empty from early in the morning
until late at night. 1t Is all changed
now We rarely have a call for team
The horses stand In their stalls. as the
saying goes, eating their heads off. 1t
Is a fact that during the past week
have not taken In enough from my liv-
cry business to pay for horse feed. III
II were not for the number of horses ]
take to board I would have to go out OF
the business. The trolley cars and bi-
cycles are responsible for this decrease
in the livery business. For half dol
lar a young man can take a lady a
pleasant trip on the cars. and nave
plenty left for supper on his return
mt. I.I Ia. tn hn N
driving out at least twice month. and
some more frequently, soon found this
out. The horse and buggy were gradu-
ally discarded for the trolley Now
only few Of those who were our regu-
lar customers take an occasional drive
as a change"
Bicyclcs Arc Also blamed.
Several Of the other prominent liv-
erymen of the city were visited. They
all had the same tale OF woe to relate.
one proprietor said: THE bicycle has
also had something to do with the dull
times In our business. The craze has
reached such q point that nearly ev-
cry man who can possibly scrape
enough money together has bought
one. Young men who formerly spent
their Sundays riding or driving now
take short runs In the country on their
WneeIB. Al ITbt we uiu uot iceI ~
much. The boys could not take their
best girls out on the wheel. In order
not to slight the fair ones they would
frequently take them out Cor the ac-
customed drive. The women now have
become as enthusiastic riders as the
men. They Join them In the. Sunday
runs and now Othello's occupation Is
gone. To sell our horses Is like giving
them away. L have several pairs Of
fine driving horses sound and gentle.
All I can get offered on them is 500
a pair. II this condition Of affairs con-
tinues much longer. there will be little
need for liverymen at all"
Action ON the 0nts Market.
The American Cereal company. Of
Chicago, estimates q, decrease In con-
sumption Of oats OF 100000 bushels
on account of the displacement Of horse
power by bicycles and electricity. Sew
eral prominent dealers In feed and oats
were shown the above statement. They
said that the use Of electricity in place
Of horse power on the street railroads
had diminished the consumption of
oats; but did not think II would amount
to the figures given by the cereal COM
pany.
one dealer said: "The street car
companies fnthis city used but little
~ 80 2 \ X =, s - lti 4, n,