The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-06
FIRST IN THE SOUTH
This is the Rank Taken by Norfolk As a
Market for Western Horses.
SCENES THAT REMIND ONE OF CHICAGO
Something Like Twenty Thousand
Auctioned OFT Every Year "A
striking Comparison with Fifteen
Years Ago-AtIanta HEATS lis in
1Yulcs-Somc Interesting Facts.
'weutv Thousand

A visitor to McCleary & McClelan's
stables on Tuesday might easily imagine
himself in the region of the Chicago
Stock Yards. though In reality he is
merely attending horse sale in Nor
folk.
Fifteen years ago this event would
have been unattended by any srcum
stance or particular marking IL as me-
morable. 1t may be, on that date, now
almost hidden in the distant past. two
trade loving Inhabitants from the usual
section met and "swopped" horses after
fashion dear to the farmers heart.
with pickering, chaff and Jolly" with
fairy tale, fable and jest-a merry
game OF bluff at which the sharpest man
won. Or II may be that one or two
horses were sold at private sale on that
particular, though mythical, day in the
long ago. Perhaps even. as many as
ten or twenty were disposed of in Il
bunch. If so 1t was an event of greater
or less magnitude, and discussed among
the craft accordingly.
THE HORSE SALE.
To-day u different scene greets the
eyes of the visitor The big stables nrc
rife with excitement. There Is much
noise. great deal of unnecessary talk
ing on the side, sharp. terse bargains
among the bidders, q continuous crack
oratory of the indefatigable auctioncer
punctuated by the irregular tramping
of equine feet.
All is hustle and motion. To the
oldest inhabitant" the scene is uncom-
fortably confusing and passes his COM
prehension. To veteran horse men and
others who have been caught bytthe
fascination Of the stables. 1t Is but Il
reprouction of the famous markets Of
the big Western cities and New York.
Five years ago 1t Is doubtless IL over
5000 horses were sold I'm this city in
year at auction. The number has been
augmented to at least $4,000 or 10000
and is increasing at the rate of perhaps
1000 year. The McClcary & McClel-
Ian Stock company are chiefly respon-
sible for this increase and handle rhc
greater part OF this class Of stock sold
here In this way.
THE GREATEST IN THE SOUTH.
In conversation with Mr.. E. L. Nc
Cleary, OF the above firm. yesterday
that gentleman gave Virginian re-
porter some very interesting informa-
ton. I'VE made a stock company of our
concern about two years ago" said he
land since that time our sales have been
increasing from 1000 to l5oO year. In
1880 the horse trade here was hardly
more than retail and local. Now Nor
folk Is noted chiefly along this line as
| being a wholesale town. This city Is as
suredly the first horse market in the
South and the business Is increasing
| rapidly. though the sales for horses are
not quite so good this year as usual
But there will always be a sale for good
horses. People want them just as badly
| now as they did before the days Of BIZ
| cycles and railroads"
ATLANTA AND MULES.
atlanta sells more mules than we
do" continued Mr.. McClcary. but we
beat them clear on horses. In season
we sell as many as 800 day some
| times. At present. while we are only
having one sale week. we averae
| about go at clip. These animals
come altogether from the West-Illi-
nois, Indiana, Iowa and other States.
They are bought by the people of Vir-
ginia, North Carolina and South Caro-
particularly, we are building up a good
trade.
| EXPECTS HIGHER PRICES.
1.-The animals disposed of at these
| sales" said an Iowa dealer. who had
| just received a consignment of twenty
unusually we'll conditioned animals ARE
smaller than those required by the
! Western trade. | bring all the horses |
| purchase here. though formerly did a
| good export business i'll horses. Prices
on the other side got almost rs low as
they did here. and we couldn't afford To
| send them across. An animal wouldn' I
| pay his cost and transportation. This
| IS a good market ard | like It, look
| for better prices next season, too You
see the low prices that horses have been
| bringing have deferred many from rails.
| ing them, and ON the Western farms.
| Where you could always find plenty of
| spring colts, they are as scarce as hens
teeth now"
| SOLD OK COMMISSION
| The trade here Is altogether of Il com
mission character the stable getting SO
| much for every animal auctioned off
! and they bring any where from So Ia
$50. The busy season is from January
| lst to May LIST. during which period
| there being two autcoins week, the
| bulk of the horses are sold.
ARE EXPORTING THEM.
| There are number of other stables in
! the city doing q considerable business
| in selling horses besides the firm men
| toned. and the figures quoted above
! include exclusively the handling OF
animals imported from the West. Gn6
| Go not touch the local or retail trade
! which IS, of course. large. nor do the,
| have any reference to the shipments
| made abroad, satisfactory eXpor
business having been established Will
| a number of foreign ports, with indica
tions of a marked increase next season
|
ADELIGHTPUL LECTURE.