The record-union., 1897-01-03

chopper. the steam cake crusher and
the steam pulper the motor cart is not
likely to lead to the determination of
the cart horse; and If the light railway
saves him some labor, 1t is not more
likely to make his services unnecessary
than the ordinary railway. So far from
anticipating the abolition of the cart
horse by the motor We should be
much surprised to learn that a large
number of cart horses are not employed
at the works of the large horseless car
riage companies themselves
We will continue with the cart horse
in beginning our consideration of the
injury that may be inflicted upon horse
breeders by the substitution of steam
power for horse power. Among the
most important patrons of the Shire
horse and the Clydesdale as the cart
horse is technically called, according
to his breed, are the brewers Undoubt-
edIy it will be a great saving to them
to have their prodigiously heavy carts
moved by steam instead of by horses
Horses similar to those used by brew
sfs, again, draw the heavy vans Of
many manufacturers and merchants
and dealers in cities: it may be eX-
pected, therefore that the demand for
such horses will seriously decrease.
and we should not care at this moment
to invest money in a large breeding
stud of Clydesdale or Shire horses at
present prices. Not that we anticipate
the disappearance of either breed. On
farms, in the yards of great works and
railway companies, and even, to some
extent, in carriage in towns. there will
be ample opportunities for employing
them. The light van horse will prob
ably, like the heavy cart hose. be super
seded by the motor. Where he is used
| time is generally of Importance, and
| here steam power has an advantage
over him. He lis a fine, active, useful
| animal, and we should greatly regret
to see him gradually disappearing. We
have more fears In his case than in that
| of the Shire horse or the Clydesdale.
as there is little demand for him beyond
| towns and suburbs, and farmers are
not likely to go on breeding him for
| their own use.
| Nobody can. strictly speaking, be said
TO breed the cab horse. He like Lord
Reaconsfields critic, is an animal that
has failed in other walks of life. To
| have no market for the failure, how
| ever, will be a very serious matter to
| breeders, as we'll as to purchasers of
| horses that have turned out to be fail
ures. In short, what is to become of
| equine failures in the future appears
to us to be the most crucial question
| connected with motor carriages.
| The best omnibus horses are bred for
their particular purpose, and sorry, in
| deed, shall we be If these sturdy, active
| creatures become obsolete 1t is very
| difficult to foretell the fate of the pri-
waite carriage horse. Motor carriages
are likely to become fashionable. For
some time they viii, no doubt, remain
| fashionable; and 1T is pretty safe to
| prophesy that most people who now
keep a carriage will presently keep
| motor carriage; but we think that. so
far as mere fashion goes, a reaction
may be expected-that by-and-by. the
| forgotten charms of a. quick-stepping
pair of horses will be remembered, or
redLscovered, and that carriage horses
of the highest class will eventually be
almost as much sought after as ever.
Unfortunately, in order to breed a few
frst-rate carriage horses, there must
be many failures, and here, again, we
are confronted by the question, What
is to become of the failures?
Motors will not, or ought not, to jump
over fences; accordingly they are in no
way likely to lessen the demand for
hunters. This is more than can be
said of the supply. There are even
more failures in breeding hunters than
| in breeding carriage horses, and if
| farmers should be unable to dispose of
such failures it will not pay them to
breed hunters ait all unless they can
obtain much higher prices for the sue
cesSeS than they do at present. For
this reason we expect the prices of
hunters to increase very considerably.
Good carriage horses are also likely to
| rise in value, though perhaps to less
extent.
Troopers for cavalry may very posSi-
bly, become rather cheaper than dearer
The better class of failures in attempts
to breed carriage horses and hunters
viii be readily sold to contractors for
cavalry remounts; for horses which in
these days would fetch fair prices as
hacks, dogcart horses and drawers of
light carts will then be very difficult
to dispose of. Although motor races
are already whispered of, he would be
q bold man who would dare to prophesy
that machinery in any form will ever
put a limit to horse racing; but this ait
will necessitate the putting to death
of a large proportion of the countless
failures annually turned out of racing
stables.
One of the most serious questions for
the consideration of farmers in connec-
nection with motor carriages is the eff
feet their general use woul1 have upon
the demand for hay, oats and any prov
ender now consumed by horses; but
as this does not directly concern the
future of the horse it is somewhat be-
ycnd the province of our present in
quiry. Another question which our
subject does not require us to answer
is, whether the breeding of horses, 9TH
er than cart horses, and apart from
the convenience of using the young
bCrseS until sold, is even now remuner-
etive to farmers. There are those who
strongly maintain that it is not.-Satur-
day Review.