The Green Forest tribune., 1899-06-01
HORSES FOR MEXICO.
Increased Demand for Animals from
 the United States.
There Has Been Quite a Change in This Item Of Trade Between the Two COun untrieS-Other Ex-
 pOrtatfOns.

of cattle were reared in Mexico for the United States. and 15 years ago in northern Mexico alone, on an area of 300,000 square miles, there were 1.500, 0e0 cattle, 2500000 goats, 100000 horses and 100000 sheep. In the year 1890 there were imported into the United States, many of them from Mex ico. 3S.24S horses, on which there was a duty of $30 each and the aggregate value of which was nearly $2,000,000. In the same year the number of horses exported from the United States, chief ly to Europe, was 3.501 valued at $700.- 000 a difference in the balance of trade of $1,300000. Since then, especially with Mexico, the balance of trade in horses has changed radically, and now the average annual sales of American horses in Mexico reach $100,000. In the fiscal year ending January 1, 1898, the number of horses imported into the United States had fallen to 2,2S6 and the number of horses exported from the United States had risen to 51,15O, the importation of horses representing $300,000 in value and the exportation of horses representing a total in excess of $6.OO0OO
 There has been of recent years a steady increase in this item of Ameri- can foreign commerce, and it seems cer- tain to increase still further in view of the fact that there is throughout the West Indies and in many South Ameri can countries a dearth of horses at time when the home demand for Amer jean horses has visibly decreased. Di- rect communication with Mexico is easier than with any other country tC which horses are sent by the United States, and there need be no surprise. therefore, dealers in horses say if there should be an increase in this item of American commerce hereafter.
 Of 51.000 horses exported from the United States last year, 22. 900 were sent to Great Britain, nearly 5000 to Ger many, 7,500 to other European coun- tries, France excepted (there is prac tically no exportation of American horses to France), $500 to Canada. British North America and the Klon dike. 1900 to the West India islands and Bermuda, and 1,6OO to Mexico and Central America. The value of tne horses sent to England was $3.000. 900, to Germany, $1.200.0OO. to other Euro pean countries $77000Os to British North America SSS3 00O. to the West Indies and Bermuda $132 GOO. and tC Mexico and Central America S1C2 GOO.
 The trade in American horses with South America can be said only to have begun, amounting last year to only 21 horses. while five times as many were sent 10 Africa and more than ten times IS many to Asiatic countries. For American horses there would appear to be an assured market in the West In ties since the restoration of peace in Cuba. for during he fiscal year ending July l. 1897 nearly 5000 American horses were shipped to these islands, and the decline in the year succeeding is ascribed generally to the unsettled condition of affairs in Cuba and to the practically enforced abandonment of agricultural operations on many parts of the island. Temporarily, too, number of horses were withdrawn from agricultural pursuits for the require mentS of the Cuban cavalry. and some, too. were purchased for the needs of the Spanish cavalry. and since the restora- tion of peace in Cuba this demand will have to be made up by importations from the United States. But to Mexico as permanent and enlarging market for American horses dealers, in, this country look chiefly, and by the agricul- tural census of last year it was shown that there are now more horses in Tex as than in any other American state, the total number being 1900 GOO. Illi- nois and Iowa follow Texas in the or der named-N. |. Sun.