New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
TRADE IN HORSES HURT.
THE EXPORT FROM AMERICA TO GER
MANY.
GOOD BEGINNING RUINED BY THE SHORT
sIGHTEDNEss OF AMERICAN DEALERS

y GOOD BEGINNING RUINED By THE SHORT
sIoHTEDNEss OF AMERICAN DEALERS
Vienna. March 10.
The German Reichstag In the fall Of 1894 passed
m act which meant in Its enforcement the prac-
heal exclusion Of American pork end cattle, but
not long after this step was taken. and what
seemed at first rather remarkable. sort OF semi
Official intimation let fall that the importation
OF American horses would not be interfered with
In short. It strongly limited that a trade IN
that direction would be agreeable That this action
sovored OF selashness the part of the Govern
ment is easily understood for everybody knew
that Germany compelled TO go beyond her own
borders for a large portion OF her supply OF horses
and everybody knew further that the Government
was aware that the United States had Just the
kind OF horses Germany needed for military use
as we'll as for light driving and farming purposes.
Belgium. Denmark and Norway had been supplying
this market for long time. but 10 This there was
a standing objection. based on the fact that inc
horses imported from those countries were TOO
heavy and commanded too high price botn TOT
military purposes and the ordinary TRADE. IN 'ne
United States horses were plentiful and cheap
Good ones could then be bought for sl5 and even
less money.
The facts and conditions were so patent as 10
render a long study OF the question unnecessary.
and therefore. as soon as the pork ana ca.'e
trade was killed the dealers began the expectation
of horses IN large numbers. The first heavy snip
msnt was to Hamburg. and on the day OF ARRIVAL
the entire cargo disposed OF TO the uer"a"
dealers at 800 marks $500 each The cost OF trans
portation from Chicago to the German port TO-
gether with the 3ia per cent insurance ana 'he ~
marks duty aggregated about s65 head. when
amount deducted from the price realized iett s|o
clear for each horse. Allowing $40 as the cos'
price there margin of $50 which was quite
suf1cient to make the business a prohtaoie one
The prospects were indeed. bright for lucrative
fradp
were much pleased, for the horses proved 10 De
inst what were wanted for the German trade ana
sold we'll some Of them bringing as hlgh as ~"
marks $3.50.
The satisfactory outcome OF this shipment OF
course gave the trade an impetus and immediate
10 another large consignment made to Ham
hure But this time results were not so gratifying
While running up the Elbe the ship struck a sahu-
bar and was detained for two or three DAYS waiting
for high tide The German dealers were easei
for the horses so eager that they lost their heads
so to speak, and bought the entire cargo prac,ica
" sight unseen while the ship lay aground down
the river and to make themselves sure OF posses
sion they paid down the cash, 800 marks per heao'
taking II for granted. OF course. that the horses
were as good as those OF the former shipment But
when the ship unloaded they saw that
they had been badly duped. for the horses were OF
far different grade from those shipped on tne
former occasion-n fact they were scarcely Deuer
than a lot of plugs, many OF them worm niue
!
had made their sale pocketed the cash and gone
and there was no redress. They had got out OF
the country with well-fed wallets. but had left
the American horse trade in Germany seriously
injured Other shipments followed, some OF them
by STRAIGHTFORWARD reliable dealers. but the bust
ness no longer moyed with that activity ana
smoothness that had at first characterized It, The
horses had TO stand longer in the market, the
people were suspicious Of trickery and the local
dealers who not interested In the import trace
were busy advising everybody not TO risk Amerl-
can horses at any price. Long delays meant high
expenses and these ate so badly into the prohts
that the general trade seriously affected
ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE.
Finally late in 1895 a meeting Of the American
and German dealers held to devise means to
break down the growing prejudice against Amer-
can horses. and 10 this end 1t was agreed that IN
the future all purchases should be made with the
utmost care. and none but sound and healthy AMI
mails should be allowed TO go upon the market
Accordingly. order sent TO Chicago for a
shpload Of frst-class horses. sound In every par
ticular. to be consigned to Bremen. The shipoad
was 10 be limited to such number as the steamer
Crefeld by which they were to be sent. could carry
easily and comfortably. Instructions given
TO land the horsec In New-York long enough before
the sailing OF the ship to enable them TO get thor
oughiy rested for the voyage. All this was faithful
~ carried out. and If nothing had interfered the
horses would In all probability have reached the
German market in good shape. and this would
doubtless have gone long way toward removing
the prejudice But the very day Of sailing thir
ty-five other horses. completely tagged out from
q long ride by rail. arrived at New-York and were
driven aboard the Crefeld making just thirty-fve
too many for the ships capacity.
When two days the ship into a heavy
storm, the matches were battened down and the
air tunnels covered to prevent the sea from
getting below. The result the horses became
overheated and in less than hour several of
lead he ato he
opened up. the cod blew down the hatchways
upon the overheated animals and gave them all
severe colds. Some died. and many Of the re-
manning ones developed bad cases of pneumonia
In this condition they arrived at Bremerhaven.
sorry-ooking lot OF horses. The dealers came
aboard. but this time with their eyes open. and
they at glance that the horses were In bad
shape. totally unfit for market. In short order I
was rumored on the streets of Bremen that Amer-
can horses suffering from influenza were about 10
be landed. The report reached the Of the
thorities. and orders issued put the entire
shipload in quarantine. This meant a delay of
two weeks. attended with no little expense, and
the German ant-import dealers had been exceed
ingy diligent in circulating the report that Amer-
can horses suffering from a contagious disease
were being imported, and warning the people
against purchasing the without first having
them examined by German veterinary. the sales
delayed. the prices badly affected and instead
of profit being realized the shipment brought the
owners considerably In debt.
With the enforcing OF the quarantine came other
difficulties for the insurance companies, after their
experience with the Crefelds increased their
rate from 3lk TO Is per cent. Then increase
in the price of horses in the United States Such
a combination OF circumstances the trade
able to survive
Now. who were 10 blame? Not the German
thorities; they enforced the quarantine only when
the people compelled them to. Not the insurance
companies, surely. Nor could any find fault
With the action Of the local anti-import dealers
il was natural for them to be glad to see anything
happen that would operate against the importation
OF American horses. for this interfering
terialy with their business. The whole trouble lay
with the American dealers themselves Dr. Keenan,
the United States Consul at Bremen, had watched
the whole matter from its beginning, and had
warned the dealers well as the Government at
Washington of the dangers that would follow the
course that was being pursued and. more than this
he had suggested certain remedies but his advice