Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-03-24

special report on the market for
Anne rican horses in foreign countries
has just been printed by order of con-
gress. 1t was prepared in the depart.
ment of agriculture, and in submitting it
to the president for transmission to con-
gresS the secretary states that the report
is principally compilation of reports OF
diplomatic and consular officers of the
United States, whose individual impress.
sions are given without comment.
A summary of the information COL
lected precedes the correspondents let
tiers in which the secretary states that at
the time of assuming office he was much
impressed with the necessity of an out
put abroad for our surplus horse pro-
ducton. On account of the eXtraordl-
narily low prices for horses in this
country, which had prevailed for some
time, horse breeders and horse raisers
throughout the country were much de-
pressed; that this apparent cause for
discouragement was possibly blessing
in disguise, for the first impetus TO the
foreign demand was probably due to
these extremely low prices: and that he
was convinced that the most useful SER
vice that the department could render
the horse raisers was to gather from all
available sources whatever information
could be procured as to the character
and extent of the demand existing
abroad for horses of all kinds. There
fore he underworld to interest our rep
resentatives abroad and American citi-
zens going abroad in the gathering of
information as to the extent of the de-
mand in horse-importing countries, and
as to the various kinds of horses wanted
in those countries, and the distinguish
ing characteristics to'which foreign buy
ers attach Importance. AS a result a
large number of communications were
received at the department, which form
the basis of the present report.
The report shows that the export trade
in American horses has rapidly increased
ception of Russia and Hungary, the
European nations do not produce as
many horses as they need, and of late
years have drawn upon America, par
ticularly the United States and Canada,
to supply the deficiency.
Europe wants good horses of all
breeds, but with some conditions which
are not the same as those In America.
Therefore. a good horse which would be
suited to the purposes of the buyer in
America might be .unsuited to the work
of the European purchaser. There is a
large demand in London for American
tram, cab and bus horses. There is also
a demand for high class carriage horses
with good knee action-showy horses
and well bred. These being high prices.
The report describes the various kinds
of horses needed to supply the foreign
markets, and urges the breeders of the
United States to make systematic at
tempt to produce such horses as those
markets demand. 1t shows also that
besides the usual demand for horses for
private and business purposes, there is
in Europe a continual annual require
ment for horses to remount the cavalry.
While it does not seem that European
nations are looking to this or any other
country to supply them with army
horses in time of peace, nevertheless
there is no law or regulation which in.
terferes with the sale of American horses
for military use in any European coun
try, and in time of war most of these
countries would be compelled to seek
horses where those of a desirable
character were to be found.
The methods of purchasing horses for
the army in France and Germany, to-
gether with the weight, height and age
of the horses required, are described
and tables are given showing the mum
Der and value of horses exported from
the United States to the several foreign
countries during each fiscal year from
1893 to 1897, inclusive.-New York Sun.