Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-10-26

1890. . l4.213,s37 2,3S1,O2 l6.544.s6a
1889. .I L, 1858, 2s4 2.257 574 1890, s6s
1886. 1872, 936 2,19l,727 1884, 1858
1ss7............. Il. 7A 2,1l71u 14,6l3,s
1886. l2.o77,657 2,05259s lA,lSo'24O
Compared with the largest year, 1898,
there is now shortage of nearly
1000, 900 head, or about 16 per cent.
The proportion of western horses to
the total supply. according to the most
recent government estimates. Is far be-
low the general idea If we could
draw a line north and south through
our country, passing through Dodge
City, Kan, we would find the entire
number of horses west of that line, bro
ken and unbroken in the cities and on
the range, to be only Ii per cent of
the total number now in the country.
In other words. the supply of western
horses. counting everything west of
the given line, would fall far short of
making up the shortage in the supply
east of that line. This is where one of
the encouraging features for the west
ern owner comes In. Traffic in horses
is controlled by the law of supply and
demand, and 1t doesn't take long to de-
eide who has the better of the situa-
ton.
In comparing the present supply of
horses with the figures for 1898. the
increase In the country's population
must be taken into consideration. The
population of the United States is now
estimated at 100000 against 10000
600 in 1893. gain of % per cent The
demand or necessity for horses grows
In proportion to the increase in the
population. Thus we find that In six
years the population has Increased 20
per cent, while the supply of horses in
that time has decreased 16 per cent.
Some may agree that the growing pop
ularity of the bicycle. the growth of
street cars, automobiles and the like,
has more than offset the decrease in
the supply of horses.
The extent to which these factors
have supplanted the horse is greatly
exaggerated by the uniformed. 1t is
an exhaustive study and would take
columns to give all the details. Care
er, have shown the general opinion is
exaggerated. Automobiles are not
proving practicable entirely. Electri-
clans say that it will be a good many
years before the automobile will be i'm
proved sufficiently to become a factor
In the commercial world. In Paris,
where the idea of the automobile orig
mated and where tests have been made
for the last five years. there are now
less than 5000 in use. Some years
ago, and yet not so very long ago Ell
Their. steam gang plows. 1t was said,
would supersede the horse on the farm.
It's effect has not yet been felt in the
markets, and the same may be said of
the automobile. Ii Is now nothing
more than a fashionable toy, and an
expensive one at that.
There are other points to be consid-
cred, however, that may not be so ia
vorable to the western man. One OF
these points, and one that may posi-
bly, result in retarding for year or
two any heavy eastward movement, is
the difference in the methods of ham
ding horses. The large numbers of
unbroken horses that are being dis
tributed throughout the east and south
through the medium of special sales
this fail may result in so many smash
ed up buggies> broken limbs and ruined
characters on the part Of those who
have to break the horses that public
sentiment may be turned against the
unbroken animal.
If the eastern man who buys range
animal sets about breaking him in the
same manner In which he is handled
in the west, the breaking could be done
with more safety. In less time and end
with the buyers entire satisfaction
with the range horse.
Western horses when rightly han
died can be broken as easily as the
Kansas or Missouri colt, but IL not cor
rectly handled they may prejudice ev-
cry one against them and the whole
tribe Of range horses.
Men who are thoroughly posted on
the situation as 1t now cOnfronts the
horse world are confident that in the
next two or three years the western
he handles and markets his horses In
the right manner. Experience has
shown that the range horses must be
fat to command the best figures. Size
makes considerable difference, but flesh
makes more.
The western breeder in order to pro-
duce the horses that are most wanted
In the east, should breed with the idea
Of producing heavier horses. The
range man argues very probably that
the big, heavy horses are not so hardy
or thrifty on the range as the smaller
and more wiry animal, but the fact re-
mains that the man In the east who is
expected to buy them wants the
heavier kinds. 1t should make no diff
ference to the western breeder IL he
can sell them at bigger price. 1t is
fact as experience has proved, that the
roadster bred horse on the range does
not net his owner as much money as
the heavy kind. Breed to good Nor
man, Ciydesdale or Shire stations, and
the result will be more profitable. Pos
sibly II the change were made grad
ually the results would be still better.
Commence breeding with a medium
weight stallion, crossing next time with
the best draft stallion. In this way
the harder element belonging to the
western animal will be retained. to-
gether with the heavier bone and flesh
of the drafter. Results have shown
that hundred good heavy animals are
OF more profit to the western owner
than thousand small animals that
pay but little more than freight to the
eastern markets.