The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-29
1 Chat Of the Capital
i Washington Gossip. Political AMI Other
wise, for the Readers of tae Globe.

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WASHINGTON, May 2S.-(speccial.)-
The Agricultural Department recently
| received an Interesting article on the
SUBJECT of the horse industry of the
Northwest, written by Mr.. S. B. Nelson.
| professor of Veterinary Science in the
| Washington Agricultural College. He
says: 3D.
Many times during the past few years
articles have appeared in various publ
/ cations giving statements regarding the
absurdly low prices at which horses have
i been sold in the states of the Northwest.
/ AS descriptions of the animals sold did
! not accompany these statements, in many
! instances the public got the impression
! that, no matter how good horse might
/ be, if placed on the market he would
! bring only few dollars. This condition
! discouraged horse breeders, and caused
! many Of them to discontinue this impor-
| tant industry There was a general de-
crease in the value of horses during
! the years 1893 to 1887. 1t was, however,
only in a few cases Involving the COM
! pulsory sale of very inferior horses, being
| either wild, unbroken range animals, or
| old horses that had nearly outlived their
usefulness) that extremely low prices
! were paid
| Since the year 1890 the horse industry
/ in this section has passed through three
! distinct periods The first was from
| 1880 to 1893, inclusive. Thousands of horses
| roamed over the immense ranges and all
! the owners did to guard their interests
! as producers was to have an annual
| roundup in the spring to brand the
| colts, and an occasional roundup when
! they wanted to sell a bunch of horses.
! During this period the value of horses
was good, avera ging about $50 per head.
! This price meant large profits for the
| producers, as it was not necessary for
| them to have any great amount of cap
! ital invested in lands and the expense
! of raising the horses to "a salable age was
! small.
The second period extended from 1894
! to 1897, inclusive, during which the horse
! deprecated greatly in value, the average
valuation being about $40. Such con-
! dition as this would have been reason
! enough to cause every horse raiser to
| cease breeding; but for the fact that a
| general depression in values of all prop
erty existed at the time. The deprecia-
! ton in Valuesof the horse was not pri-
mary, but secondary to the great COM
mercial depression then prevailing.
Since 1897 we have the third period,
| during which the average valuation of
| horses has gradually advanced until at
present it has reached about $40, and
/ everything looks favorable for a further
rise
The questions which the horse produc-
| ers of the Northwest, as we'll as of other
! sections of the country must face is,
| will the price of horses advance so as
to bring fair return for the labor and
! capital invested in raising them?' The
| answer to this question will naturally
depend on the supply of and demand for
| horses.
What demands for horses can the Pa
chic Northwest supply? First of all there
| is the home market which demands heavy
draft horses for the logging and mining
| camps that use thousands of horses an
nually, in the cities and towns horses
will be wanted for heavy and medium
| fancy teaming; the lighter breeds will be
| in demand for light teaming and for fam
| lily and fancy driving.
In order to obtain high market price
| Tor any horse 1t is absolutely necessary
| that he be individually good for his pur-
| pose, whether it be for heavy or light
draft or Tor driving. In addition he must
be sound and stylish. The home market
| requires for logging mining, and con-
| tracing heavy horse, weighing from
| l,4o3 to LOO pounds, having a good round
| barrel, being Short in the back, hayine
| good feet, solid legs, and Shoulders set
| falrly well up so asst to give considera BILE
! action; horse, that will draw a fair-sized
| trot down rough mountain road with
out stumbling and falling. An animal
| OF this Kind that has good style, the head
| and neck being, well set will also do for
1 fancy teaming in the city, where d team
| Is often used as an advertisement as well
| as for work.
Then horses are wanted for export; they
! are shipped north, west and east To the
| north they are sent into British Columbia
| and Alaska. The former takes a very
| good draft horse The expectation to
| Alaska is at present small and includes
a poor grade of horses but it will un-
doubtedly change for the better as that
/ country becomes more and more de-
| Veloped
To the islands of the Pacific and the
! countries of Asia the shipment of horses
is yet not very large, but to Hawaii alone
expectations increased in value from SIS, 600
| in 1885, to $3S, 600 in 1897 With a definite
| knowledge of the type of animals wanted
| there, the states of. the Northwest should
certainly be able TO produce very de
sirable horse fer that market at a better
profit than any other section of the
| United States,
| The Eastern market demands at present
either a draft horseifor export TO Europe.
or lighter animal at Il lower price to
| replace the one disposed of by Eastern
! breeders. This latter animal is the ore
that the Northwest has produced on its
ranges at very little expense up to the
| present time. He is a medium-sized ami
! NAL, little rangy but with good legs and
! feet; has a good constitution; and after
| being broke to- work makes good
| serviceable animal. His great fault in the
! eyes of the Eastern horse buyer is The
! blemish he carries from the branding iron.
There is no reason why heavier ana
more desirable horse should not be fur
nished from here and a high market price
! be obtained for him. The ranges are
! gradually being settled and cultivated, SC
that the bands of range horses are be,
coming less numerous each succeeding
| year. As a result the raising of horses is
! gradually passing out of the hands of :
! few individuals to be taken up by MANI
as fast as the increased price of horses
! justifes.
The people of the United States are
greatly interested in anything pertaining
! to our navy. Our easy victory over
! Spain in naval Battles has convinced the
average American that our navy is in
vincible. This however, is a mistaken
! idea and congress at this session or in
! the future will provide sufficient money
| to improve the United States navy, con-
sidered absolutely necessary in view of
the policy of this administration growing
out of the war with Spain There is
! considerable gossip everywhere in connec-
ton with our navy.
! The little black republic of Liberia, over
! which this government exercised a pro-
tectorate for many years, has no navy,
! and appeals to the president for one or
two ships suitable for patrol work in the
shallow waters near Monrovia, the capt.
! tai
|