Connecticut western news., 1900-03-08

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 Compared with the largest year, 1S93 there is now a shortage of nearly 3,00O,000 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 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- ti3n.
 In comparing the present supply of horses with the figures for 1893, the increase in the country's population must be taken into consideration. The population of the United States Is now estimated at 75.00O.O00 against 60,0Oo,- GOO in 1893, a gain of 25 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 9 per cent, while the supply of horses in that time has decreased 16 per cent. Some may agree that the growing pop ularity of NSe bicycle, the growth of the use of electricity as we find it in 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. It is an exhaustive study and would take columns to give all the details. Care full researches into the matter, howev- CT, have shown the general opinion is exaggerated. Automobiles are not proving practicable entirely. Electri- clans say that it will be good many years before the automobile will be im- proved sufficiently to become 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 ago, and yet not so very long ago el- ther. steam gang blows, 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. It 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 fa- vorable to the western man. One of these points, and one that may possi-
 
 two any heavy eastward movement, is the difference In the methods of han ding horses. The large numbers of unbreken horses that are being dis tributed throughout the east and south through the medium of special sales this fall 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 a range animal sets about breaking him in the same snanner in which he is handled in the west, .he breaking could be done with more safety. in less time and end with the buyers entire satisfaction with the raDxe horse.
 Western horses when rightly han dled can be broken as easily as tile Kansas or Missouri colt, but if not cor rectly handled they may prejudice ev- tribe of range horses.
 Men who are thoroughly posted on the situation as it now confronts the horse world are confident that in the next two or three years the western horseman will make some money If 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 cf 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. It should make no diff ference to the western breeder if he can sell them at n bigger price. It is a 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, Clydesdale or Shire stallions, and the result will be more profitable. Pos sibly if the change were made grad. nnllv the results would be still better.