The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
Big Demand for Horses and Mules
of all Classes.

Washington, August "A popular
story now going the rounds in this
city tells how western horse breed
er wrote to friend here to inquire
whether there was any market in this
city for lot of very fine horses that
he owned. The friend is said to have
replied that there was none. ''Elec-
tricity drives the carriages, - he
wrote, mules pull the wagons: and
iackasses run the government. We
have no use for horses here
Nevertheless. it is noted by those
who know, that the demand for horses,
especially Of the less costly kinds, ST
as good as ever-quite as good as it
was before the motor carriages came
into existence Just now the dealers
are unable to fill orders, and the
stock raisers have reason to believe
that these conditions will continue
indefinitely.
Work horses are in the greatest de-
mand at the present time. An animal
that would bring $50 to s75 two years
ago is selling for 500. Draft horses
are especially scarce, and the prices
have advanced over 500.
For months past it has been impos-
sible to furnish enough horses of these
kinds to supply the home demand,
and in addition to this. orders are
continually received from out of town
markets. The principle source of sup
ply of the local horse markets has
been MARYLAND and Virginia, out
lately large shipments have been receiy-
ed from Chicago and st. Louis.
Travelling buyers through the nearby
States report that it is. practically i'm
possible to secure good stock, and the
large Western ranges are little better
off.
At the opening of the Spanish
American war the horse market was
normal, the supply slightly exceeding
the demand, though not to any great
extent. With the mobilization of the
large volunteer army, however, condi-
tions rapidly changed, and the United
States quartermasters were soon pay
ing fancy prices for ordinary stock.
When the end of the war came. and
the thousands of volunteers. with
their accompanying wagon trains,
were mustered out, the dealers natu-
rally expected that the markets would
be inundated with thousands of horses
and mules, and that the price would
reach bedrock with sudden plunge.
About this time, however, the Eng
lish commenced operations on a large
scale against the Beers, and looked to
the United States, as the largest
horse market in the world, for their
horses for mounted men and mules for
wagon train service. Agents were
Immediately sent to the mastering out
places in this country, and as soon
as the animals were put upon the mar
kets they were at once bought up at
the current place. In addition to this.
orders began to come in from England
for horses to take the place of those.
sent from Great Britain to South
Africa, and big shipments were made
in supplying these orders. Then came
the big German purchases for cavalry
mounts for China, which made big:
inroaes upon the American markets.
Another factor in depicting the
horse market was our own operations;
in the Philippines. Transport after
transport left San Francisco for Ma
Mia loaded with horses and mules at
the commencement of operations there,
and they have continued to leave at
frequent intervals. This has tended to
keep the Western prices far in advance
of normal, and has prevented any con-
siderable shipments to the East.
Possibly, when peace comes all over
the world the horse market will fall
off, but there is no sign of it at
present.
New York, August 10.-Jere NJ.
Wilson, Of Washington, who will prob
ably conduct the case of Admiral