The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-11
RUBBER SHOES FOR HORSES.
They Are DispIacinE Iron and steel
for Use In Cities

Rubber shoes for horses are said to b.
fast displacing the old style shoes and il
| is asserted that since their introduction
| the condition of the feet of thousands OF
Chicago horses has improved fully 80 pei
cent and that the danger from cracked
hoofs, sprained tendons. injured shout
ders and rheumatism has decreased fully
80 per cent. Besides, it Is claimed that
the horses are able to do considerable
more work for the reason that they dc
not slip and slide about and when night
| fall comes and their days work is over
they do not exhibit anywhere near the IA
| tigue that was manifested when they
were shod with iron shoes.
Rubmer horseshoes are not an entirely
new thing in the market, but they have
been in the experimental stage until a
| short tirne ago. Many owners who are
now using them were loath to adopt them
! for the reason that the claim was made
that they would do more injury than good
! on account of causing extra heat in the
hoofs In is claimed now, however, that
actual use has demonstrated that such is
| not the case.
The chief advantage of the rubber shoe
| over the iron shoe is said to lie in the
| fact that once horse puts his loot down
ii remains in position. that he is equally
as sure footed on granite blocks as on vir-
gin soil. There is no twisting to the right
or to the left and no sliding about as is
| often the case when iron shoes are used.
Because of this the horse is able to pull
a heavier load.
Some of the largest firms in town,
among them Marshall Field &; Co.. Man
del Brothers, and the Consumers Ice
Company, are now using rubber shoes on
,Ia;r t.
ers are preparing to follow their lead.
Many of the horses of the fire department
are also shod with them and here they are
found to be especially serviceable, as they
relieve much of the EARRING on the horses
when they are standing about fires and
stamping their feet. Their use, however.
is not confined to heavy horses. Many
owners of fine road horses have adopted
them and they are finding favor among
liverymen.
The general adoption OF the rubber shoe,
it is claimed, would do away to q consid-
cradle degree with the noise of the city
that accompanies the use of heavy teams
Rubber shoes are noiseless and even when
they become loose there is not the rattle
from them that is present when loose
iron shoe strikes the granite paving.
There being no heel or toe calks on the
rubber shoes they cannot become fasten-
ed in the slots of the cable railways or in
the street car tracks.
The shoes are made with centre of
iron, shaped the same as the old iron |
shoes. The rubber is attached by means |
of openings through the iron and is in |
separabIe from the shoe. The only way |
it can be removed is by wearing off or by |
putting the shoe into a fire and burning |
off to- ,1I, holt
an inch OF solid r.,5ber. The nails are
driven through holes in the iron frame
and this being near the hoof and half an
inch from the surface of the shoe it is
impossible for the nails to come in con- |
tact with the roadway.
Rubber shoes cost 81 each, or double
that of iron shoes, and neither size nor
weight makes any difference. The claim
s made, however. that the SHOES will out
wear two sets of iron shoes. The rubber
shoes are manufactured in six sizes and
when extra shaping is necessary 1t is done |
without the use of fire.
William Clancy, superintendent for a. S.
Beamish. the Pacific Avenue horseshoer,
said yesterday:
Rubber shoes for horses are no longer
an experiment. They have come to stay.
1t is in the blacksmith shop that a man
las the best opportunity to learn the con-
iitlon of horses feet and | can say with |
,ut exaggeration from my experience with
lorses that have been shod for some time |
With the new style of shoes that their feet |
ave improved fully 30 per cent. Add this .
o the fact that the usefulness of the
lorse-his ability to works. greatly in |
reased and you have the strongest argu-
nent that can be presented in favor of '
ubber shoes. The horse cannot break his .
eg by having calk become fastened in
nythinS because there are no calks. He !
lnnot slip on the granite blocks because
he rubber takes hold on all sides. Chi I
ago ('nronicIp |