Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-06-28
GOOD PRICES FOR HORSES.
Where Breeders and Dealers Showed
Lack of Foresight.

| Wnefe DFteueTS anu UedieTS SHOWe'
Lack of Foresight.
''The big prices the United States
government finds itself compelled tt
pay for mounts for its cavalry, and
their scarcity, make horse breeders
and dealers feel like kicking themselves
at the lack of foresight, and that a
glimpse into the future could not have
been had several years ago. said q
South Washington horse dealer to 3
Star reporter this morning.
| "When the bicycle caught the peo-
pie where the collar catches the horse,
the breeders of that revered friend of
man threw up their hands in despair.
and fell in line with other wiseacre
prophets who chimed about the pass
| ing of the horse,' and like rot, until
your ear ached. They stopped breed
ing, sold off their stock, grimly sat
| down to await the inevitable crash,
and to witness with fearful eyes of the
aforesaid passing
But the horse refused to be passed i,
and baked. There were two or three
years of stagnation. Then the clouds
of war between this country and Spain
gathered, and with them came an in
creased demand for horses and mules.
This demand steadily increased, and
former breeders and farmers found
themselves unprepared to meet it.
1.-The dream of the passing of the
horse proved iridescent. Following the
Spanish war came the war in the
Transvaal, and the demand, already
stim ulated, increased to unprecedent-
ed proportions. Mule breeders and
horse raisers found themselves objects
of tender solicitude on the part of the
British Empire.
''And now to cap the climax comes
the army reorganization bill, with its
provision for the new regiments Of
cavalry, and no abundant supply of
horses for the cavalrymen. These reg
iments must be placed in commission
at once, and horses are an imperative
prerequisite. Following in the wake
of the agents of Great Britain are the
agents of the War Department., who
are literally begging suitable mounts
at the formerly unheard-of price of
$125 and $3.50 each, as against $40 and
$50 a few years ago.
ut is my opinion that there is no
danger of OVERRIDING the horse breed
ing business for some years to come.
1t the long expected European war is
not In sight, is looks as if good tele-
scope might discover the date, and
whether materializes or not, the state
of preparedness deemed necessary by
the different countries will cause a
stiff demand for horses which cannot
be supplied at home, and their agents
must look to US for the supply precise
ly as did Great Britain.
''If there is war in the east the
price of horsefesh in this country will
go up high. 1t takes from four to five
years to turn out good cavalry mount,
and breeders who have not kept abreast
of the times had better wake up and
increase the output of their stock
farms.
"There are many good stock farms in
Virginia and Maryland from which
we get good proportion of horses for
the Washington market. There are
lots of other farms in these states
which are now scarcely self f-supporting
which could be devoted to stock rails
ing to advantage and profit. AS a side
issue horses are easily and profitably
raised in this climate. l made trip
among some of these farms this month
looking up horses for our city trade,
and had great difficulty in finding
the stock [ wanted. Instead of writing
about the passing of the horse for the
lack of occupation by reason of motor
it would be more appropriate
to chronicle the scarcity of the animal |
by reason of decidedly heavy and |
healthy demand for his services in
this and other countries, and the i'm
mediate prospects of still greater de-
mand. If it keeps up, cavalry mounts
will go to $3.50 to 5000 each almost as
much as well bred horses sell for at |
auction"