Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-21
GAME OF SEE-SAV
Price of Feed Goes Up as That of
Horses Drops.
SMALL DEMAND FOR ANIMALS
Price of Feed Is Held Responsible for
the Decrease in This Demand
Horses arc Wanted in the Cotton
Lands of the South.

THE demand for horses in the va
rious markets Of the country is ap-
proXimately twenty-five per cent lower
than last season with about an equal
decrease in the price being paid" said
a local horse dealer to Courier rep
resentative today. Though there is
still a considerable demand for GER
tain classes OF horses this decrease it
seems holds good as the average for
all classes. This condition" he con-
tinued, SIS easily traceable to the
drought of the past summer,
and more directly to the pres
ent high prices of feed which are it's
direct result" The tendency therefore
has been toward a decrease in the
number of horses that are kept by
people as means of pleasure and in
the majority of cases ownership is be-
ing rapidly reduced to those to whom
the horse is an actual necessity.
Cause of Decrease.
1t seems to be the opinion of horse.
men that the fall in the market both
as to the number of horses handled
and the prices paid, is caused by the
general rise in the price of feed. 1t is
generally considered that under ordil-
airy condition the cost of keeping {.
horse ranges from twenty to thirty
cents per day while it is now estimat-
ed by some that the cost in this vi
cinity will reach sixty cents per day.
AS result of the increase in the price
of feed the liverymen and draymen are
keeping as few horses as it is possible
for meeting the demands of their GUS
toners.
Are Renting Horses.
The firms that do large amount OF
draying ordinarily keep a number 81
extra horses on hand to replace those
that are injured or are temporarily un.
| fit for duty. This practice is growing
less and less, however, under the pres,
ent condition and many of the dray
men making arrangements with the
horse dealers to hire horses for this
purpose as it can be done at less ex-
pense than to keep large number OF
extras on hand to be fed
Draft Horses in Demand.
Heavy draft horses are at present
having considerable demand owing
! to the very large amount of traffic and
| olipPihS tudl is DeluS CdIIlcu oI
throughout the country. The demand
on the local draymen is heavier al
present than has been known for sew
eral years and at times it is almost i'm
possible to secure enough teams tt
handle the large shipments of mer
chandise that are being made.
AS a result the movement of draf
horses has been quite good. There is
very good supply of this class OF
horses throughout the country and the
local dealers are handling quite large
number at present Horses weighins
from 1,400 to 1000 pounds are nov
bringing in the local markets from
500 to $125 while a year ago thu
same horses would have COMMANDED
a price averaging $25 higher. Drivlu,
and carriage horses are not in sucl
great demand and are bringing various
prices depending much upon tn,
amount of money the buyer wishes t,
pay for horse.
Wanted in Cotton Country.
There has been during the month o
January considerable movement o
horses to the cotton country in the
south. Ordinarily the demand of thu
cotton growers for horses commence.
about November and continue.
I quite strong throughout the month O
i December. The expense of keepin,
horses in that country has increases