Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-05-05
AMERICAN HORSES AND MULES.

Col Crowder. the army officer ap-
pointed to investigate the shipment of
horses and mules from depot near
New Orleans to British authorities in
South Africa. has made a preliminary
report. in which he states that base
of supplies for the British army has
existed at Port Chalmette for two
years. 1t is under the supervision
I OF commissioned officers of the Brit
ish army in citizens dress. Their
signatures give their official title. But
Col. Crowder states that there is no
evidence of recruiting for the British
army at the depot. On the contrary
] hundreds of applicants have been
turned away. one reason being that
\ Boer sympathizers might be carried
/ to the scene of war to desert, with
their arms at the first opportunity.
After hearing this testimony, the
1 President and cabinet decided to take
no immediate action to prevent the
shipment OF horses and mules though
the q-.estion OF violation of neutral
ity laws will be left open for further
consideration. When the full report
give it his due attention AS far as
the subject has been weighed, there
IS nothing to indicate any radical
interference with continued shipments
Half dozen years ago many
writer's drew a picture of a coming
"horseless age" and the depressed
condition of the horse market at that
time was an unpleasant economic
fact In some states in the far west
horses were almost valueless. Yet
this situation was the preface to
great boom in our export of horses
and mules, and the demand is not
entirely from the British army by
any means. Less than half the in
crease in exports is from that source.
though the horse and mule shipments
from Port Chalmette alone have
amounted to s1S,O0O,O0O A marked
increased in exports began before the
Boer war opened. Last year 7.4S5
horses were shipped to South Africa,
but the total exports were $4,000. Up
In 1884 the proportion of imports to
many more horses than it sold abroad.
In SS4 the proportion of imports to
exports was $3.50 to 2.721. The
year of 1895 was almost evenly bal
anced, with 1884 exports to 13,O9s
imports. Sine then the tide has
been running in our favor with rapid
ly increasing volume. Last year we
exported 1865 horses and mules and
imported only 37s5 horses, Mules
of course, DO not figure in imports.
American horse and mule raisers
NAV now count upon large, steady
and expanding foreign demand apart
from war conditions in other parts
of the world. For some reason Can
adian exports of horses are not as
large as in former years. The Do
minion exported $4,000 in 1896, and
only 1900 in 1901. 1t is said that
Canadian horses are not easily accli-
mated in other parts of the world.
Unquestionably the United States is
becoming the greatest horse country.
Missouri's horse and mule industry
is one of unusual magnitude and prom
ise. Placing an embargo of any kind
upon the business should rest only
upon absolute necessity. Talk of
British Camps" in this country has
been exaggerated by certain dema-
gogues for political effect AS far as
the horse and mule trade is legal
under international law during peri
DDS of war it should be respected
Business should not be handicapped
by the sentimentalism of cheap poll
ticians. Horses an mules are more
essential in peace than in war
Globe Democrat