BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-08

| Need Of Horses In Cuba.
Blind, Condemned Army Stock Sold
At Original Cost-Evidence Of
The Unprcsperous Times In The
Island characteristics Of The
Dainty Cuban Pony, Descendant
Of The Barb-Sn1all Size Due
To Climate The Driving Hour
And The Mardi Gras-Artificial
Stimulus From Bells.
| In three years the horses of Cuba have
greatly improved, but as lot they are
small, anaemic, and not, as the trader
would say, "useful." There is more to eat
for the poor little abused cab horse than
during the insurrection and blockade-then,
sad to say, he had to be killed for food him
self sometimes he is fatter, but his
legs are painfully stiff and the rutty, slip.
perry, wide-blocked pavemenis throw him
down very often. He is kept on his feet,
when feeling sore, with lash whipping
under him and heavy hand on the reins.
Three years ago you never could tell how
many times you would have to change cabs
in driving half q mile; but now, since the
American Government has macadamized
most of the aoorst of Havana streets, it is,
perhaps, not more than twice a week that
an ordinary user OF public conveyances has
to give up his coach and transfer to another,
although horses are falling, as it seems, all
around him, and the sharp crack of break.
ling shafts is the accompaniment of even a
short trip. Many American horses have
been imported lately, but they do not endure
the climate we'll, and it will take some time
for them to improve the native stock.
Whatever horses the army leaves will be
of no account, as they are all (or would be
| if the buyers for the Government honestly
obeyed orders) geldings.
| There is still an import duty of about
| $40 on horse, and one of about $16 on q
mule, this being a reduction in each case of
one half of what the Spanish Government
imposed. They are held at high prices; the
knee.sprung, rat like animal that just brought
me home, cost his owner $40 yesterday.
COL Burton, the Inspector General, reports
| that when the army has to sell a horse, be-
cause of blindness, lOckjsw, etc, " the
animals often bring as much as the Go.
vernment originally paid for them, and
very frequently one that would not bring
$40 in the States will sell here for $50, $50,
or even SO. Buyers will pay for mule
300 that could not be sold for 800 in the
States" The Oubans say that they ca1
cure the ophthalmia, which attacks about
80 per cent. of the American horses brought
here, with salt water and confinement in a
dark stall for month. But army veterina.
rians cannot do so, and nearly all the con.
formations are TOR blindness, caused, it is
supposed, by the fierce reflection of the rays
OF the tropic sun from the moro or less lime
| stone SOIL 1t wholly destroys the structure
OF the eye. Imported private stock does not
suffer SO greatly, as it is kept more shelter
| ed, and fine horses are seldom used until
sundowI. Indigestion, glanders, climatic
fever, catsrrh, and lockjaw develop proper
tiouately as they are named. One 90 200
| horse from the recent New York horse show
| died of climatic fever about as soon as he
/ was taken ashore.
His mate and possibly three or four
others are the only really fine carriage
horses in Havana, achich means the whole
island. Ga the East Drive of Central
Park yon would lot give them second
glance. There is but one Kentucky saddle
horse. and but two hackneys OF the quality
that would cost perhaps $500 in New York.
NJ doubt this indicates better than many
another thing the fact that Cuba is feeling
poor, fer Cubars like horses and carriages,
begging Spanish. In Madrid there are more
in proportion to its population, than in any
other city-in the world, as practically no
family there can be esteemed of consequence
mniess the outward and visible sign of it is
saen in its turnouss. Appearances count
for a great deal also with the Havaneros,
though it is declared that they never sacrifice
SO much for it as the proud people OF
Madrid, who economic to such an extreme
in theiv hoases-sshonseD is the only word
they have for ssEomer-that, it is said,
ssprlde forbids that they should undergo the
humiIiationv Of permitting an outsider to
enter. Carnival is The time for the display
Of horse 8, but the parade in the Prado here
at Mardi Gras was in truth scarcely better
than gOn Wonld see at the White Plains
station on an afternoon in GUNNER wken
the 8. 40 train comes in. Theirs is fashion
of driving tandem any two horses, regardless
Of action oE ftness, hitehed to the miniature
VICTORIA, OF ratker the facre, which Is the
prevailing csrriage. Ruaset harness is
rather common vita BLACK carriage, aud
the fine distinctions of the American
coenoaosifi 10 matters Of appointments are
unknown except II ths turnouts Of one 0rl
fer& &an1 TN |1Mi|Ief