Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1904-12-23

Num- Total Aver
Country Der Value age
United Kingdom 479 $685. 692 1888
France 6l9 $446, 1928 1886
Canada 581 &92, sos $3.50
All other Countries
principally G e.r-
many and Belgium 655 $246, 1853 1915
'These values are reported by the
Department of Commerce and Labor,
Washington, and are the values sub
mitted by buyers, under oath, to
United States consuls at the European
ports of shipment. So they may be
relied upon as correct. Besides, there
is no object in owners undertaking
these horses, since there is on duty
on them. But in further confirmation
OF the correctness of these figures, F..
S. & Fl. has had the good fortune to
see detailed statement of the pur-
chase, horse by horse, Of an extensive
firm of importers Of France and Bel
in horses. The horses arrived re-
Gently, and their owners say: 1T is
the cleanest, finest lot Of horses. pure
quality considered, that we ever i'm
ported The youngest were two years
old last spring and none above 4, a
large majority being to 3.
The average cost Of the Percherons
in this lot was 1853, which indicates
high average quality, for the reason
that there were no fancy price show
horses among them. one or two of
which are bought by some importers
yearly for exhibition and advertising
purposes only, and are not much good
for any thing else. But they bring high
! prices and serve to raise the average
value of importatione. 1t will be no.
ticed. however, that the lot of horses
herewl being considered, contained
none OF these show horses, cost an
average Of only &200 a head less than
the general average for the year.
: The Belgians in this lot, exception
ally fine fellows, and selected for
quality Of bone, muscle and vigor,
rather than for fat and weight. cost
an average of 1857. The total cost Of
landing the horses in the stables Of the
importers, including the expenses of
going abroad for them. as shown by q
detailed expense account, was $125
each. It is clearly seen that to sell
fine Belgian stallion for 81, 900, if
sold for cash, and soon after it's i'm
portation, leave a very nice profit.
The only serious risk involved in
importing horses is in the rail ship
ment from our seaboard to che in
terrier. They are shipped on fast
trains, and the transportation com
panies will pay only $75 each for any
horse killed in transit, and out of thai
sum the freight must be paid. But
even that risk does not prove to b.
great, for but few such horses ar
killed In transit. In Europe the seller
deliver their horses on shipboard IL
good order and then get their pay
And at the present time the risks o
an ocean voyage are too small to Gu
any figure. It may be said In this con
nection that the cost Of crossing tn
ocean includes care and feed on ship
board, and medical treatment,
necessary, by skilled veterinarian.
Particular attention is called to tn
average price of Canadian horses. O
this side of the line they are iniporte
horses, are purely bred, pedigree,
and all that, and may be as good q
come of the horses that come fro1
Europe, and that sell from 81, 900
So, 900 each. In fact, 1t need surpris
no one if Canadian horses are ofte
worked off as European, and at til
prices named. A vein of graft to
rich to be neglected by the unscrupr
lous.
Another point that is pertinent
this discussion It is asserted by man
horse importers that prices in EuroE
are steadily growing higher. Thj
statement is disproved by official f&
ures. In 1902 the average value OF a
breeding horses imported, each expor
ing country contributing about tt
same proportion Is shown in the for
going table, was 1851: in 1908, $42{
in 1904, $414, These years are the b
cal ones, ending June 80. Horses.
seems, have been declining somewh'
in price instead of advancing.
r: Here follows vitality tmporta'
point that former buyers Of stallion
want to understand. and they shoul