Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-06
FAITHFUL POLICE PATROL HORSES
ARE WORN OUT BY KILLING WORK

fdence that he would enjoy a change
Of work
An officer who knows about the con-
dition of the three teams says the
grays would do admirably for the sub
station, where they could travel on
soft roads and streets.
IT Is the constant knocking on pave
ments and over rough cobblestones
that wears out their feet and makes
them aged before their time. he says.
One of the drivers said yesterday that
new horses will be needed within a
few months. as the present animals
VIII not stand up much longer under
the work.
The blacks could be easily disposed
or for private use, and Kitty would
make nice family horse or be adapted
for a market wagon.
With the rapid Increase in the popu-
ation of the city 1t is believed II Is
only a matter Of short time when pa
troll wagons will be needed for the sub
stations. At the present time. the wag-
ons from the central station often are
sent beyond the University district or
over to East Los Angeles.
At Times Lives Are at Stake
When an accident happens a quick
trip is often Instrumental In saving
life. BY the present system wagon
Is sometimes half an hour in reaching
a distant point that could be covered
by officers from the substations IL they
were provided with a patrol equipment.
Driver Mart says IL new horses are
purchased for the police department
the animals should weigh about 1900
pounds. be active and fast without
being too frisky. and not over or 7
years of age.
The present teams. he says, have
done good work under trying condi-
tions. but all are old and broken down
for the hard work required of them.
At the police station an emergency
call may come in at any moment.
While the wagon is out another call
may ring in. This means a return trip
after the horses are already tired and
heated.
Receive Slight Attention
The horses remain hitched to the
wagon and stand in the covered arch
way, ready to respond to call. They
are not blanketed on account of the
heat, and they do not receive the at
tention that fire engine horses get on
their return to the engine house.
A fire horse is not called upon to
leave his stall more than twice a day
on an average. and he is carefully
QOWH dIJeT edCn lneTe is
no time to carefully look after the
patrol horses, and standing in a COM
paratively cold passa geway after a
quick run and dashing out again after
cooling off is said to be ruinous to
good horses.
There is nothing to complain of in
the way of good stalls Each horse
has a box stall, large and well venti-
lated. TRUSTEES attend to the stables
and keep them clean.
The six drivers and wagon men work
on eight-hour shifts and the horses are
changed three times a day. But If an
emergency call comes In while the
other wagon is out in the street. the
reserve team is hooked up and sent out
The electric ambulance has not given
satisfaction and it is seldom used. II
is in the repair shop at present and the
drivers do not seem to bemoan the
fact.
Experts say the automobile Is toe
heavy, slow and unwieldy for the pur-
pose for which it is designed.
1t is considered a white elephant,
and it's cost, many say could have
been applied to better advantage il
the purchase of at least two spans o.
young and active horses.
BY winter, 1t is believed, at leas
one new team of horses will be re
quired, and strong pressure will b,
brought to bear on the city council tt
secure six new animals.