Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-07
NEEDARMYHORSES
Government Proposes to En-
courage Farmers to Raise
Most Suitable Kind.
NOT ENOUGH GOOD STEEDS
Military Officers Recommend the Es
tabishment of Remount Sta
ton Near Newport, Ky.

Officers at Fort Thomas have recon-
menGed the site of the old government
rife range, on the Licking river, back
OF Newport, Ky, as a desirable loca-
ton for one of the six remount sta
tons that Will shortly be established
by the war department to furnish
horses for the United States army,
says the Cincinnati Commercial Trib-
une.
1t is the intention of the war depart
ment to raise all horses that are to be
used in the future by the cavalry, ar
tillery and infantry divisions of the
army as well as mules for the quarter
master and commiSSary departments.
At the present time great difficulty is
encountered To supply enough good
horses for the army. Agents of the wa-
department scour the country regions
and BUY up all desirable horses.
During the recent Japanese war talk
it was pointed out by army officers
that the United States could not prop
erly mount the different branches of
the service, as there are barely enough
desirable horses on the market 10 sup
ply the present standing army of Co.
coo. 1t would be n difficult problem to
secure horses for additional troops.
At the present time the army buys
17,OO0 horses every year. The average
cavalry or artillery horse lasts five
years, while those in the infantry
branch, which are used by the officers,
last about seven years. Every horse
used by the army has to be replaced
every five years.
1t is the intention of the war de-
partment to divide the country into
geographical sections Remount sta
tions. where horses will be raised and
trained for the service, will he estab-
lished at the Newport rife range.
which IS considered the best point in
Ken-ucky to raise horses; Springfield
O.; Fort Riley, Kan; the Montana cat
tie ranges. in the California foothills
and Fort Reno. Okla.
The recent establishment of a re.
mount station in Lexington, Ky, by
the German government has opened
the eyes of army officers to the adyan.
taSeS of the remOunt system. 1t has
long been recognized that American
horses are the best in the world fol
army purposes. and it is the intention
of the German government to intro
duCe them for use in the kaiser's
army. German horses will be import
ed into America and sent to Lexington
where they will be crossed with Amer
lean horses. 1t is hoped that better
horses will be available for use of tn,
German troops.
Tour Country for Horses.
In the geographical divisions of the
remount station men will tour the adj
jacent farming region to buy up the
best horses. A horse census will De
taken by the government, which vii
show how many and what kind oil
horses can be used by the army in case
of war.
All horses brought to the variou:
remcunt stations will be trained fOI
service. They will be put through
evoIutions that will make them usefu
as soon as they are received at al
army post. At the present time green
horses are sent to the different post!
for development.
The system of remOunt stations viii
put an end to this practice, which ha
been the source of considerable annoy
ance as many of the horses have beer
found worthless after efforts to trail
them. Every horse that leaves a re