The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-22
From the Boston Globe.

FROM the bOStOH OlODe.
II HE remarkable increase in the
(0 manufacture and use of auto
mobiles may have had some eff
feet upon the business of livery stables,
but pessimists who declare that because
Of this increased use of motor cars. ''the
horse must CO." have reached a wrong
conclusion.
If the horse is used less in one way,
there are still many lines of work for
him. 1t is true also that many individ-
uals who can afford to purchase high
priced automobiles will ont dispose en-
tirely of their supply of fine horses. The
invention of the steam railroad, the street
trolley cars and even the bicycle, it was
thought by many would do away with
the use OF the horse, yet he is still very
much in evidence in city and town, and
commands a good price.
1t is undeniable that the use of auto
mobiles will be extended, and these We
hicles will continue to grow as a source
OF pleasure and usefulness. and so, too,
will be the building of carriages to be
drawn as usual by horses. 1t is estirnat-
ed that during the year 1906 there were
100000 vehicles built In this country.
two-thrds of which were constructed for
pleasure driving, number it is stated
equal to the total production of automo-
biles in the history of that Industry. This
70 ba Wit dra al Of Fl,
horse from the market at any early date
Those interested in horse breeding are
very busily engaged at present, and re-
port an increasing demand for better
horses of all brades at steadily advanc-
ing prices. Heavy draft horses are need
ed in new manufacturing plants and
budding industries. and there is a brisk
demand for small, active animals in the
southern states, where they bring prices
ranging from s175 to 800 head.
So much attention is paid now to the
breeding of horses for business purposes
that it recalls the fact that while the
older nations have been engaged In horse
breeding and trading for centuries, the
development of the horse in the United
States has been in progress only about 100
years.
The American interest in the develop
ment of speed In the trotting horse,
through systematic breeding and train
ing, dates from the importation to Phil
adelphia from England in 17ss of the
thoroughbred horse Messenger. This was
a gray stallion by Mambrino.
1t is also noteworthy that the first pub
lie trotting race of which there Is any
account in the United States, was In
1918, when the gray gelding, Boston Blue,
was matched to trot a mile in three min
utes. a feat deemed impossible. but he
won. though the time of his performance
has not been preserved.
Fifty years ago $4,000 or $1,000 was very
large price for horse that could trot
mile in two minutes and forty seconds,
the then limit. The time upon the race
course has been decreased 10 less than
two minutes by PAGER, and the price
of the horse that can maintain it has ad-
vanced to 100000. Because of the achieve
ments and general usefulness of this an
imal, large sums are invested in his
breeding the magnitude of which can be
but imperfectly summarized in the most
carefully complied statistics.
He who does not admire and love one of
the noblest of the animal kingdom. the
horse, must be devoid of the qualities
known as appreciation of the lovable.
family ties. kindred. home and its sur
roundings,
Though not to any extent a food ami
NAL for mans sustenance. he is the most
useful of all animals to man a servant
on the farm and to the family. indispen-
sable in peace and in warSas mans bearer
of burdens and intelligent friend
According to ancient fable, the horse
was created by the gods as an animal
most useful to man. Another legend
states that the first to ride and tame a
horse for the use OF man Was Melizyus,
king of Thessaly.
The horse still holds his place in the
esteem and. affection of the people, and
to what limit he will reach no one can
predict and only the future can unfold.