Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-22
ARMY HoRSEsHoERS.
They Are Enlisted Men Who Get
Extra Paw for the Work.

CORRESPONDENT to the Horseshoers' Journal.
We seldom hear OF the soldier horse
sheer in the United States Army. When
was an enlisted man we had very
poor pay. but notwithstanding, We had a
good many real AL horseshoers in the
army.
OF course some fellows who had not
done more than look in at the door OF a
blacksmith shop would claim to be horse
shoers. AS late as 1890 / myself had
sometimes as many as eight greenhorns
at time to instruct.
We had poor material. as we'll as poor
men, to work with. Our shoes were OF
the heaviest kind. generally all made
over one last, as the saying goes. l had
to juggle the old-fashioned gooo
enough" shoes and nails. The tools is
sued to us We're very few and Of the
most primitive kind.
In the last few yors this has all
changed. Tools and shoes and nails are
of the latest and best. The army, and
with 1t the horse soldier, has come more
The War Department established
school for farricrs and blacksmiths at
Fort Riley. Kan. a young man enlisting
nowadays and claiming to be horse
sheer is sent there, and II found promis-
ing is instructed Theoretically and practi-
cally for six months without expense
to him. Very good men are being turned
out from there TO serve their three years
i'm the army.
In the last couple of years Congress
has raised the pay of the soldier consid-
erabIy, and incidentally that of the shoe
ing smith; but by no means did the
smith get what lie deserves. Still. this
managed to bring class of good young
horseshoers into the army, and as far
general horseshoeing is concerned army
shoeing of today will favorably compare
IT,
racetrack shoeing is not much practiced
In the army, except in isolated cases, but
of pathological work the smith gets
much. under the supervision Of competent
veterinarians.
In the army there are some stringent
rules. Never pare the sole or frog: fit
exactly to the foot; never rasp the foot
above the clinches; If at all at the out
side. Don't use too heavy nor too many
nails and shoe the horse at regular in
tervals
In the last few years the general
status of the army has been raised con-
siderably. and also that of the shoeins
smith. a young man who enlistS today
has the advantage of getting good the
oretical education at the expense OF the
government in addition to the practical.
Furthermore, he has the advantage over
his brother blacksmith I'm civil life or
seeing some of our island possessions
without expense to himself.
Nor is the pay so very meager, though
1t could be more, as every cent he gets
$ his own to dc with as he pleases. \
horseshoer gets $21 month for the first
three years. and this pay Is raised s.
month for every succeeding three years.
Besides. if the man is the first horse
sheer In his troop or battery he gets
50 month extra.
In addition to this pay the sheer re-
ceives all his clothing. pretty good
rations, free medical attendance-and all
this without cent to pay for any dues
The soldier also gets furloughs, passes
and lot Of holidays without his pay
being taken from him. My advice to the
young smith Is not to Go west accord
ing to Horace Greeley, but to go a few
years into the army and see and learn at
government expense. 1t will surely make
a man out of him.