The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-05-10
PLANS TO GET
HORSES FOR ARMY
BY J. A. Breekons


WASHINGTON, May Western
horse breeders are soon to be called
upon to cooperate with the govern
ment in a most comprehensive move
nent looking to the raising of army
mounts, and the territory west of the
Missouri is to contribute it's quota of
horses for the cavalry of the future.
Governmental recognition of the fact
that the west is breeding superior
army mounts, with better wind, great
err endurance and capable of with
standing the hardships of army cam
paigns, has at last advanced to a
point where it promises to be of inn
rIense practical value to western
horsemen, whose animals heretofore
have found little favor when Uncle
Sam sought mounts for his cavalry
men. Now it is planned to establish
one of the great government breed
ing stations in the home of the COW
pony, and that section is to be placed
on the same footing as Kentucky in
supplying cavalry mounts of the
future.
During the past year the secretary
of war requested the cooperation of
the secretary of agriculture in evolv-
ing some plan for enabling the army
to obtain suitable horses. Many eX-
perts were consulted and extensive
result a plan has been formulated
that will provide over 1000 mounts
yearly from government owned stall
ions. 1t is proposed to divide the
United States into four breeding dis
tricts, one of which is to located in
the west-Montana, Wyoming, Oregon,
Washington and perhaps California.
! this western district the plan pro-
poses to place fifteen thoroughbreds
end ten standard bred stations, in
charge of government agents. The
terms of service are to be free, but
mares must be approved by the proper
officer as Of the type desired. The
owner will be required to enter into
a contract with the war department
to give it an option on the resulting
foal during the year it is three years
old, at a, price to be fixed before the
mare is bred. The mare must remain
in the breeders possession until the
foal is weaned, and in case the mare
iz disposed of before the government
has exercised it's option, a service fee
must be paid. Prices are to be fixed
annually for each state by board
before each breeding season opens.
OF particular interest to western
horsebreeders is the incorporation of
a report by Captain Conrad in the
report of Chief Melvin of the bureau
oil animal industry, in which it is
stated that the old-time undesirable
COW pony of the west has almost en-
tirely disappeared, and has given place
to a larger animal frequently having
a cross of draft Hood Other reports
made to the board showed the western
horse to be the ideal cavalry mount.
;; could subsist on rough forage when
&c cessary, drink almost any kind Of
alkali water, and withstand greater
hardship than the thoroughbred. Sound
O. wind and limb, the western horse
as bred today has strong argument
in it's favor.
1t is believed that this plan could
lie put in operation for the first year
at cost not to exceed $250,000. The
expense in subsequent years is esti-
mated at 100000, and congress will
he asked to make the necessary APP
preparation sometime during the COM
ing winter.
European countries long ago found
it necessary to supervise the breed
ing of horses in order to supply the
demands of the army, and every Euro
pean country with the exception of
England has for years been encourag-
ing the breeding of proper army
mounts. 1t is interesting to note
that conditions now confronting Eng
land and America in these regards are
identical, and that both countries are
about to adopt some such plan as
here outlined On the basis of forty
mares per stallion, the proposed sys-
TEN would cost the government about
$40 per colt, but the results obtained
far outweigh any objection as to ad-
ditional expense.
WILD BOAR ON BANK NOTE