Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-29
UNCLE SAM IS
NOW GREATEST
HORSE BREEDER
Supplies Mounts for the Army
From His Virginia Farm and
Turns Out ThOroughbreds.
FARMERS ARE HIS PARTNERS
System So Successful That Other
Large Studs Will Be Estab-
liShed in the West,

FRONT ROYAL, VA, June "a
Uncle Sam has recently embarked in
the horse business on a gigantic scale.
He has started here what is proba bly,
the largest horse farm in the world,
$500 acres, only a few hours ride
from the capital And this is only
the first of his farms. He intends to
start several and turn out thorough
breds by the tens of thousands.
To-day the farm is supplying prac-
tically the entire United States Army
with its mounts. A short time hence
and 1t Will be supplying civilians, and
soon, according to Captain Caspar H.
Conrad, in charge, and generally &C
knowledged one of the greatest eX-
perts in horse flesh in America, it
Will be supplying most Of the civilized
nations Of Europe. And the price
now $144.15-may become even cheap
er for Americans.
The farm represents an expenditure
of more than $780, 900, with some
100000 to be spent within the next
year.
Horses Have Everything.
On the farm are all sorts Of build
ings, sanitary baths, swimming pools,
drinking fountains, resting sheds,
pleasure paths and even a gigantic
hospital-all for horses. Here and
there are huge houses wherein reside
men. These men look out for the
horses.
They talk Of little else. Indeed, it
would be strange If the case were
otherwise, for there are only 100 Of
these men, and daily they have to
look after from 1900 to 1000 horses.
1t took a long time to start the
horse farm-more than half century.
One day a few years ago a number
of high staff officers of the army,
watching a cavalry review, made
some rather disparaging remarks con-
corning the appearance of the horses.
Some of EN- look like mountain
goats and the rest like buffaloes, :"
said one Of the officers, and the re-
mark got to the ears of Captain Con-
rad, and set him to thinking.
After that Captain Conrad had the
approval of the War Department to
start the farm. August Belmont made
Uncle Sam a present Of his six best
stations. Those stations are known
the racing world over, as Henry Of
Navarro, Octagon, Footprint Beltry
II, Vestibule and Marshall King The
six of them, when but two years old
cost 100000.
Two More Horses Given.
James Camden, millionaire horse
man of Versailles, KY, heard of Bel
mont's gift and made Uncle Sam a
present of his two famous stations
BoOla Boola and Wheelwright, worth
about $4,000. Thus the farm was
started.
But even with fifty stations and
mares by the hundred breeding on the
farm was too slow. Something had to
be done to increase the scope Of the
work-and the answer was found in a
scheme to have Uncle Sam take every
farmer in the South into partnership.
This was done.
The ultimate plan is to sell the
horses at a gigantic auction sale,
with an army officer as auctioneer,
knocking down the animals to the
highest bidder
Uncle Sans horse farm is probably
the only place in the country where
no matter what animal you buy you
may rest assured of getting a horse
that is perfect. If the animal has the
slightest blemish it viii not be sold.
"Of course" said Captain Conrad.
I'VE know that in this particular case
the scar was due entirely to accident.
But the farmer doesn't know It, He
might have a mare SCARED up purely
by accident, but we wouldn't take his
word for We demand perfect mares
and colts, so we give perfect stall
lions"