Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1914-10-15
WAR CREATES BIG
DEMAND FOR
HORSES
U. s. DEPARTMENT GAVE OUT IN.
TERESTING STATEMENT OF
SUBJECT LAST WEEK.
ARMIES USE A MILLION
The Slaughter Of Horses as Well as Of
Soldiers Has Created Demand
Which VIII Prevail For Years.

Washington, Oct. During the next
decade there will probably be an in
creased demand for American horses
in the countries now engaged in the
European war. The demand may even
continue much longer, according to in.
vestigators of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, as not only
will horses be needed for armies, but
when peace is restored, more will be
needed for agriculture. Already Eu-
ropean agents are said to be endeavor-
ing to purchase horses in this country
and Canada, and there is an increased
interest in many sections in horse
breeding
To meet this increased European
demand American farmers may well
endeavor to raise well-bred horses al
though the department of agriculture
does not advise them to purchase
surphs of horses merely for breeding
purposes. 1t merely advises that ordi-
nary farm work should be done where's
ever possible by good mares which
should be bred to good stations. It
also desires to emphasize the fact that
only horses of high quality may be
profitably raised today. Inferior
horses are drug on the market, and
their production is to be discouraged
as much as the production Of good
horses should be encouraged.
The United States has previously
been drawn on to supply European
countries at war. In the Boer war
over 100000 horses were brouht here
by the British government. 1t may
be doubted whether foreign govern
ment could now obtain similar sup
ply in this country, except ct excessive
cost. However, If farmers take pains
to utilize their good mares during this
winter to breed them to good stations,
in the course of several years (time
enough for the foals to develop) Am
erica will be better able to meet the
European demand.
1t is natural that European countries
should look to the United States for
horses, for next to Russia it has more
Of these animals than any other coun-
try in the world. The United States
and Russia possess SO per cent of the
world supply. Strange to say, how
ever, there were no horses originally
on our continent and the present sup
ply comes from stock brought over from
Europe. Canada's s supply is small COM
pared to our own.
War as Consumer Of Horses.
The German army requires for q
complete mobilization 100000 horses
and the French army is said to require
25o,000 which figure, however, prob
ably includes only those for the cav
airy. 1t is conservatively estimated
on good authority that 100000 hors.
es are now engaged in the European
war. As great majority of these
horses are not included in the perma-
nent military organization but are
used for farm work and are requisi-
toned by governments only when need
ed for military purposes the countries
of continental Europe will certainly
face an aeute shortage of farm horses
before the next planting season which
will seriously affect the price of horses
the world over, as soon as peace is de-
clared.
According to the best information,
horses in the countries of Europe now
at war number as follows:
Great Britain ............. 2,231, 900
France 3,222, 900
Belgium 100000
Germany ................... 4,523.00O
Austria Hungary ........... 4,374, 1000.
Russia ................... "a, ,652, 900
Total SO, ,265, 900
In addition England has supply Of