The chronicle=news., 1914-10-09
U. 5. TO BECOME
HORSE MARKET
or the WORLD

Washington, D. c., Oct. 9.-Dur-
ing the next decade there will prob
ably be an increased demand for
American horses in the countries
now engaged in the European war.
The demand may even continue much
longer, according to investigators Of
the L. s. Department OF Agriculture,
as not only will horses be needed for
armies, but when peace is restored,
more will be needed for agriculture.
Already European agents are said to
be endeavoring to purchase horses in
this country and Canada. and there
is an increased interest in many sec
tions in horse breeding.
To meet this increased European
demand American farmers may well
| endeavor to raise well-bred horses,
Ialthough the Department OF Agri-
| culture does not advise them to pur-
chase surplus of horses merely for
breeding purposes. 1t advises that or
| dinary farm work should be done
whenever possible by good mares
which should be bred to good stall
lions. 1t also desires to emphasize
the fact that only horses Of high
quality may be Drofitably raised to-
day. Inferior horses are a 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 bought
here by the British government. 1t
may be doubted whether foreign
government could now obtain SIM
liar supply in this country, except at
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 ttime enough for the
foals to develop, America will be
better able to meet the European de-
mand
1t is natural that European coun-
tries should look I O the United
States for horses, as next to Russia
it has more of these animals than
any other country in the world. The
United States and Russia possess 5S
per cent of the world supply. Strange
to say, however. there were no hors-
es originally on our continent and
the present supply comes from stock
brought over from Europe. Canada's
supply is small compared to our own.
War as a Consumer of Horses.
Il The German army requires for a
complete mobilization 10000 horses
and the French army is said to re-
quire 250,O0O. which figure. how
ever, orobably includes only those
for the cavalry. It Is conservatively
estimated on good authority that
100000 horses are now engaged
in the European war. AS the great
majority of these horses are not in
cluded In the permanent military or
ganiZatiOn but are used for farm
work and are requisitioned by gov
Icrnments only when needed for mill
tary purposes. the countries of con-
| ltinental Europe will certainly face
an acute shortage of farm horses be-
fore the next planting season which
will seriously affect the price of
horses the world over. as soon as
peace is declared.
According to the best information
horses in the countries of Europe
now at war number as follows:
Great Britain 2.231 200
France -. ... 3.222.OOO
Belgium =. -. -. 2G3,OO0
Germany ...- 80. e, i.523.0O0
Austria-liungary -. 4,37A.0O0
Russia -. 49,. "a .652. 900
Total -. -. ...39.265.OOO
In addition England has supply
of about six millions to draw on in
her various dependencies. Russia
has about ten millions in Asia and
France probably 100000 to one mil
lion in her colonies.
The rapacious consumption OF
horses in war is Illustrated by fig
ures from our own Civil conflict.
During his Shenandoah Valley cam
paign, Sheridan was supplied with
fresh horses at the rate of $50 per