Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-11-07

|
ing Purposes Only Not Gener-
ally Profitable. Countries at
War Possess Nearly Forty
Million Horses.
During the next decade there will ,
probably 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 United States 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 pur-
chase horses in this country and Can
ada, and there is an increased interest
in many sections in horse breeding.
To meet this increased EuropA'n
demand American farmers may ~
endeavor to raise well-bred horses,
although the Department of Agricul-
ture does not advise them to purchase
a surplus Of horses merely for breed
ing purposes. 1t merely advises that
ordinary 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 profitably raised to-
day. Inferior horses are a drug on
the market, and their production u
! to be discouraged as much as IN
production of good horses should be
encouraged.
The United States has previously
| been drawn on to supply European
countries at war. In the Boar War
over 100000 horses were brought
here by the British government. 1t
may be doubted whether a foreign
government could now obtain SINH
lar 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 sew
eral years (time enough for the foals
to Develop, America will be better
able to meet the European demand.
1t is natural that European coun-
tries should lock to 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 $3.50 of
the world supply. Strange to say,
| however, there were no horses origin
ally on our continent and the present
supply comes from stock brought
over from Europe. Canada's supply
is small compared to our own. Y
War as a Consumer of Horses.
The German army requires for
complete mobilization 100000 horses
and the French army is said to re-
quire 100000, which figure, however,
| IL fA,. hn
cavalry. 1t is conservatively esti-
mated on good authority that 1,000,-
900 horses are now engaged in the
European war. AS the great majority
of these horses are not included in
the permanent military organization
but are used for farm work and are
requisitioned by governments only
when needed for military purposes,
the countries of continental Europe
will certainly face an acute shortage
of farm horses before the next plant
ing 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 ........!... 2,231 900
! france o,ZZZ,VOu1-
| belgium Zoo,OOo
| Germany ................. 4,5Zo,OUO
Austria-Hungary $1,000. 4,374, 900
Russia OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. "a ,652,00O
| lOldl .OJ,LOO,UUO
In addition England has a 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 million in
her colonies.
The rapacious consumption of
horses in war is illustrated by figures
from our own Civil conflict. During
his Shenandoah Valley campaign,
Sheridan was supplied with fresh
horses at the rate of $50 per day.
In his report for the year 1865, the
Quartermaster General of the United
States Army stated: "The service of
a cavalry horse under an enterprising
commander has averaged only four
months" During 1864 there were 500
horses consumed per day in the
northern army, without considering
those captured and not reported. Dur
ing eight months Of that year, the
cavalry of the Army of the Potomac
was remounted twice, nearly 10000
| hOiSSo III oil Dtni6 iCHulItu.
Our Own Army Desirable Market.
Our own Army furnishes a desir-
able market for well-bred horses.,
there being under the remount SYST
tenn, at least 5000 horses required
annually to supply both the Army
and the National Guard. There are
now about 10000 horses in our regu-
lar Army on a peace basis. In war,
many more would be required before
the first engagement. There is,
therefore, a steady market fer good
horses Independent of the European
demand. Even the invasion Of motor
power which has reduced the number
of horses on our streets has not in
fluenced this demand. In fact, the
price Of horses has advanced along
with other commodities during recent
years.
The Bureau of Animal Industry Of
the United States Department of
Agriculture, Washington, In c.,