The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-28
THE DEPENDABLE HORSE.
In Time of War the Automobile Cam not Replace Him--UncIe sam's
 Equine Population. .
(New York Sun. }

At the time of sending troops into Mexico for the holding of Vera Cruz, the cavalry branch of the army of the United States comprised 1 5 regiments, with total of officers and enlisted men reaching nearly IS, ,0OO men. Ev- cry one of these men, of course, has to be mounted. A large number of in fantry officers also require horses. And the horses needed for the artfl- lery5 service foot up to a big figure. The total enlisted strength prior to the occupation of Vera Cruz was about 0O0 men, and for all branches of the service, including the hospital at tendants. it is likely that at least 2O,- 900 horses were regularly required.
 Now, with 20, 900 horses, the mortal ity percentage must be constantly. reckoned with. Tn fact, it is more cer- tain than the mortality of the soldier himself. A horse cannot be buoyed up by enthusiasm, and when it's feed time promise is of no value to him So when the Mexican cloud came up one of the busy, clerks of the war de- partment was at once the horse arith+ metician.
 Uncle Sam's last census gave ap- proximately as the horse population Of the United States 20,567s 7sooo- The army arithmetician Juggling with per centage sees that in time of absolute peace the army needs only one horse in every 1000 in the country. But as
 
 the sort of horse for army purposes nothing positive can be set down. Some army men have estimated tha the total available horse population for army purposes can be set at about 2, ,OOO, ,OO0 animals. This would make the draft on the number for use in time of peace, or as the army was before the occupation of Vera Cruz, one horse in every 100.
 The army arithmetician also finds that the approximate value of the horses of the United States is $2.278,- 222, 900, or about SIS horse. The 20, 900 needed for the army would thus cost Uncle Sam about $2,260,- OOO The army figures also go into the cost per diem for the keep of these horses.
 would there be any difficulty in get ting the full supply of horses needed and in short order? Army officers say not The percentage of availability to need is too large Of course all of the available horses are supposed to be at some remunerative occupation. but when the government was to pay good money in a hurry the horse owner can be found almost anywhere to take the offer up. The gathering of horses at a particular shipping point is another item of expenses that mounts up. Whenever possible the horses are brought near to the point needed.
 The horse census indicates that be- tween the years 1900 and 1918 the horse population increased at the rate of about 5 per cent yearly. There were 13,537,524 horses in the United States in 1900, so that the total num- Der in 1913 shows an increase of r. 029,476 animals. During the civil war there was a systematic breeding of animals in certain sections to meet the demand The horse casualty in battle was no small percentage.
 And the army arithmetician sharp ems his pencil to keep tally of the .tirne-honored friend of the service, the mule He is needed for ambulance