New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1915-12-18

the greatest morse anu ulltle CUM
try in the world. Next rank!
Russia. and together the two pro
duce 50 per cent of the world 8
supply. France and England
with their colonies, cannot com
mand a fourth Of that total. The
Russian supply is not available
for many reasons, and France
England and Italy must, to meet
their constant pressing needs
look to the United States. How
pressing these needs are, and how
rapidly we are getting rid Of our
horses, is shown by the following
figures:
In the month of June, 1914, we
shipped to Europe $205,00O worth
of horses and mules. For the
month of June, 1915, we shipped
to Europe $1O,636,00O worth, an
increase of so times. For the
fiscal year ending June 3Oth, 1914,
the total value of our exports of
horses and mules was $4,O79,O ;
for the year 1915, $76,772,000.
and Department Of Agriculture
officials estimated that during the
ten months ending in April, $685.
100000 worth Of American horses
and mules had been killed!
That is, every month more than
Is per cent Of our total export
of live stock are killed within a
short time Of landing. The GUS
toms house figures made public
cover only period Of from four
to five weeks before the date of
publication, and under the new
system of invoicing give little
definite information. But from
the figures available it is estimat-
ed that the monthly expectation
OF horses and mules is approx
mately $10,000,000 in value, and
the increasing demand and great
er willingness Of the inspectors to
pass animals hitherto rejected in
dicate that the mortality rate of
70 per cent has not lessened. De
mands of foreign buyers are daily
growing greater and their stand
ards lower. The proof of this
lies in the fact that the selling
price has steadily increased.
Prices Jump 100 Per |
Cent in Year.
In the early days of the war,
according to the st. Louis RE
public. 1000 horses a day were
'old to the agents of the Allies.
Belgium taking in one order TO-
700. at an average price of $135.
This was the standard price up to
he summer Of 1915. Then the
'rices began to jump.
In September the Hazel-Dar-
lelle Mule Company of Memphis,
'enn.. was reported to have ac-
epted a contract TO supply the
'rench army with 10000 horses
an average price of approx S
lately 5000 per head. Dealers in
lemphis say that the supply of
ood all-purpose work horses is
eing reduced as never beford
nd that the full effect of the y
rye foreign purchass is already h
aing felt in our domestic trade. h
In Kansas City, Thompson and
obinson closed a contract with \
le French Government for 90 q
70 artillery and cavalry horses !,
a price said to be between $5.- y
10000 and $7.0O0,O0O. an ave h
ge price Of more than 5000 a y
'ad. an increase Of so per cent i
'er the price in the first months - -
the war. =;
Recently a British contract was I
aced in Chicago for 10000 hor- p
S. The price had risen from 8
35 a head to $275 a head. .Johr .,
I'll is a cautious buyer. If he ~,
ds himself compelled to pay an A
crease of 100 per cent it means :,
at the supply in sight is dimin- n,
ing rapidly. b,
The great horse markets of the hi
lited States are in the Middle
est and East Sain Louis. Kan g;
CITY and other centers hare o,
IN the chief sources of supply % %
the BUYERS for the Allies. al 70
,ugh several big contracts have N
IN placed in the East.
The National Stock Yards in
st Sain Louis have furnished
ny animals. A large propor-
- - - --'-- 49,