Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-21
Horse Buying for Allies.

On the military expense record oi
Great Britain, France, Italy and Belgi.
um there are to-day items, which, II
combined, would reveal this summary
To horses and mules from the United
States upward Of $500, ,0O0, 900.
This is huge total, but approximate
ly that much has been spent BY Europe
to obtain war horses and mules from
this country since September, 1914 In
IA months ended Sept. /, 1915, 355, 1928
horses and mules were actually shipped
abroad with an export value OF s10O, ,bs7,
600. Exports for September to Novem-
Der inclusive, official figures not yet
available, substantially swell the total.
During the year ended June 80, 1914,
when conditions were normal and no
thought of war, exports of horses from
the United States numbered only 22,.
TIC, valued at s., 1888, 900; and less than
500 mules.
This expenditure covers the cost of
approximately 600, 900 animals purchas.
ed. 1t includes the money paid out to
contracting dealers, railroads, feed In.
terests, ocean transportation companies,
bankers and inspectors.
When the flrst year Of buying ended
10 September, there were probably
80, 900 to $4,000 branded horses and
mules at various concentration points In
the United States that had been paid for
by Great Britain and her allies. These
horses and mules -ere held then pend
ing arrangements for shipping them
across the Atlantic. In addition, many
other thousands have been purchased,
but the buying now Is on the lightest
scale since the beginning of the destruc.
tive European conflict.
That the European purchases have al
ready cost the belligerent countries
$500, 900, 900 is matter of great inter
est. Are the allies loaded up with
horses? Are they buying fewer now be-
cause they have not lost many on battle.
fields in recent months? Have the allies
reduced buying on account Of the grow
ty of their cavalries?
HEAVY MORTALITY IN HORSE CAMPS
Shipping and concentration Difficult
ties have been a check on the buying
since it began. Ocean freight room
never was 80 scarce, hence thousands OF
horses and mules have accumulated at
times In the United States in the hands
OF the foreign buyers. Lathrop, NO.,
which is near Kansas City, Fl. Scott,
Kan, Grand Island, Neb., farms near
St. Louis, Montreal, Canada, New Or
leans, and other points have carried
Thousands OF animals at times.
At Lathrop there were $1,000 head at
one time In the last year. And as the
weather has been exceptionally wet, the
mortality among the animals was aston
ishipg. Entire crews of men have been
employed to bury the animals which
died from various diseases at concentra-
tion points.
The great mortality enters into the
5000, 900, 900 estimate. Another item is
the cost of shipping animals from re-
mote sections. It has cost as much as
500 or more to carry each animal
across the Atlantic. Insurance alone
cost up to $50 head.
WHAT OF FUTURE PROSPECTS?
While the purchases are light now,
no one is ready to predict they will not
be heavy in the next year. 1t is not un.
usual for the British government to give
notice OF rapid increase In inspections
and then to follow 1t by another order
canceling additional buying. Much de.
pends on the course If the war.
Whether the foreign purchases In.
crease or decrease from the present vol.
ume, one favorable effect OF the huge
sales already made is now noticeable.
There is already gratifying improve
ment In mules because the South,
thanks to higher prices for cotton and
cottonseed, is again liberal buyer,
whereas 1t sold last year to make up for
Improbable cotton.