Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-07
THE HORSE MARKET

Boston. Jan. 6-(SpeciaD. -During the
past year 81 1914 the Boston horse market
has suffered serious depression due to the
effect of the European war on general
commerce. specially noted during the last
four months of the year. During the
first months of the year, business was
active and values strong. Moderately
heavy supplies of green horses were sold
weekly at the auctions, and also at pri-
waite sales. with values on sound and
heavy horses for commercial purposes
ruling high. At the height Of the Spring
trading, the best offerings Of heavy draft
horses. weighing from 1650Gl9OO lbs, sold
readily from $35o@450, with a few fancy
extra large horses selling UP $f5 For
the past two months the same quality
horses have declined in value under
present conditions from $50G75 per head,
few sales being reported above 1915
Other classes while declining, have not
suffered So sharp a drop. the average de-
cline being about $40 below the prices OBJ
tanned during the spring. when medium
weight draft horses. l46o9n6oU lbs, sold
from $25O135O; heavy wagon and express
horses sold from s175@25O; chunks, from
$150G250: and light weight horses. includ-
ing many seconds, selling mostly for
milk, grocery and other delivery service,
from $l35@20O.
During the first six months of the year
offerings of heavy horses were not easily
procured, as consignments received were
largely of medium weight horses. This
with the excellent demand naturally held
ri Grvo xyjth
weeks at time. With the breaking out
Of the war in July the Boston horse mar
ket began to be- seriously effected. both
in buying and selling. very soon general
business about the city was depressed,
and as expectations and importations
were cut of, the large trucking business
to and from the wharves was nearly at
a standstill. thereby shutting out a heavy
local demand for teaming horses Later
the trade was hard hit by lack of orders
from the lumber companies. which during
the fall trade have usually been gener-
GUS buyers Of good quality horses in
large amounts for shipment to the log
ging camps.
Again dealers about Boston suffered
business losses. when prices advanced on
their western supplies, as the foreign
governments began a vigorous demand
for horses for the army throughout the
breeding states of the middle west,
booming the market, and encouraging
sellers to hold horses back for the for
eign trade and higher prices. This while
being Of great help to the western trade,
made first cost to Boston dealers higher
at time when their own business was
30 dull that 1t was impossible to raise
prices to cover the additional cost Of
their offerings. as horses could often
times be only sold freely at many sales
unless the price was sacrificed enough
to attract bargain hunters. Dealers
called the trade Of the past two or three
months the poorest they can remember.
but seem to be Of the opinion that as
soon as general business improves. that
this weak state-of the market will pass,
and that conditions viii again become
normal
During the past year there has been an
unusually large amount Of Acclimated
horses changing hands. due to slack
business, to firms replacing old horses
with new stock Or auto truckA aud to the