South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-05
FARMING-STOCK-GARDENS

country, on Jan. I, 1915, 64,61S,O 900.
This is accounted for by the fact that
the production of swine can be in
creased more rapidly than that Of
other classes of live stock and conse-
quently an enlarged demand can be
met more readily
233,OOO More Horses.
The prediction of 50-cent meat and
$1o-shOes was accompanied by the
declaration that France alone has
taken from America nearly 100000
horses within the last five months and
that the other countries at war have
drawn upon our resources in the
same proportion. The facts are that
more horses were on the farms of the
United States ON Jan. 1, 1915. than
there were year before. the increase
being $4,000 head or IL per cent
So far from France alone having
taken 600 200 horses from us. the
total exports since the war began
have certainly been much less than
100. eco and very likely not over
5000. Since there are approximate
ly $4,000. GOO horses altogether in the
United States, the drain on account
of the war is scarcely alarming.
1t is in fact pointed out by govern
ment statisticians that the market
clined to such an extent that the aV-
erage is now about SO a head less
than a year ago. This decline is
most noticeable in the cotton states
and in those states which make bus
mess Of breeding horses for sale in
other sections. Mules have declined
even more than horses, their value
being now $11.50 per head less than
a year ago. The explanation is TO be
Of the cotton situation in the south,
which is the great market for mules
An Improvement in this respect will
do much TO restore the demand for
horses. so that government specialists
while ridiculing the nation of horse
famine arc convinced that farmers
will find it profitable TO use good work
mares for breeding more stock.
Hide Situation Exaggerated.
AS for hides, the situation is not
quite so clear. but even here there
has been much gross eXaggeration.
From twO-fifths 20 less than One-half
of the leather used in this country is
imported. about 25 per cent of the
foreign hides coming from Argentina,
Is per cent from Canada, Il per cent
from Mexico. S - per cent from
European Russia, and Z 1-2 per cent
from France. Since the outbreak Of
I
certain falling off those for Septem-
Der. 1914, for example, being only
"a. 600. 600 pounds, instead of 4J.OOO,-
OOC pounds the year previous. There
is however little reason to suppose
that this decrease will he permanent
or of sufficient Importance TO create
any real scarcity. Since the great
bulk of the imported hides come from
countries that are not at war. ship
ments are not interfered with in any
way and the only new factor to be
considered is the possibility of an in
creased demand by the warning cOun-
tries
Ii is believed, however, that the
United States is now in a better con-
dition TO face such a situation than
for years past. The tide. il seems, has
turned Instead of live stock stead
iIy decreasing year after year. this
year for the first time. as has been
said. all classes show an appreciable
increase. Including horses, mules,
milch COWS beef cattle, sheep, and
swine. there were on Jan. l. 1915,
7.712.OOO more farm animals in the
United States than on Jan !, 1914.
The increase in the total value was
S7S.O24.0OO. or 1.3 per cent. IL Is
quite true that this increase Is not
vet proportional 10 the increase IN
reputation. which is approximately
two per cent: but the fact that there
is an increase. that the tide seems
definitely TO have turned. is regarded
as a sufficient answer 10 alarming eX-
egcerations and misleading figures