The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-03-31
HIAS.LaG FACTS
] On SHIPMENTS STOCK
FUR WAX u tURUPt
n. M. WILLIAMS TELLS OF The
IMMENSELY OF THE
INDUSTRY.
TWO THOU.AAD Al A LOAD
That Number Went Across On The
Steamship Virginian-How Horses
Are Divided Among the Several
BeIligerents.

THE largest ship load OF horse
ever sent across the ocean was G,OZ
that we loaded on the steamship WI
sxinia," said R. M. Williams. OF New
York. who has been on visit to nj
old home for several days. Mr.. WI
aiams is now and has been in charg'
of the French remount stations a
eauebec, Canada, Dunwiddie, New
York and Watertown, Mass, and hal
supervised the shipment of thousandi
gupon thousands of war horses.
Discussing the immensely of thu
vshipments from this country, Mr.. VII
Eliams made the following very inter
nsting observations
Far the most interesting phase o.
the present war situation, in so far al
horse interests are concerned, Is the
zgathering and shipping Of horses In
LANDED for military use, and, to date
shout 100000 Of these horses have
ehsen purchased in the United States
s;Aad Canada, about one-sixth of the
gnumber being bred in Canada.
These horses 60 to England, France
Belgium and Italy About fifty pei
-eent. to England, thirty-five per cent
to France, ten per cent. to Italy, and
i've per cent. to Belgium.
Russia has an adequate supply Of
horses, and, so far as known, has not
Shown any disposition to>share them
with their war allies. Therefore, the
Omitted States s the principal shipper
Of this useful friend of mankind. The
last census of this country showed
about twenty-three million horses
which, of course includes stations,
-hrOodmares and colts, as well as
horses of general work, so you can
see that the expectation of horses for
7war purposes which has been going
M for the past year has made slight
impression on our total stock. Then
again the horses taken range from five
10 nine years of age-quite q few older
cnes are taken, partly because no
living man can accurately tell the
@age of horse after he has passed
the smooth" mouth stage, which 10
usually around eight years. The in
spectors are very strict about young
horses, and / have seen them turn
down many excellent horses because
they showed only four or four and a
half year mouth
The British buy their horses princi-
pally in the western markets and in
Canada, East st. Louis, Kansas City
land Chicago being the principal con-
-eentration points. These buyers or
commissions consist of army officers
and veterinarians, all under the direc-
~tion of General Benson, of the English
cavalry, who makes his headquarters
at Montreal Contracts are awarded
to reliable horse dealers, who have
agents scour the country and buy the
horses, then ship in carloads to their
stables in the large cities. The COM
mission have these horses passed be-
fore them. They thoroughly examine
each horse. II he passes the required
inspection, he Is accepted and brand
ed both on the hip and hoof, record
is taken Of his description, marks and
brands, and. he is then passed back
with others and shipped to the en-
barking ports, where they are placed
upon the vessels, and go to England
for training and service.
The British buy a fine type Of horse
and are very strict in their inspec-
tons. They pay relatively higher
price than the other nations, and, OF
course, get excellent horses.
All British horses are concentrated
in yards or stations. There they are
usually fed and cared for by a con-
tractor. but always under the instruc-
ton of an army officer and veterinary.
These concentration yards are locat-
Cd at Lathrop, Mo-. Alton, Ill, Newport
News, Va, and Montreal, Canada.
Most of the British horses are en-
barked at Montreal. Boston and New
port, News.
The British buy their horses at
point Of inspection and ship them by
rail to the embarking port, from
whence they go across on British ships.
These ships usually carry from 900 to
300 horses each. They have a fore
man on board each ship. an assistant
foreman to every hundred horses, and
an attendant to every ten horses; also
q veterinary surgeon and assistants.
The horses are put in stalls about
feet long and feet wide. Every sixth
stall.is left vacant, so horses can be