Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-10

OF the principal western depotS Tor the
trade in war horses. From here a
steady procession of horses has been
marching for two years to the battle
fields OF Europe. Everybody knows
that Europe has been buying great
numbers of our American horses. but
here in Kansas you get new idea OF
the significance and effects OF this alb.
normal livestock business.
Is America being drained of its most
valuable horses-of animals that she
will need for the work of peace-in or
der to mount tho war god in Europe?
Are we cashing in on an unusual stu.
alton in way that we will have to pay
for in the future? This view of the
trade in war horses has been pretty
generally expressed. but you hear moth
ing of the sort around here. Kansas
says-and Kansas should know-that
the war came Ito the middle west as
3 perfect opportunity for getting rid
of an absolute farm tool. In word.
the day of the horse was largely past
on the farm. Tho gasoline tractor and
the automobile had already replaced
him on these big level fields in point
of sheer efficiency. But the horse him.
self was still on the farm in great
numbers and what to do with him was
something of problem. Then came
the war and the chance for the faith
full old friend to step out in a blaze of
g,ory.
We mad 100000 surplus horses in
Kansas alone when the war began
says local banker. by surplus
20 ,,-l,s oh
work to do-hcrses that couldn't earn
their feed because there was no way
for them to earn it. Bankers in re-
gion like this have 10 keep in close
touch with livestock values because
they are such large feature in secur-
ity for loans. The most far sighted
men in the business were looking for
the price Of horses to- break so per
cent in the summer of 1914. The war
saved the situation. 1t did more than
that-it raised the price of horses so
per cent We are getting rid of sur
plus commodity, not at prices that
would ordinarily rule in case of over
supply, but at war prices" So the
war has given the horse his cue for a
dramatic exit. He was doomed to give
place to gasoline anyway; but instead
of fighting long, losing fight with the
new power. he leaves by shipIoads for
another field where he can render a
last service.
The big stockyards corrals are still
crowded with mules and horses. al
though the first rush of buying is over.
The French government is getting the
bulk of the Wichita horses; Greece,
Italy and Uncle Sam have also bought
war stock here recently. France has
established a permanent commission
in Wichita in the shape of three Off
GERS who pass on the qualifications of
the horses offered for sale. Some in
teresting sidelights on the buying
methods of the different nations can
be learned from stockyards gossip.
In the first place the British empire
goes after horse flesh in characteristic
fashion. There is no permanent Brit
ish commission here in Wichita. but
buyers for Britain are covering the
same field that supplies the local
stockyalds. so that the British" horse
is as well recognized a type as the
French or the American" Great
Britain pays top prices for high grade
STOCK, anu HeI uSpeClOIS Sldut WIN
all strictness. 1t is the consensus of
opinion that England has been paying
out lot of money and getting her
moneys worth. II is tribute to a
buyers shrewdness, or a complaint
against his avarice to say that he is
trying to buy a British horse at French
prices. This doesn't mean that France
is taking second class stock. She is
buying cheaper horse, on the whole.
because England and France look for
different qualities in a cavalry charg-
er. The Englishman wants something
of height and weight and sOlidity--
the kind of animal that makes the
earth rock when troop OF him goes
by France takes lighter. nimbler
horse; and in horse flesh weight
means money.
In Italian purchases the fact that
much Of their cavalry work will be
done III mountain fighting has great in
fluence on the selection. a different
tyne oe horse is wanted for use in
rough country The Italian selection
resembled that o. the United States
army officers when they made their re-