The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-09-20

ment. They suggested preliminary
inspection by competent horsemen at
an early date.
Plans were made Immediately for
this inspection-dates set for each
town in the county, and the following
inspectors, each to have their sched-
ule of towns, appointed: DR.. E. j.
Walsh of Minot, Asst. State Veteri-
marian; DR.. Shigley Of kenmare; DR..
Norton Of Velva. The inspectors were
to receive a fee of $500 from the
farmers for each inspected horse ac-
cepted by the government.
At this time after announcements
had been made, | was asked and urged
to locate hay land that might be leas-
ed and cut by the farmers so as to
save them cash expense. Having DR..
Walsh's promise to see this inspection
thru in good shape, even with the un-
derstanding that it was an experiment
and might not be very remuneratiVe,
| left the county in quest of hay.
DR.. Walsh, after visiting the towns
as scheduled and finding only com
yaratively few horses, refused to com
plete the inspection because there
was not enough in it" He also phon-
ed to DR.. Norton of Velva advising
him of the unsatisfactory number of
horses and that it was not worth while
to make the Inspection
Acting upon this suggestion, Dr.
Norton failed to visit Makoti. Ryder
and Douglas, but at my request after
returning made the rest of the towns
as scheduled.
| At Des Lacs where the farmers re-
| port some 20 horses brought in, DR..
Walsh, in reply to a phone message,
| refused to come, saying there was
not enough in it." In addition to this
| as a result of a conversation with the
Secretary of the Minot Association Of
| Commerce, there appeared an article
in the Ward County Independent Of
Aug. 18th which has little truth and
could only discredit the attempt to
comply with the government plan for
buying direct from the farmers
1T was my mistake in setting dates
for this inspection during the harvest
season but the demands of the gov
ernment seemed urgent and with a
! light harvest an early date was deem
! ed advisable. The idea of a prelimi-
nary inspection was part Of the gov
! ernment plan for direct buying 1t
| was my mistake, | realize now, in
| leaving and putting dependence in
anyone. 1t was also very unfortunate
. that the largest number Of horses
were brought in where the inspectors
failed to appear Out OF is places
scheduled the inspectors failed to ap-
pear at five, namely: Des Lacs, Berth
Old, Makoti, Ryder and Douglas.
] appreciate the fact that the small
number of horses brought in discour
aged the inspectors and hardly com
pensated them for their time or auto
mobile mileage, but in my absence 1t
would seem much more fair and hon
orable, at least more patriotic, if Dr.
Walsh had completed his part of the
/ inspection, a matter of one day at Des
Lacs and Berthold, and had been less
concerned about DR.. Norton.
The government is now buying
horses in the open market in North
! Dakota. This means that horses are
I bought direct from the farmers and
not thru contract horse buyers who
represent themselves as buying for
the government. The government
purchasing agent wants to know at
| what points carload or more OF
sound horses can be bought. If farm
I ers will take this matter up in theil
neighbOrhOods and report to me the
approximate number for sale, same
will be reported. The government
!; wants sound geldings, 5 to 8 years
old $50 to 1900 weight for Cavalry
, Light and Heavy Artillery.
copy Of a letter received from the
quartermaster' depot in Montana re
garding this matter is printed else
> where in this issue.
w. a. PECK.