The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-10-26
"VNEkNMENT TO BUY HORSES
AND MULES FROM FARWFRS

onuer the provisions of the Army
Appropriation act for May and June
i'l'' the war department has been
given authority to purchase horses and
mules in the open market. County
agents at various places over the conn
u! nave been acting as representatives
vi farmers and breeders in arranging
ior the sale of animals to the govern
h'eht' the regulation covering this
transaction requiring that all negotia.
LUIS agreements, payments, etc, be
iiau with this representative.
Inc government requests that local
agents make an early reply to the fol-
lowing points:
The number of animals that can
probably be shown.
THE price per animal for each
ciass' that is, light artillery, wheel
mule, etc. The government sets no
price, the seller must do that.
"A mixed car lot of horses and
mules will be accepted.
Nothing less than a car lot Of
70 animals will be received at apv one
inspection point.
1t is suggested that the following
points be kept in mind-that the in
specion is rigid and that the animals
must conform to specifications to be
accepted; therefore, it will be ucces-
sary to have a sufficient number of
animals assembled to guarantee a car
load OF twenty acceptable animals. As
soon as the local agent sends the above
information to the war department, he
Will be notified whether the price Of
fered can be accepted, and should it
be. date for inspection will be set.
Until further orders horses will be
required to be six to ten years Old and
mules five to ten years of age 1t is
very probable that this age limit
would be somewhat lowered in case of
superior animals. there being a possi-
bility that some five year old horses
and four year old mules would be TAX
en-.
The specification for the cavalry
horse are about as follows: age as
stated above, weight $50 to 1900
pounds, height Is to 16 hands, and
conforming to general description for
horses.
For the light artillery horse the re-
quirements are: weight 1850 to 1900
pounds height Is 2 to 16 hands. This
weight may be varied so pounds either
way.
Mares six to ten years of age may
be supplied in quantities not to exceed
Is per cent of the total number of hor
ses accepted. This is a recent ruling.
Wheel mules must weigh from 115t
to 1850 pounds, have height of Is ID
hands to 16 IA hands and of the age
given above.
Lead mules require a height of Is to
Is "a hands. weight 1000 to 1850
pounds, and age as stated Both the
above classes of mules must be well
broken to harness.
Pack mules are required to weigh
from $50 to 100 pounds, having a
height of IA 1-2 to Is IL hands.
This method of purchasing horses
for the war department has been
brought about to reduce the cost to the
government and to increase the prices
paid the farmer. 1t has been found by
investigation of past transactions that
the government has paid from forty to
eighty dollars more for the horse that
has been bought for war purposes than
the seller on the farm has been PAID.
The success of this enterprise depends
very largely upon the farmers. as 1t
is absolutely necessary that they make
known what they have to offer and the
nrice at which the animals are held.
This matter could very easily be taken
ND in the oranges and livestock asso-
Citations and made community AFFAIR.
II is out of the question for any one
person to cover the entire county IN
an effort to locate the animals that are
for sale. and on the other hand, 1t is
but a simple matter for the indlvlduai
to write or call on the county agrlcul-
turalist, stating briefly what he has 10
offer.
AS soon as one or more cars of these
horses and mules can be signed up
arrangements will be made for the
government inspection, which Will be
done at the railroad point most con-
venient for the greater number OF tne
farmers having stock to sell. 1t Is
necessary that action be taken very
soon, and if the horse owners OF the
county give their support to this move
mont if will be successful. 1t OFFERS a
solution for a part of the feed snort
age. ,ro,r
Comfy Agricultural Agent, Okano-
gan, Washington.