The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-02
i. 5. WILL BUY.
HORSES DIRECT.
FROM FARMERS.
BY new RULING.
Wide Spread in Prices Paid
Contractors and Breed
ers Brings Step
COOPER DIRECTS
STATE ORGANIZATION
Agents Instructed to Aid
In Placing Animals on
The Market

The establishment of horse buy
ing plan under which the govern
ment will deal directly with the own
ers of horses bought by the United
States for war purposes, was an
nounced today by Thomas Cooper,
director of the North Dakota expert
ment station, in Fargo.
The war department adopted the
plan as a result of the aggressive
work of Mr.. Cooper and a group of
North Dakota horse breeders, and
had its inception in complaint made
by the letter that horse producers
were, in many instances, receiving
from $50 to 800 less than the gov
ernment was being forced to pay for
them TO cantract handlers.
Handsome Dividend for Farmers.
North Dakota, with a horse sur
plus, will realize a handsome divi-
dend through the governments adop-
ton of the direct buying plan.
AS a means furthering the scheme,
system of cooperation has been
worked out, to be placed under way
in various counties in North Dakota
by agents of the extension depart
ment of the experiment station,
while counties that are without
agents, will be provided means of
organizing when their farmers call
on the experiment station for aid,
The announcement by the federal
war department of its decision to
buy horses in the open market, and
directly from the farmers and breed
ers, follows six weeks negotiations
I.z hA
interested in this state, and the de-
partment at Washington.
Agents Begin Work.
Mr.. Cooper this morning received
information announcing the secre-
tary of wars approval of the plan to
purchase horses for war purposes.
The instructions are now being for
warded to the various county agents
as to methods that will enable farm
ers to make direct sales, and this
eliminate the wide margin it is
charged now prevails between the
price received by the farmer, and the
price paid by the war department.
Under the plan at present evolv-
ed, said Mr.. Cooper this morning.
the proper method Of procedure for
farmers who wish to sell horses to
the war department will be for the
farmers to organize and ascertain
the number of horses, according TO
Specifications OF the war depart
ment, they can handle. They must
then agree upon a price of offer and
this amount to the re-
mount officer of the district in which
the state is located. North Dakota
is in the northern remount zone,
with headquarters at Fort Keogh,
Montana.
Will Send Inspector.
'If the offers from the farmers
are entertained, the remount officer
will advise the farmers when inspec-
tors will come and see the animals.
The stock must be taken to some
good railroad point and arrangements
must be made to assemble them IN
a sanitary stable and otherwise con-
form to the requirements of the war
announcement.
County agents have been
instructed to organize farmers. who
have horses for sale. as rapidly as
possible and communicate same to
the war department. Farmers in
not employing county
agents may obtain information with
regard to methods of sale, specifica-
the agricultural extension division
at the experiment station in Fargo,
or by communicating with the war
direct"
Big Thing For industry.
That the war departments action
will mean big things for the future
Of the horse industry, Is the belief
Of breeders. With the government
the payment direct TO pro-
ducers, thus assuring the latter bet
ter returns, there are hopes. breed
ers say, that the horse industry will
once more maintain its former strong
position.
The demand for horses for war
purposes will be very great, IL being
estimated that at least $50. 900 horses
and mules viii be required TO equip
the first contingent OF the American
army, recently provided for.