The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-04-13
0. c. Cooper,
County Agent,
Chickasha, Okla.

CnlckaSna, Okla.
Dear Sir:
This depot has received Instructions
from the quartermaster generals Of.
flee to purchase 400 young horses be-
fore June Both. These animals are not
to be purchased under contract, but in
open market. In this class of pur.
chasing we wish, as far as possible, to
deal directly with the owners or breed
ers, in order to encourage the breeding
Of the proper type of animals for gov
ernment service.
This year our instructions confine
us to the purchase Of 4 year old geld
ings This win be interpreted to mean
an animal from just under 4 to just
under 5. We are also authorized to
purchase a 8 year old wherever we
find a specially fine animal Of this age
and Of unusual development. Ordi-
narily we cannot purchase year olds.
We do not buy mares or Off colored
horses, as grays, roans or duns.
A majority of the animals to be pur-
chased are to be Of the cavalry type,
that is, horses suitable for saddle pur-
poses and built for weight-carriers.
These should be active, with rather
short back well muscled, good bone,
clean limbs, and absolutely sound An
imals in either the artillery or cavalry
class must be at least IS hands in
height In the cavalry class they
should have an approximate weight of
$50 lbs, and in the artillery class they
should show that they will mature at
about 1872 to 1873, with weight Of
about 1900 to 1900 lbs.
Thoroughbred and standardized
grades from well formed farm mares
frequently give the cavalry typa.
We will also buy a small percentage
OF artillery horses. These do not diff
red as to age or color specifications,
but should be OF a type suitable for
harness work Half-bred percherons
frequently give this type. Animals Of
the same conformation as for cavalry
but too large for that branch OF the
service also make good artillery hors.
es. Artillery horses should be active
and clean limbed
If you were present at the winter
short course at Saltwater last Decem-
ber, yau may remember that lecture
was given on this subject and after
wards illustrated by horses supplied
by the college in the live stock pavil
ion
1t is requested that you canvass your
county in the course OF your regular
work and learn If possible how many
prospective animals meeting the spec
ifications can be found If you will
communicate this information direct
ly to this office, an arrangement may
be made for visit to your county by
one OF the Officers Of the depot and
veterinarian to inspect any animals
which you may recommend.
Inasmuch as the time is limited and
we have many places to visit, it would
be well ii you could select conven-
lent point on the railroad for this in
spection or II you could combine withS
some OF your neighboring agents for
a single inspection for two or more
counties at a common point. or at one I
or two points, which might be visited !
on q single trip.
Copy of the general specifications
issued by the war department is en-
closed for your information, but you
should be governed largely by the in
formation in this letter and what notes
you may have made on the lecture re-
ferred to above.
You will also receive letter from
the director OF extension at Saltwater
on this same subject
Address all communications to De.