Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-05-19
HORSES DECREASE IN
CITIES SO Per CENT
tBy Associated Press)

the 1lllillDGI~O1 flC1SSS ana mules
in cities and towns decreased ap-
proximate1y So per cent between
1910 and 1920, the total number
in the United States increased
liz per cent III that period, with
an increase af 2lS per cent in
horses and S24 per cent in mules
on farms, according to bulletin
of the Horse Association of
America.
The practical elimination of
the driving horse for business use
and the advent OF motor trucks,
has caused the decline in the cit
les" the bulletin stated. ut does
not indicate, however, that hors-
es and mules in towns and cities
will decrease indefinitely, for
there are certain kinds of city
work, such as short hauls, slow
hauling through crowded districts
and delivery routes which involve
many stops, which are most eff
fciently and cheaply done by
horses, and to which horses are
being restored as the facts and
cost figures become generally
known"
The bulletin said there was
marked scarcity OF good young
horses and mules, that the birth
rate has not kept pace with the
death rate, and that Is pcr cent
increase in breeding will just hold
up present strength, but will no:
allow for normal expansion i
horse and mule Use.
The bulletin quoted the Omitted
States census Of January 1 ,s192G,
Is showing 21,4z2J72 horses ami
5,810,641 mules lin the United
States, a total OF 27;2S3,413 head.
and an increase of 526,663 or 10
per cent over the number i'll 1910.
The 1920 census also showed
that 10,zS97 ,161 horses and 5
1891 mules were on the farms
grand total of 25,199,552 head,
representing all increase of $40
S25 horses or 21.S per cent and All
increase of 1,331,879 mules OF
}2.4 per cent over 1910.
A total of 2,O83,861 horses and
mules was shown i'll the census to
be engaged in non-agricultural
work, including those in cities
md towns. OF this number l.
7O5,611 were horses and 378,250
mules. This was declared to be a
decrease Of nearly 80 per cent
from 1910.
Discussion of the question OF
whether breeding would be re-
sumed this spring, the bulletin
stated thatt9the shortage of good
| young horses has put farmers gen
I orally in mood to breed their
mares; but as stallion and JACK
| owners have been unable to make
| money during the last few years.
! great many have gone out ct
| business.
The result is" the bulletin con
| inued, that thousands of corr
nunities where breeding would
/ )e resmed if sires were available
| will be held back from doing so.
| IN more fortunate communities,
| however, breeding will be renew
| ID enough to supply requirements
| needed in farm work, but it will
| AXE at least two years, and per-
| laps more, to bring the birth rate
lp to the death rate.
! we may loog for gradually in
| ,reasing prices OH horses and
| mules for the next five years, a.
! which time they probably VIII
each the peak for this particular
took. They will then be high
| enough to stimulate breeding ev-
| .ryWhefe, and as is always the
ase, over production will follow.
| This will bring back low prices
/ tbouf ten or twelve years from
low." fH''-'''.E 2.!
IN support of this the bulletin
printed a chart from a bulletin
If the United States Department
IF Agriculture, showing trend OF
the purchasing power of horses
| and mules over more than SO
| years.
"In 1873 the purchasing power
| of horses began to rise" the de-
Dartment of agriculture bulletin
said. "and continued for ten years
| It then fell for ten years, rose
for fourteen years. fell for nine
years and has now risen for one
| year. Apparently the tide has
turned. The value per head in
dollars still fell in 1921, but the