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EFFICIENT ARMY HORSES HARD TO FIND. AVilh a view to determining the exact situation in connection with the horse and nude supply available for war purposes, the Department of Agriculture at AVashington was asked to telegraph official figures 011 Saturday, and the following statistics were furnished by George M. Rommel, whose particular business it is to have such knowledge at his command. "The number of horses exported to Europe and Canada," reads Mr. Rommels telegram, "since the beginning of the European war totals 5S0.185 head; of mules 1S5.O0O head. The census of 1910 showed that there were on the farms of the United States 19.S33.000 horses; not on farms, which means horses used for pleasure or in the cities for draught or utility purposes, 3.1S2.000 bead. At the same time there were on the farms 4.210,000 head of mules and 270,000 head in the urban communities. The estimate o the department on January 1, 1910. places the number of horses on farms at 21,100,000 head, and of mules at 4,505,000." Then; is no way of determining how many of these are heavy draught and how many are of the saddle or harness type, but the great bulk, no doubt, would be classed as "just horse." Army and other authorities say there is a shortage of the kind that will pack a trooper and his kit somu 200 pounds, day in and day out. Lawrence Smith, who has sold very many horses abroad, disposed of 2,000 head to the federal government a few days ago for 00 a head. Mr. Smith is an expert, and his horses, no doubt, were useful, but a trip to the cavalry and artillery camps at Aan Cortlandt Park will convince even a tyro that many dealers have a peculiar idea of type, as the rejects are to be seen everywhere plenty of them not over 1 1.2 hands high, and their quarters furrowed deeply with brands. Mori; of them are as wild as hawks, and it is a fact that two troopers lost their lives within the past ten- days trying to ride them, while a score or more are in the hospital with injuries that run from sprains to broken bones. On Friday morning First Sergeant Burnap of 1 Troop, Squadron A, who was maneuvering a number of men mounted on some of these undersized western animals, said: "Some of these are rejects, but if you want to see the real thing come over to the camp. Lots of them never saw a halter until they came to New York. It took eight blacksmiths-real blacksmiths, who know their business five hours to shoe two of these devils and we have any number of men with hands bitten clear through." Mr. Rommel has had much to do with the conduct of the various breeding stations under the charge of the federal government and has given expert testimony on Various occasions when investigations were under way affecting the economic development of communities in various parts of the United States. If the Pittman-Scully bill now before the federal authorities at AVashington becomes a law he will undoubtedly have much to say about how the 00,000 appropriation shall be spent. Like his chief, A. 1. Melvin, who is the head of the bureau of animal husbandr. he has always been keen about tiie perfecting of a type of horse for army purposes. He is for the horse of blood and quality for the sire, and believes that a type equal to anything abroad can be evolved once the sympathies of the intelligent farmers and horse breeders of the country are enlisted. AVhen seen in AAashington recently, Mr. Melvin said: "I have nothing but praise for the work that has been done at Front Royal and other experimental stations and only regret that owing to the curtailed appropriation we have had to reduce the number of sires. The chance of getting something more than a cavalry remount has been an incentive to many farmers to partonize our thoroughbred and sttandard-bred stallions, but I believe the time has arrived when the government should increase the price it is willing to pay for troopers mounts. If they cant be turned out for 75, mark the figure higher and encourage the breeder to produce a superior animal."
