REPORT OP THE STATISTICIAN. 



39 



Horses. — A decline in horses during 1871 was reported in nearly all 

 the States. Texas was mentioned as an exception. The reduction was 

 less marked in the Western than in the Eastern States. The investiga- 

 tion of January, 1873, shows that the advance is still progressing in 

 Texas ; that higher prices rule in several of the Southern States ; that 

 in the central or interior States there has been no material change in 

 values during 1872. 



The highest prices returned are those of ISfev*^ Jersey; the lowest, 

 tliose of Texas. The average price of all horses, of all ages, in New 

 Jersev is estimated at $12^.21, $108.2G in Massachusetts, $104.80 in 

 Georgia, $102.58 in New York, $100.82 in South Carolina, $100.79 in 

 Louisiana, §100.30 in Rhode Island. In all other States it is less than 

 .$100, running down to $37.41 in Texas, where are bred large numbers 

 of mustang or Mexican horses. Year after year the due proportion 

 between the rates of different sections and those named for the various 

 ages of animals is mentioned in the returns, with only such changes 

 as are attributable to assigned or manifest causes, affording evidence in 

 these local estimates of their approximate correctness. 



In Maine prices of horses have shared in the general appreciation of 

 values of domestic animals from the returns of comparative abundance 

 of feeding-materiiil. In [Massachusetts and New Jersey, where prices 

 have ruled high, the late returns indicate a smaller average than last 

 year; and in Nev>' York and Pennsylvaniii the average is somewhat 

 higher than was returned last year. The comparison in New York is as 

 follows : 



Dato 



1872, February. 



1873, January . 



One year. 



$40 49 

 4ii 00 



Two yeai's. \ Tliroo j-ears. 



$C7 41 



(i!) 00 



$94 53 

 99 00 



Over tlireo 

 years. 



§130 58 

 135 00 



A small decline appears in Delaware and Maryland. A slight advance 

 is shown in Virginia, and, in horses of full age, in North Carolina. 

 The rate for horses of three years and upward in Georgia has advanced 

 from $113.29 to $123 ; in Mississippi, from $110 to $111.21 ; and in Texas 

 the comparison is as follows : 



Data 



1872, Febrixars'. 



1873, Jauuarj- . 



One year. 



?12 43 

 15 32 



Two years. 



018 72 

 22 48 



Tbrec yeaa-s. 



§30 08 

 32 92 



Over tlireo 

 years. 



$4(5 23 

 r>l 29 



A slight advance is seen in Arkansas, and a decline in Tennessee from 

 $105.27 to $101.20; from $93.15 to $88.25 in West Virginia ; and from 

 $89.67 to $87.00 in Kentucky. Tlie change is slight in Ohio, Indiana, 

 and Illinois. Former high rates in Michigan are not fully sustained. 

 Young stock in Minnesota shows little change, while prices of full-grown 

 animals have advanced ; an increase is also made in Wisconsin. A slight 

 tendency to retrograde is seen in Iowa : 



Date. 



1872, February. 



1873, January. , 



One year. 



I 

 Two years. I Three years. 



$27 



$41 3r. 

 42 50 



C^59 47 

 CI 73 



Over tbree 

 years. 



§85 02 

 88 00 



The highest class in Missouri has declined from $74.15 to $72.35 ; in 

 Kansas from $84.20 to $76.50. In Nebraska the prices of young horses 



