The Park Governments of Chicago 125 



Owing to the varying conditions in park maintenance be- 

 tween the summer and winter seasons, it was difficult for the 

 Bureau to determine the number of horses necessary to be kept. 

 It is the pohcy of the South Park management to own sufficient 

 horses to meet the demands of the ordinary summer maintenance, 

 hiring teams for construction and other extraordinary work, and 

 during the winter season to displace the hired teams with their 

 own which have been employed in the cleaning and sprinkling 

 service during the summer. Extra horses are always kept, how- 

 ever, to alternate with those in service. During the past summer 

 there have been approximately 15 to 20 extra horses kept on 

 hand for this purpose, even while additional horses were being 

 hired for construction work. 



WEST CHICAGO PARK COMMISSIONERS 



Methods of Purchase and Sale. 



The method of purchasing horses for the West Park Board 

 is similar to that of the South Park Board, purchases being made 

 by the foreman of the stables upon the order of the Board. The 

 horses are bought on thirty days' trial. Purchases have apparently 

 been made from only two firms. The cost of the 19 horses bought 

 during 1910 averaged $310 each. In March, 1910, condemned 

 horses were offered to the highest bidder for the first time, 12 

 animals realizing an average of approximately $107. Previously 

 they had been sold at private sale at lower prices. Since means 

 of identification are lacking, it is impossible to determine original 

 costs from the purchase invoices and length of service of horses 

 sold, or the investment in, or length of service of, the 71 horses 

 owned by the West Park Board on December 31, 1910. 



Accounting for Horses. 



Prior to October, 1909, no record was kept of the purchase, 

 sale, or death of horses, nor was any inventory reported. At 

 that time, however, a horse record was installed similar to that 

 in use at the South Park stables, and it has apparently been 

 accurately kept since. 



