126 Chicago Bureau of Public Efficiency 



Foraging of Horses. 



All purchases of feed and bedding are made on the open 

 market. The annual cost of forage and bedding per horse during 

 1910 was approximately $183. This is approximately $40 per 

 horse more than the cost of foraging to either the South or Lin- 

 coln Park Boards. Only part of the hay was inspected in 1910 

 as to weight and quality and there was considerable waste in 

 feeding. 



Management of Stables. 



The foreman of the West Park stables has a force of 14 

 stablemen and 36 drivers. No horses are kept in excess of those 

 necessary to meet the ordinary summer demands. 



No adequate reports of horse service nor of inventories have 

 been furnished, however, on which to base accurate distributions 

 of the cost of the department. 



LINCOLN PARK COMMISSIONERS 



Methods of Purchase and Sale. 



The foreman of stables for the Lincoln Park Board pur- 

 chases all horses. The average price paid for 16 horses bought 

 during 1910 was $273. Purchases have been made from several 

 dealers and on thirty to ninety days' trial. Twenty-six mules 

 were purchased for construction work on the extension to Lin- 

 coln Park. Horses are sold at private sale. The 13 horses sold 

 during 1909 and 1910 averaged $183 each. According to avail- 

 able data, however, they had been in service only 3^ years. 



Accounting for Horses. 



A private memorandum made by the present foreman is 

 kept at the stables. There is no record in the central office of 

 the purchase, sale or death of horses, nor is there anything on 

 the books representing the investment in the 62 horses and 23 

 mules owned by the Board on December 31, 1910. 



