The Park Governments of Chicago 137 



Horse Service. 



1. At the close of the year 1910 the South, West and 

 Lincoln Park Boards owned 115, 71, and 85 horses, re- 

 spectively. 



2. For many years all horses for the South and West 

 Parks have been purchased from only two firms. Several 

 firms have sold to the Lincoln Park Board. The average 

 prices paid per horse during 1910 by the three Boards re- 

 spectively were $269, $310, and $273. Considering that 

 the same kind of horses are used, the West Parks show an 

 excessive cost of approximately $40 per horse. 



3. Condemned horses have been sold at auction by the 

 South Parks for several years, but the West Parks sold 

 at private sale until March, 1910, and the Lincoln Park 

 horses are still sold at private sale. Experience shows 

 that better prices are usually obtained at auction, and this 

 method is suggested to the Lincoln Park Board. 



4. A detailed history record of all horses owned by the 

 South Parks has been kept since 1871. No such record 

 was kept of West Park horses until October, 1909, when a 

 history book was introduced similar to that used at the 

 South Parks. The only record of Lincoln Park horses is 

 a private memorandum belonging to the stable foreman. 

 As a guide for determining the economy of purchases and 

 sales and as a measure of protection over this class of 

 park property, complete horse history records should be 

 maintained in the central office of each Board, the postings 

 thereto being made from reports rendered by the stable 

 foreman. 



5. Forage for the South Parks has in recent years been 

 purchased both on short-time contract and the open mar- 

 ket ; for the West Parks on the open market ; and for Lin- 

 coln Park on season contracts. The cost of forage per 

 horse in the West Parks during 1910 was $40 per horse 

 (over 25 per cent) higher than in either of the other two 

 systems. As the Board maintains 71 horses, it is apparent 

 that $2,800 was wasted on forage in that year. Owing to 



