COST OF SHOEING. 443 



and veterinary surgeons with a forge are among the persons who must please 

 to live ; but it certainly does seem curious that years and years should pass 

 without one independent man putting his foot down and availing himself of 

 a splendid advertisement. Supineness on the masters' part is doubtless the 

 real reason why the blackmailing system has so singularly flourished for so 

 long a time.' 



"A few days ago we received from a well-known farrier in this city a 

 circular which he has mailed to a large number of gentlemen who maintain 

 carriage stables : 



" 'For the past few years gentlemen's coachmen and grooms have been 

 demanding and receiving of horseshoers in this city a commission upon all 

 work done for their masters in shoeing coach and road horses. 

 The following have been the rates charged for shoeing road horses, $3.50 

 Out of which groom receives a commission i .00 



Leaving amount actually paid shoer . . . . . . $2.50 



For shoeing pair coach horses . $7.00 



Out of which coachman receives a commission of 2.00 



Leaving amount actually paid shoer ...... $5.00 



Some coachmen requiring shoers to make bill monthly for reset- 

 ting, all of which is paid coachman ..... $4.00 



The price now paid for shoeing pair horses with pads is . . $17.00 

 Out of which the coachman demands and receives from . 5.00 to 6.00 



Leaving actual amount paid shoer $n.oo 



" 'This commission has been exacted and we have been compelled to 

 pay it to retain our trade. 



"'I have been twenty years engaged as a journeyman, receiving the 

 largest wages paid any journeyman in this city. 



" ' I propose to shoe your horses at following rates : 



Single horse, new set shoes $2.50 



Single horse, new set shoes with pads 5.50 



Pair coach horses, new set shoes 5.00 



Pair coach horses, new set shoes with pads .... 11.00 

 Resetting each horse 1.50 



