CHAPTER XIII. 



THE NUMBER AND VALUATION OF THE HORSES OF THE 

 UNITED STATES. 



The highest number ever reached by our horses was in 1893, when 

 they counted up to 16,206,802, and were valued at $61.22 per head. 



The highest valuation ever placed upon our horses was in 1884, 

 when it was put at $74.64 per head, and then they numbered 11,169,683. 



The lowest valuation ever placed upon our horses was in 1897, when 

 it was $31.51 per head, and they numbered 14,364,667. 



The total valuation of our horses in 1892 was $1,007,593,636, and five 

 years later, in 1897, the valuation had fallen ofif $554,944,240, over half a 

 billion dollars. Is it any wonder that we thought the bottom had fallen 

 out of the horse business? While we have gained $58,425,417 in valu- 

 ation in the last two years, on a losing basis of 699,360 horses, if we had 

 only held our own in numbers, the increased total valuation, instead of 

 the amount just mentioned, would have been $84,564,387, showing that 

 we are getting back to the old standard of prices as rapidly as we can 

 reasonably expect. 

 ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE BREEDERS OF THE PRESENT. 



If the above is not encouraging to the farmers who have good brood 

 mares, I am frank to confess I do not know what would stimulate them 

 to action. 



The greatest point with the breeders (and they are the farmers) of 

 today is, that they must see to it that they exercise more care in the 

 selections of breeding stock. The standard of size, quality, symmetry 

 and action is getting higher and higher, and to be "in it" you must be 

 "in it" for all there is "in it." 



Foreign countries are now looking to America for their war horses 

 as well as drivers and drafters, and there is every indication that we will 

 be unable to supply their demands over and above the requirements of 

 our own country, notwithstanding the great laudation of the automobile 

 to the displacement of the noble, faithful and reliable equine race. 



