THE ARMY REMOUNT PROBLEM. 115 



of an officer of the Quartermaster's Department, preferably detailed from the 

 cavalry or field artillery and especially adapted for this duty. * * * The 

 officer in charge of each remount depot * * * would personally superintend 

 the care and handling 'of the horses under his charge and see to it that the 

 horses were well fed and cared for, gently and kindly handled at all times, and 

 properly exercised and broken. 



" When directed by proper authority, he would purchase young horses, to 

 conform to specifications, within the district assigned to his remount depot, to 

 which they would be shipped. 



" He would be required to acquaint himself with and keep a record of the 

 number and class of horses, how bred (if possible), by whom owned, where 

 located, and generally complete data of the horse and mule production of his 

 district, and be prepared to direct a purchasing officer or to go himself to the 

 place most suitable for the establishment of subdepots, in case of an emergency, 

 and where the best horses could be found. 



" The average life or period of duration of cavalry and artillery horses has 

 heretofore been 6.4 years, and that of the mule 10.6 years. 



" In view of the fact that the young horses to be sent to the remount depots 

 will be carefully selected and be purchased for remount purposes before they 

 are worked down, injured, or spoiled by improper breaking, and since the num- 

 ber of remounts to be supplied annually is to be limited, which in time will re- 

 sult in the mount of each organization being composed of horses of ages from 

 4 years up, the number of each age being approximately that supplied each 

 year, it is submitted that the average life or period of duration of remounts for 

 cavalry and artillery will be materially increased by this system of purchase 

 and supply, and it is therefore taken at 10 years, barring epidemics, etc." 



By the increase in the average life of animals purchased under this 

 plan, the estimate was made that the cost of remounts for the Army 

 could be reduced one-third. It was also suggested that the develop- 

 ment of the plan and the experience gained by officers in connection 

 with it would enable the Army better to meet emergencies requiring 

 a large increase in the number of animals required. 



Among the advantages of the proposed system were pointed out 

 the following r 1 



The Army will be supplied with young, fresh, sound, and well-broken horses, 

 in every way suitable for the service, and that have not been spoiled or injured 

 while breaking, as is often the case under the present system. 



These young horses will be fed grain and receive the best of care a year 

 earlier, and therefore be much stronger and better animals when sent to the 

 troops and batteries at from 4 to 5 years of age than if wintered by farmers or 

 on the ranges and purchased a year later, as at present. 



It creates a market for young horses from 3 to 4 years old, and the Quarter- 

 master's Department would have few, if any, competitors ; the first cost should 

 therefore be less, and the department as a buyer would be in close touch with 

 the horse raisers and breeders. 



The average life or period of duration of the horse will be longer, so thai 

 about one-third less number of remounts will be required yearly, with a cor- 

 responding reduction in expenditure. 



The cost will be one-third less, as the department will be able to select de- 

 sirable young horses from all over the United States, whereas at present 



1 ibid. 



