THE ARMY REMOUNT PROBLEM. 121 



Lastly, the Government would be no further ahead than before by 

 adopting such a policy. The Government would have absolutely 

 nothing to show for the added expenditure. The horses would be 

 no better and would last no longer. The same unsystematic methods 

 now prevailing would still prevail. On the other hand, with the 

 expenditure for breeding recommended by the Agricultural and War 

 Departments, the Government would be able to develop a systematic 

 and economical system of breeding ; it would know what was wanted 

 and would get it. It would also insure a reserve supply of horses 

 if needed. It would not be worth while for the Government to pay 

 $50 to $100 per head as a bonus or gratuity to the owners of colts, 

 but it would be well worth that much for the Government to know 

 what it was getting when a colt was purchased as a remount, to know 

 that the horses bought for the Army were bred for that purpose, and 

 that there were others to select from if needed. A further advantage 

 which would accrue to the Government's profit would be that the 

 exact location of available young horses would always be known, 

 and no time would be lost in hunting for them; much of the inci- 

 dental expense which is now necessary for traveling could therefore 

 be saved. 



What to do with horses bred under this plan on which the Gov- 

 ernment does not exercise its option is not a difficult problem. It is 

 proposed to use only first-class, sound stallions, with good conforma- 

 tion and action. These stallions would be better than the average, 

 and it is reasonable to suppose that their get would be also. Such 

 being the case, those of the get which were not taken by the Govern- 

 ment would be suitable for various uses as general-purpose horses, 

 for farm work, saddle, etc. If the breeding plan is once put into 

 complete operation there is no doubt that European buyers would 

 be ready to take whatever they could obtain. It is also reasonable 

 to suppose that on account of the high character of the stallions the 

 percentage of unsound get w r ould be below the average. 



The effect which the plan would have on horse breeding in general 

 would be decidedly beneficial. It would in the first place call atten- 

 tion to the advantages of certain localities for horse breeding and the 

 suitability of certain breeds to certain localities (which has been 

 neglected in the United States in all lines of stock breeding), and 

 would therefore encourage specialization in horse breeding. It would 

 give system in breeding where little now exists; and above all, it 

 would direct immediate attention to the objection to the use of an un- 

 sound horse for breeding purposes, for no unsound stallion would be 

 used nor an unsound mare bred. 



