CHAPTER IX. 

 THE GREAT EXPANSION OF THE '80 'S. 



An extraordinary period of expansion in Perche- 

 ron importing and breeding in America was inaug- 

 urated in 1881. It continued until about 1890, reach- 

 ing its climax in 1887 and 1888. The country had 

 recovered from the depression of the '70 's, land was 

 advancing fast in value, and the states west of the 

 Missouri River were being settled rapidly. Horse- 

 power was urgently needed for the development of 

 these prairies and horse-breeding on large western 

 ranches was undertaken on a commercial basis. Busi- 

 ness conditions were favorable. The result was a 

 rapid growth of draft horse breeding in America. 



Only 20 men made importations in 1880, but the 

 number of importers increased as follows : 1881, 29 ; 

 1882, 39; 1883, 42; 1884, 42; 1885, 50. Still more 

 were engaged in 1886, 1887 and 1888. The number 

 of breeders increased more than tenfold. In 1880 

 only 45 breeders were producing Percherons in 

 America; by 1890 the number had increased to 593. 

 During this period of expansion 4,988 stallions and 

 2,566 mares were imported, and 1,920 stallions and 

 2,089 mares were bred in America. 



Distribution by States. — Illinois was the leading 

 state in the breeding of Percherons at this time, with 



833 



