502 A HISTORY OF THE PEKCllEEON HORSE 



farmei-s generally would bear in mind the fact that 

 the trade in draft geldings is a seasonable one, thoy 

 could obtain much more for their horses than they 

 have generally secured, by having the horses fit for 

 sale at these particular times. 



"Another feature which is worthy of mention is 

 that the eastern buyers have been willing to pay 

 higher prices and for this reason have obtained the 

 better class of draft geldings. The majority of 

 Chicago and other western buyers, Avhen they do 

 want big horses, are willing to t^ike second-class 

 ones which can be obtained somewhat cheaper, but 

 the eastern buyers are inclined to take the best 

 horses they can get even at higher prices. I know 

 of many teams that have been sold in New 

 York, Brooklyn and Boston at prices ranging from 

 $800 to $900 per team. 



' ' The number of draft horses passing through our 

 large commercial markets during the past 2 years 

 has not been at all representative of the actual de- 

 mand or sales. The reason for this is that the com- 

 mercial markets have been given up largely to the 

 export trade, which has been almost exclusively for 

 cavalry, artillery and transport horses. It is likely 

 that the draft horses would have continued to move 

 freely through the large markets had it not been for 

 the very extensive movement in war horses. 



"By reason of this the eastern buyers of heavy 

 draft horses have within the last 18 months been 

 avoiding the large market and going directly to 

 the country, making their purchases from fanners 

 or small dealers who. have assembled and fed their 

 horses for the eastern markets. 



"I am no prophet and will not underttike to make 

 any predictions as to what will occur in the com- 

 mercial horse market when the war ends. I believe, 



