4 LETTER OP TRANSMITTAL. 



information as to the extent of the demand in horse-importing countries, 

 and as to the various kinds of horses wanted in those countries, and 

 the distinguishing characteristics to which foreign buyers attach 

 importance. As a result, a large number of communications have 

 been received at this Department from a variety of sources, and I 

 have, after some reflection, concluded that the best way to present 

 this information to the public is to submit all these communica- 

 tions, in the form of a special report to you, for transmission to 

 Congress with the recommendation that that honorable body should 

 order the same printed for distribution to their constituents. As 

 a convenience to the reader of this report, I present here a sum- - 

 mary of the information collected by these various correspondents, 

 but as each one pursued his own investigations independently and 

 presented such facts as he was able to gather, often accompanying 

 them with a statement of his impressions on the subject, I have 

 deemed it best to present each communication in full, eliminating 

 nothing save in the case of a few correspondents who added other 

 matter not strictly pertinent to the subject of this report, viz, the 

 demand for American horses in European countries. Following the 

 summary already referred to, I present some tables showing the num- 

 ber and value of horses exported from this country to Europe dur- 

 ing the past five years. These figures are amply sufficient to satisfy 

 everyone who studies them that a demand exists in Europe, which 

 should not only afford encouragement to American horse raisers, but 

 should convince them that it is well worth their while to study closely 

 the character of this demand in order that they, may be prepared to 

 meet it. I can not reiterate too strongly my conviction that in this, 

 as in all the other branches of our export trade, the needs, the tastes, 

 and even the fancies of the foreign consumers must be carefully 

 studied, and every effort should be made by American producers to 

 meet them. There is little doubt that we can raise as good horses and 

 raise them as cheaply in this country as in any European country, 

 and far more cheaply than in those countries that are obliged to 

 import horses to satisfy their own requirements. 



Another point deserves attention. It is of paramount importance 

 that no diseased animals should by any chance be landed in foreign 

 ports from these shores. Under the present law the authority to inspect 

 horses for export is vested in this Department, and the Chief of the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry has already taken the necessary steps to 

 establish a proper system of inspection. Not only is this precaution 

 due to the foreign buyers who seek to enlarge their trade relations with 

 us, but it is also due to our reputation. In these days, moreover, when 

 producers in many countries seem animated by a determination to 

 obstruct by every means available to them the imports into their own 

 country of American products, it becomes an absolute necessity for us, 



