22 



FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. 



Value of horses exported from the United States to the several foreign countries 

 during each fiscal year from 1893 to 1897, inclusive — Continued. 



REPORTS AND EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS RELATING TO THE USE 

 OF AMERICAN HORSES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



GREAT BRITAIN'S PURCHASES OF CAVALRY HORSES IN 



ARGENTINA. 



[Letter from Hon. "William I. Buchanan, American minister to Argentina,* dated November 19, 



1898.] 



Knowing the interest taken by the Department of Agriculture and 

 our people in general in all that affects the market abroad for our 

 horses, I have taken some trouble to gather together such informa- 

 tion as possible with regard to the purchases of Argentine horses 

 being made here, for the second time, by the British Government for 

 its troops in Africa. 



All purchases of horses are made by commissions of officers from 

 the "Remount department" of the British army, which is a branch 

 of the headquarters staff at London, having sole control over the 

 purchases of horses used by the British army throughout the world. 



The appointments of officers for this service are for the same period 

 as those for other staff positions— five years. The headquarters staff 

 consists of one inspector-general (a general officer), one deputy assist- 

 ant general (of any rank), three assistant inspectors (colonel's), two 

 staff captains, about one hundred men from the Woolwich depot, and 

 the same from that of Dublin, and as many veterinary surgeons as 

 are required. 



The commission making purchases here consists of two officers who 

 are advised by two veterinary surgeons. They have this year pur- 

 chased about the same number of horses as they did last— 1 ,500. They 

 have bought three classes of horses : 



(a) Cavalry: A well-bred horse (I learn very difficult to get here) 

 15 hands 1 inch to 16 hands high, and bred from thoroughbred sires 

 and half-bred mares. 



(b) Artillery: A coarser-bred horse than (a) and with more weight, 

 bone and substance and less quality; 15 hands 2 inches to 16 

 hands high. 



* By the courtesy of the Honorable the Secretary of State. 



