26 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. 



We were able also to see a large number of horses just brought 

 from America for the market in Paris, the freight from New York 

 via Antwerp to Paris being less than that via Havre. These horses 

 came from Indiana and seemed to be a good common grade of farm 

 horse, apparently all selected for soundness. The dealer expected to 

 sell about half of them for French military service, while the other 

 half, he said, would go into the cab service at Paris. It was impossi- 

 ble to obtain from him the information as to how much he paid for 

 these horses in America or as to what he expected to get for them in 

 Paris; but as prices are rather higher there than in Antwerp, taking 

 into consideration the quality of these horses compared with those I 

 have mentioned above, I suppose he would expect on an average 

 about 1,100 francs. 



A certain number of high-bred saddle horses for park riding and 

 officers' mounts were observed, but there was risk of their finding no 

 market. 



I am satisfied of two things : 



First. That there is little chance for sale in Belgium for our finest 

 and largest draft horses, because the home bred are larger and finer 

 looking. Among the great truck horses we saw were two pairs of 

 Americans, which, while fine animals, were so much smaller and less 

 showy than the enormous Flemish horses that it was evident the 

 popular mind would not accept them as a substitute. 



Second. That the horses which will meet with a sale in all the 

 various countries supplied through the port of Antwerp, which is the 

 largest horse-importing city on the Continent, are the common, plain 

 farmers' horses from 5 to 7 years of age, without speed, but with good 

 strength and endurance, such as were sold in the Ohio Valley during 

 the last three or four years at from $50 to $75. These, I think, would 

 meet with a sale at from $150 to $200 at Antwerp if they were in 

 good condition. 



I am informed that it has always been and is now impossible to 

 sell any American horses to the military establishments in Belgium. 

 The purchases for this purpose are so much controlled by government 

 routine methods that this avenue is practically closed to any inno- 

 vation in selection. 



BBPOET OP THE AMERICAN MILITARY ATTACHE. 



[Keport of Lieut. G. T. Langhorne, military attache * of the United States Legation at Brussels, 



dated October 20, 1897.] 



Sir: A few weeks ago the United States minister, Hon. Bellamy 

 Storer, invited me to accompany him to Antwerp in order to examine 

 with him into the question of the importation of horses from the 

 United States into Belgium, as well as to other countries of Europe, 

 through the port of Antwer p. He has expressed a desire to have me 



* By courtesy of the honorable the Secretary of War. 



