SHIPPING HORSES TO GERMANY. 37 



thinking of buying also makes it a precarious business for the Ameri- 

 can who takes a cargo of horses to Hamburg, which is the principal 

 point where American horses are landed in Germany. The business 

 in Hamburg is under the control of local dealers who have connec- 

 tions with the dealers in the interior of the country. 



It is quite the custom in Germany for the dealers to go to Hamburg 

 and buy American horses to take into the interior. The better class 

 of these horses, if draft horses, are often sold as Belgian horses ; if 

 saddle or coach horses, they are often sold as English horses ; and the 

 culls are sold in the interior as American horses. Every defect that 

 is discovered in any horse is promptly applied to all American horses, 

 and studiously published in the papers and spread in all directions 

 by the dealers, their effort being to prevent an extension of the busi- 

 ness in Germany. 



We went with the determination to try to establish a good reputa- 

 tion and guaranteed every horse to be exactly as represented. If 

 found not to be so, it would be returned. The fact that we were able, 

 in spite of all opposition, to do business with the army officers called 

 out several attacks upon us in the papers, the general expression 

 of which was about as follows: 



It is a matter very much to be regretted that American horses are being offered 

 for sale in the German markets. This should not be permitted, as they come into 

 competition with German-grown horses and tend to force down the prices of 

 German horses. Two years ago a good draft horse in this section brought about 

 1,200 marks. Since the introduction of the American draft horses the prices have 

 fallen to about 800 marks. The Americans have now begun to introduce coach 

 and saddle horses. Upon investigation we find that the horses have proven so 

 satisfactory that even officers of the army have purchased some of them. The 

 enterprising ' Americans have been able to do a good business. The German 

 dealers should improve their business methods, and the importation of American 

 horses should be stopped. 



It costs about $30 to ship a horse from New York to Hamburg. 

 Horses can be shipped either by way of London, where they will be 

 reshipped, or direct to Hamburg. The price by way of London is $30. 

 The steamship company furnishes feed and attendance. If shipped 

 direct to Hamburg, the price is $25, but the shipper must furnish the 

 attendant and feed in addition. The steamship company allows the 

 attendant to return free of charge. An attendant is needed for about 

 every 10 horses. If the shipper wishes, he can have the horses insured 

 at a premium of from $5 to $6 a head. The rates of insurance vary. 

 The ordinary insurance placed upon a horse is $150, which the com- 

 pany pays promptly if the horse fails to walk ashore in Hamburg. If 

 it is able to walk ashore, even should it die one-half hour after it 

 lands, the insurance company will not pay. The horses are so well 

 packed in the ship that there is little loss during transportation. The 

 system of ventilation in the ships, however, is such that the horses 

 nearly all catch bad colds, from which they suffer seriously during 

 transportation and still more seriously after they arrive on the other 



