OCR Text |
Show DECLINE OF HORSES Statistics seek to indicate that the automobile, the tractor and the truck are gradually bringing the American horse to the verge of race suicide. According to figures compiled by the Chicago Tribune there are now 17,500,000 horses in the United States while in 1918 there were 'as many as 21,500,000. Not only this, but the number of mules has decreased de-creased ten per cent since 1920 and the average age of horses and mules now in existence is greater than formerly. Forty-three per cent of all horses on the farms are ten years of age or older, while but eleven per cent are under four years of age. This shows that colt production, has dropped off, and it is said that only about one half as many were foaled in 1924 as in 1918. But the decline in number has not increased the value per head. For the average value of horses has dropped from $97 five years ago to $63 at the present time. In Missouri are only 793,000 horses as against 906,000 a year ago and the average value per head is but $46. In Kansas four years igo there were a million horses. Now the number has dropped to 850,000. The general decline in the number and value of horses is blamed on the gasoline motor. All experts however, do not regard the situation as pessimistic pessi-mistic from the standpoint of the horse. Some authorities believe that the country is on the verge of a horse shortage and that higher prices will prevail within the next few years. - The automobile seems to have iip-planted iip-planted old Dobbin to a considerable extent, but it is too early to say that Dobbin's day has passed. He is still a pretty useful and reliable creature to have around. |