LESSENING DEMAND FOR HORSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 8

LESSENING DEMAND FOR HORSES.

The following is from an address by the Hon. F. A. Derthick, Mantua (Ohio), before the students of the Ohio State University :— The breeding of horses has heretofore been a profitable feature of agriculture, and its demoralisation is no doubt an important contributor to the depression that is said to overshadow the vocation of the farmer. If our snrplus horses could be disposed of, as in former time?, it would relieve the stringency felt upon most farms, in two ways — first, by the money received for the horses ; and, second, by the release of thousands of tons of hay and grain now held to feed to unprofitable stock It is impossible, however, to dispose of any but the more desirable animals, and these at prices greatly reduced. The Great Depression. — This change is due to several causes, among which can be numbered the general depression in business circles. There are, however, causes that will not be removed by a return of business prosperity. First, the quite general introduction of cable and electric cars within -the past five years. Within this time the demand for horses for the street car service has practically ceased. The influence of this alone can hardly be estimated. The life of the street car horse was exhaustive and therefore brief, and to supply his place gave a steadiness in the horse markrt. Tne change in the motive power of street cars not only cat off the demand, but the thousands of horses already in use, now no longer needed, have found their way back into the country. Electricity. — Nor is the end yet. The road

commission appointed by the Governor last winter to investigate the subject of improving our public highways is quite likely to report adversely to the use of stone and gravel in the construction of free turnpikes on the more important roads. A part of the membership of this board is known to favour the use of steel rails. The plan is that important roads shall be traversed by electric cars, which will not only transport passengers at frequent intervals, but also with night trains haul produce to market. It would bo folly to predict failure for this plan, for already suburban trains are run between adjoining cities, and roads are in process of construction in many parts of the State. There seems to be no limit to the skill and inventive genius of man, and the day may not be far distant when the services of horsesmay be dispensed with in ordinary country travel. It is insisted that it is not a question of possibility, but "how soon" we shall be able to connect our individual trolley with the public electric wire and bowl across the country independent of horses. Who shall say that in the near future the young man, with his carriage equipped with a storage battery, may not go for a ride with his best girl, in which event the material for •• a spark" would be an unfailing accompaniment P Bicycles and Wings.— The advent of the bicycle has also contributed to the general slaughter of price and demand for horses. Large numbers of men and women who, until recently, kept a horse each, either for pleasure or business, have purchased a wheel' and disposed of the horses. Again, I notice that on the 18th of November last the first canal boat in the world to be propelled by electricity ploughed the waters of the Erie Canal. It is expected that at an expense of 50cents per day per boat for electricity furnished by Niagara Falls, a boat will be sent from Buffalo to New York in much less time than at present, and with no outlay for driver, hay, oats, or horseflesh. Ib would not be so bad if this were all. Did you notice the report of the international meeting of scientists held at Chicago during the World's Fair, and that they discussed in all Reriousness the question of a flying machine P Tan years ago this body would have ridiculed the idea, but to-day these learned and dignified men declare, in all seeming sincerity, that tho time ia coming, and early too, when men will fly where and when they please, and from dizzy heights look down upon those of us who conduct ourselves with the snail-like pace of the old-fashioned horse. You will admit that a good part of this review recounts facts accomplished. A part, it is true, is speculation, but who dare say that is conversant with the development of the last decade that it will not be realised in the decade to come P