Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1917 — TO BUY THEIR HORSES DIRECT [ARTICLE]

TO BUY THEIR HORSES DIRECT

CO. AGENT TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT IN PURCHASE OF HORSES FROM FARMERS.

County Agent Learning Friday received instructions from the U. S. Department of Agriculture directing him to assist the War Department in the purchase of horses and mules for army use. In the present war, it is the plan of the government to deal directly with the farmers where horses can be assembled in carload lots rather than to buy them under contracts. Recent testimony at Washington showed that the horses bought under the old system netted the farmers $35 per head less than was paid by the government. The instructions requested that the 'following information be issued: “It will be seen that groups of farmers can organize and sell directly to the government in carload" lots. Your county agent will be glad to aid farmers jn conducting such negotiations. He will name a day for assembling the animals at a convenient point in the county for a preliminary examination by the local committee of horsemen and the farmers can authorize one of their number to communicate to the remount officer of the district.

The prices at which they should be offered is a matter for the determination of the farmers. The prices recently paid by the war department have been published and if they are not known any citizen can obtain them by addressing the Quartermaster General, War Department, Washington, D. C. The war department does not announce the prices which it will pay under the new plan because this will vary according to the locality and quality of the animals. But if reasonable offers are made it is believed that they will be entertained. Farmers who desire to sell horses or the mules to the government, are advised to apply to their county agent for information as to the specifications of the animals. As soon as the county agent learns that there is a prospect of enough available animals to make up a carload or more he will appoint a day and a place for assembling the animals for the preliminary inspection and for the organization of the group of farmers for making an offer to the . depot ffuartermaster at the remount depot of the district.