What
will be the effect of the general adoption of the autocar on the
farmer's financial interests is exciting some attention.
Some persons think that the
horse is destined to pass out of use altogether, and that an
important source of the farmer's profits in raising this most useful
animal, will be lost to him.
We may banish at once the
idea that an entirely horseless age will ever come. Man's faithful
friend will always be needed in spite of automobiles.
In
our towns and cities he will cease to do the drudgery to which he
has been heretofore subjected but he will still be needed, but only
the highest type of his species. The common horse will not be
required, and must retire from the stage.
It
is said the average price of horses has fallen in the United States,
about one-half and as a result the horses in the United States are
worth five hundred million dollars less than eight years ago. This
great loss falls chiefly on the farmers.
Somehow,
a good many changes taking place in the world result to the farmer's
disadvantage and there ought to be some compensating conditions.
The
raising of good horses will still pay, and perhaps better prices than ever for such animals will be given.
These
changing conditions should have the farmer's careful consideration,
as the age of horseless vehicles is advancing.
There
will always be a ready sale and fair profit in a good horse.
The
farmer's interest therefore lies in raising fewer in number but
better in quality. That will, in a measure, offset the loss which
the auto-car causes in farm profits.
