Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-28
NTERESTING mo- sTOcK RAIsFRs

The following highly interesting article we copy
from the Texas THtslgigsacer:
The simple fact that the number of animals driv-
en- from Mexico through Texas, and from Texas to
other States, has greatly increased every season,
must have arrested the attention of the most care
less observer. That ten thousand horses and mules
have passed through Austin the present Spring, is
generally known. Perhaps a few have inquired
where are they going? And the answer has gen
orally BEEN to Missouri, Illinois, and sometimes to
Tennessee and Kentucky. But why is this and
what is to become of them? And what are to be
the effects trouble the minds of a few. That these
are all stock growing States is generally known
They raise more animals than are necessary for do
nestle purposes. They drive large droves to Ar
kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and
occasionally to Texas. They have the very best
Breeds both of horses and jacks-and when a South
ern man wants a fine pair Of bloOds, he generally
looks to those States What then can be wanting
with the diminUtive mustang, mountain pony or
even Mexican horse and mule? ltmay be answered
that some of these trace back to the Andalusan
or Arabian descent. This may all be true-and yet
there must be a good many improvements upwards
before they will have the size required by the
Southern planter or the Northern farmer. Indeed
for some years the Pennsylvania notion of breeding
for size has been extending to Kentucky and the
western States. Speed is not so much sought as
strength.
The true solution Of the matter then is, that mule
raising is exhausting process; and the supply
has not kept pace with the demand. Through every.
decade labor of all kinds has greatly increased
The production Of Cotton has been doubled within
twenty years; the same remark is true of Sugar
and some other articles. Steam has diminished
somewhat, the use of the horses upon roads, but
not for the plough. And, in a word, the supply has
not kept pace with the demand. Upon this princi-
pie, which governs all commerce, the profits Of
raising horses and mules have increased. The
temptation to sell brood mares has caused the stock
10 be lessened. And consequently there has been
"a necessity of resOrting to Mexico and Texas for
cheap animals The time when these animals
would not compete in the market with the Missouri
or Kentucky mules. But that argument ceases to
control when the larger animal cannot be had.
The question to whether this state of things
will continue is one of great interest to Texans
We give it as our 0pOn that there never will be
increase Of supply over demand, which will cause
any REDUCTION in price. Indeed the price will regu-
lary 20 up, unless some Yankee invents the plan
of making wooden or iron horse which viii supply
the creatures Of real thews and sinews. cOmpre-
hensive view will establish this argument.
The increase of population will be in a compound
ratio. The demand for food must expand with the
number of months To make that food there must
be supply Of animal labor. And the old world
affords no vast hive from which to import animals.
The numbers Of work animals upon this continent,
therefore, cannot increase in proportion to the in
crease of inhabitants As a natural consequence,
the price of horses and mules must advance, upon
regular upward scale. We might resort to statis-
tics to prove this argument But it is sufficient that
calculations justify our reasoning and oOnclu-
siOns.
There is, then, every encouragement to the stock
grower to pursue his business-tO prepare for it
permanent calling-tO improve his stock and to call
cUlate certainly upon fortune. As to a market,
that has ceased to be a subject for reflection.
Purchasers will hunt the supplies without the ne
cessty of the stock growers hunting out a market
1t is business less effected by changes of season in
Texas than any other; and we hope to see it i'm
proved