Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-10

CANELS ~ THE | NITED STATES >vy,.,.-
The valuable animals imported far ,b.. -,
lie service III the West, lave yrown IN !, ta"
every day their efficiency mas been ,e.,aI
The following letters from Surcri,,,.ri.-
Beale, to the Secretary Of War, show ,LrI ;,
estimate placed upon them by those = ~ : i
have daily occasion To employ them
FoRr TEJoN, CAL. May %. ISIS !
the other letters to the Department, L'"
neglected of late to say anything on the -,
Ject OF the camels. Seeing them. 4, "a -
every day in camp, performing with min, -
the most tollsome labors, they have cra,oi
TO be novelties, and are now ouly adm
for their usefulness. They are emu.
constantly III the seyerest toil-packln.. :.
visions, water, working utensils (.
one camp to another. Ny admiration oF r '.or-
increases every day. From all | had r.,', !,
them, dreaded the diff culties which ,1'..
ed to present themselves III breeiin, no.,
Books tell US that the young mus, be- ,sn,l.
to suck by dipping the finger in warm I,.,,.
and putting 1t in the mouth of the cali. ,b,.
it must be blanketed and wct-uur>ei thrm.G
long delicate infancy.
knowing that, If this were true, II w,rli
be no use trying 10 breed them in hi, cam,
try, where men have no time IL drv,,,
such purposes, directed them to he u..I
a usual, and on their dropping e.Iye, ;,
desist from their use, but not Ia as.
nature by any warm butter process, /.
gives me pleasure 10 state that the female.
within short time of each other. ana p...
the summit of the Sierra Nevada. ina ,nn.
storm, dropped their calves, and wi,b,u,
more assistance than would have been r,r.
dered so many cows; they are now as thrifty
us It is possible to conceive, all the Old BEN,
employed upon the road.
Beyond doubt, they are as easily bred =,
| cows and calves: NJ least that has been ms
experience with them. sincerely trust M.
recommendation contained in your NO..
sage for the importation Of more Of these
useful animals will be iavorably received ami
acted on by Congress. No one who has once
used them, but would prefer them. for all
such purposes ~ have engaged then. on.
to three times the same number Of horse, n
mules.
AT a later date, writing from San Francis.
CO Mountain, Mr.. Bcale says:
have lately tried cttcc,ually the compare.
tive value of mules and camel, a, pack ami.
mails. The experiment leaves the palm with
the camels. Both trains receiving the order
to start ut the same time in the morning. the
camels invariably arrive at camp, in dl,,
lance of twenty-five miles. an hour. and some.
times an hour and twenty minutes, aIeal Il
the mule traiu the mules carving hurlrn
of two hundred pounds, the camcls packed
with four hundred, besides rider, armed
with his rifle, revolver, and ammunition. and
his bedding laid over the pack 10 sit On. :
The young are great pets in camp, but very
misunderstanding their hoses into every
bag, pot, and pan about the campfire,
Their great aim in life ut present seems 10
be 10 ape the manners and habits Il their
sires-kneelng down and growing and
complaining precisely rs the old ones DO
whenever the train is packed. We have rn.
tirely discontinued the cumbersome Oriental
apparatus used rs saddle, and have in It's
place one Of light, useful, and simple con
struction. Since | last communicated with
the Department, we have had no trouble with
the Indians, except very slight attack
which they made on Us, killing one mule and
taking off another.