The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-04-15
Farm and Home.
AND USEFUL IMPORTATION.
Mules at Atlanta
Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution.


Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution.
The stock yards in Atlanta are
full OF mules. There neverl has
been such a supply of these useful
animals on the market. Few peo-
pie have any idea how great the
mule trade of Atlanta is. Since 1868
it has been enormous. In spite OF
the fact that the year before last
about 10, 600 mules were distributed
from this point, the demand has
not decreased, and the present sea
son has been one of unusual activi-
ty. From the rich blue grass val
leys of Kentucky, and the great
stock farms of Tennessee thousands
of the finest mules in the world
come to Atlanta. Hundreds of far
mers come to Atlanta Just to buy
mules. At any hour in the day the
stock yards, of which there are four
or five in the city, ARE being inspect
cd by purchasers. Many of the
jolly drovers who come here bring
as many as three or four car loads
of mules. None of them come
without one car load. Freight
charges are heavy, and it would not
pay to bring fewer. The mules are
always in splendid condition when
they reach Atlanta; they are fat,
sleek and so active that they throw
their heels around with a native
carelessness that insures respect.
Good mules are always in demand
and bring good prices. They are
now worth from 800 to $3.50 each.
according to size and condition.
They are taken from Atlantis to all
parts of Georgia and Alabama,
South Carolina and Florida. Many
of the large drovers will not retail
their mules, but sell them by lots to
traders and spectators. Some of
these hardy Kentuckians and Ten
nesseans have made fortunes rails
ing mules since the war. They
conduct huge stock farms, where the
young mules are made fat and
strong on the richest grass, and
grow up to "their majority" in a
climate which is the best in the
world for all kinds of horse flesh.
There are other traders who
do not own foot of land, and new
er bother themselves with raising
mules. They buy them from the
farms at advantageous prices, ship
them to market and pocket q few
thousands every month of the sea
son. The mule trader is a charac- |
ter, and Individually not exactly |
like anybody else. He has liberal
views, genuine Kentucky joviali
ty, love of fun that carries him
10 see all the sights when be comes
10 the city. 1t is remarkable what
respect these men have for the
mule. The reporter heard one of
hem say the other day that he saw
1 child fall in the streets just ahead
Of drove OF mules rushing at full
lit down the street. Every body
III the next instant to see
he hoofs of the rushing mules
rush the little one to death. But
he good natured mules compre-
lended the danger. Every one of
hem skipped over the little child
md left it as safe as if it had been
n it's mothers lap all the while.
That the mule has been slandered
5 quite probable. The mule trade
f Atlanta brings hundreds of thou
ands of dollars here every winter
nd spring. The drovers spend
here. The farmers who
ONE here to purchase mules spend
more. In Georgia and
he south successful agriculture de-
ends largely on the mule. Some
ne has said that two things in Gre
tion have fully demonstrated their
ternal fitness for each other-the
egro and the mule. A negro new
r works so well as with a stout
lule; a mule never rises to its
ighest possibilities except under
ne guiding hand of a darkey.-
With darkies and mules our fields
ill continue to yield their rich in
rease.