Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-04
Mules at Atlanta,

ply Comes and Where They gos
 From the Atlanta (Ga.) constitution1
 The stock-yards in Atlanta are full of mules. There has never been such supply of these useful animals on the market Few people have any idea how great the mule trade of Atlanta is. Since 1868 it has been enormous. In spite of the fact that year be- fore last about +, ,00O mules were distributed from this point, the demand has not decreas- ed, and the present season has been one of unusual activity. From the rich bluegrass valleys of Kentucky and the great stock farms of Tennessee thousands of the finest mules in the world come to Atlanta Hundreds of farmers 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 inspected by purchasers. Many of the jolly drovers who come here bring as many as three and four carloads of mules. None of them come without one carload. Freight charges are heavy, and it would not pay to bring fewer. The mules are always in spIen- did condition when they reach Atlanta. They are fat, sleek, and so active that they throw their heels around with native recklessness that insures respect. Good mules are always in demand, and bring good prices. They are now worth from $100 to $50 each according to sizs and general condition. They are ta- ken from Atlanta to all parts of Georgia and Alabama, South Carolinas and Florida. Many of the larger drovers will not retail their
 
 spectators. Some of these hardy Ksntuck- ians and Tennesseeans have mads fortunes raising 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 climate which is the best in the world for all kinds of horse-fesh. There are other mule traders who do not own even 8 foot of land, and never bother themselves about raising mules. They buy them from the farms at advantag- eous prices, ship them to market and pocket few thousands every month of the season. The mule-trader is character, and individu- ally not exactly like anybody else. He has liberal views genuine Kentucky joviality, love of fun that carries him to see all the sights when he comes to the city. It is re- markable what respect these men have for the mule. The reporter heard one of them say the other day that he saw a child fall in the streets just ahead of drove of mules rushing at full tilt down the street. Everybody ex- pected in the next instant to see the hoofs of the rushing mules crush thelittle one to death. But the good-natured mules comprehended the danger. Every one of them skipped over the little child, end left it safe as if it had been ill it's mothers lap all the while That the mule has been slandered is quite probable. The mule trade of Atlanta brings hundreds of thousands of dollars here every winter and spring. The drovers spend thousands here. The farmers. who come here to purchase mules spend thousands more. In Georgia and the South successful agriculture depends largely on the mule. Some one has said that two things in creation have fully demonstrated their eternal fitness for each other-the negro and the mule. negro never works so well as with stout mule; mule never rises to it's highest possibilities except under the guiding hand of 8 darkey. With darkies and mules our fields will continue to yield their rich increase.