The morning news., 1888-05-11
BIOGRAPHY OF THE MULE
TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY SUP
PLY THE SAVANNAH MARKET.


The Mule Inseparaole From the Negro
and Not Always Well Treated -
Slanders of the Mule's Character Re-
futed-Nearly 800 Of the Animals
Brought Here Annually - Dealers
Who Know a Good Mule From a
Mugwump.
Where do oil the mules come froms and
where do they go? are questions which are
not infrequently asked, aud not always sat
isfactorily answered That the mule Is the
popular draught animal in the South has
long been known, and the fact that large
numbers of them come to Savannah every
year led MORNING NEWS reporter to in
terview Mr.. w. A. Susong, who is well
posted on mules and the local mule trade.
Mr.. Susong was found at Cox's sal
stables, and readily submitted to an inter
view. According to his opinion of the
mules character, it does not deserve half
the levity directed against it. He thinks
that where the same pains is taken in train
ing the mule that is bestowed upon the
horse, the comparison will not be unfavor-
able. The mule is then tractable, patient,
and is much better adapted to the negro
labor than the horse, as it will stand more
OF the rough treatment which is inevitable
where negroes work them.
WHERE THE MULES COME FROM.
When asked where the principal mule
supply from this section comes from, Mr..
Susong replied that it is principally drawn
from Tennessee and Kentucky. Tennessee
furnishes the greater number. The mules
from those States are larger and better
adapted to draughtpurposes In Tennessee
great pains are taken in the breeding and
training Of mules, and last year between
fifty and 100 fine Spanish jacks were i'm
ported to Tennessee. Some mules, he said,
come from Missouri and few from Texas,
but not more than one or two car loads of
the latter have been brought here in the
past two or three years. The Texas mule
is smaller, and is not in demand for draught
purposes. A few are in use on the Whita-
ker street line and in the lighter class of
street wagons.
Savannah is not distributing point ex
cept for this immediate locality. Atlanta
is the only wholesale mule market in the
South. excepting New Orleans, and the At
lanta market supplies Georgia, Florida,
South Carolina, and portion of Alabama,
Mississippi and North Carolina.
VALUE OF GOOD MULES
"How many mules are brought here
annually
From $50 to 800. These supply Savan-
nah, the truck farms and thenear by planta-
tions. The average price received by local
dealers is about $40, although the large
draught mule will bring $l85, and in pairs
the latter class will bring from $3.50 to
$375"
Mare mules command from S. to $40
more than the males but Mr.. Susong thinks
that there is no reason why they should,
and that the preference is based only on the
fancy of the purchaser. The mule season
in Savannah begins about Sept. and closes
April 1.
THE WORKING LIFE OF MULE.
Referring to the average working life Of
the mule, Mr.. Susong puts it very low. He
places it at from five to six years. This
could be extended to eight or ten years, or
even longer period, under more careful
treatment. He says they become acclimated
in years time. A great many of them do
not sicken at all when brought to this
climate, and are not subject to as many ills
as the horse.
The three principal dealers in mules in
Savannah are Messrs. w. A. Susong, John
p. Darnell and William |. O'Brien, all of
whom are good judges of a mule, know all
his fine points, and they know a mugwump
or kicker without tickling his heels.