The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-12-04
THE WAR MULES OF MISSOURI
ALMOST fl SCARCITY OF THESE
 ANIMAL NOTED.
An Important Factor in Military Opcrn-
 tions the World Over.

tions the World Over.
 There is not a scarcity of mules in
 Missouri or St. Louis or East St. Louis,
 the greatest producing state and the
 greatest markets for mules in the world,
 but there is near approach to it. Not
 for number of years has there been
 the demand for mules that exists to-
 day, and not for years have prices been
 anywhere near what they are now. The
 nearest approach to the present condi-
 tion of affairs was that produced by
 the high price of cotton, which about
 eight years ago brought a period of more than usual prosperity to the agri- cultural communities in the South and sent the prices of mules, for which there
 was a great demand up to close where they are to-day. There is healthy normal demand' all the time, as the stock broker would say, but the war between the United States and Spain and the war of England in the Trans vaal has created an abnormal demand which has taxed the capacities of the East St. Louis folks to the uttermoet, for it is in East St. Louis that most of the purchases are made. Agents of the United States government spent
 many weeks in the mule pens of East St. Louis and the English army officers did the same thing weeks later. Even l Spain made extensive purchases, and though the mule dealers refuse to ad- init it at this time for fear of inter- | ference from the government, with de- | liverieS, 1t is not at all improbable that the agents of President Kruger are now l in the market under coyer," just as the Spanish agents were during our war There are constantly in the mule business in East St. Louis seven princi- l pal firms, and thea keep on hand an average of 1000 mules each. so that the buyers when the enter the market have a variety or 1000 mules to make their selections from As an indication of the demands being made on the great mule market in East St. Louis, it is stated authoritatively, and the state ment is backed up by the records of the National stock-yards, that the United States government made pur- I'chases of 16,000 mules in the period just preceding and immediately following the opening of hostlities with Spain. During the same time the Spanish government purchased 1000 mules and thus far the English government has purchased 2300 mules. Of all these pur- chases the mule dealers say that the United States was the most liberal GUS toner they had, and at the same time conducted the most rigid inspection and got the best animals. One of the deal- CTS discussed the matter this way:
 They always tell us we are behind England and talk about her being the mother country and tell us we ought to and do pattern after her in every I thing; but don't you forget that's a false alarm. If the British army men were wise they would come to America before they make purchases and take few lessons from our American quar- termasters department, which does the mule purchasing for our army. They say that England does everything first class and they say 1t in way intended to reflect on our government. Now, of course, l don't know much about how other matters were run, but the way our army bought mules was a model for other armies. 1 don't mean that our government was stingy, but I do mean that it selected the best mules that the government could find, and that I sent the animals to the different military camps in first -class shape"
 The purchasing by the United States government was of mules in four class es: Wheels, swings, leads and packs. The names indicate the uses to which | the mules were put. In the first three i, classiflcations the mules were made up | eiS Jn +l.. closest to the army wagons, the swings next and the leaders in front. The | packs were animals used in pack | trains. The government made up the | pack trains with 55 mules with pack | saddles and 13 riding mules for the fore | man or boss and the packers Each of | these trains cost the government, in ad- | dition to the price of the mules, no less | than $5,000 The pack mules cost from $75 to SEQ; wheels, $40 to $175; swings S120 to $135, leaders, $90 to $100. They vary in night and style and strength 1 and action in proportion to the price | The largest mules used were 16 hands | high and the smallest IA hands high, | every horseman knowing that by a hand four inches in meant Many | animals were disposed of to the gov ernment that could not have been sold to the regular customers of the dealers to advantage the regular customers be- ing railroad builders, mine owners and street railroads Mules have been known to sell for as high as $500 each, but the number that has reached that price can be told by nearly every deal ar in East St. Louis. The number of l. mules selling for $200 each Is much greater, and there are several mule teams in St. Louis each of the animals having cost that much. These fancy prices are for mules which have not on- y night, weight, youth and style and action but have peculiar markings in heir hair which make them excellent md almost startling matches one for he other. The most recent extensive buyers in he East St. Louis market are ,the officers of the English army who bald ,n an average $75.50 for each of the 2300 , Inimals they bought The animals were \