The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-29
MULES IN GREAT DLMAND
Wars Effect on the Supply and
Price Of the Animals.
Large Purchases by Great Britain
for Use I'm the south African Con-
OF the United states IN the Cuban
CnmpniEn-A Famine Threatened.


few years, as the result Of the war in
South Africa. that will prove troublesome
TO the Southern farmers This is the Opin-
ion OF every mule raiser and dealer in the
Southwest. II has sent up the price OF the
sturdy and stubborn animal that does the
bulk Of the farm work south Of the Ohio
and Potomac. The price still tends up
ward and a supply Of mules will cost the
British War Department half a million
more than its original estimate. But, how
ever great the advance in price Il will not
mend the matter nor prevent a famine.
The mule has been found so necessary in
war and the American mule so superior to
the Spanish and Italian animal that there
has been drain on the market in this
country which il cannot stand. The mar
ket. moreover. was caught in a somewhat
denuded state. with a smaller crop OF ami
mails on hand than ever before Mule rails
ing for some FIVE or six years had ceased
TO be as profitable as heretofore and many
mule growers had retired from business.
The bulk OF the mule crop is grown in
Missouri Kansas. Kentucky, and Ten
nessee. the animals being shipped TO the
South and Southwest. There was a steady
decline IN prices until 1897, when, In con-
sequence OF the Spanish var, prices ad-
vanced. This decline was partly atrribut-
able 20 the fall In the value Of the horse,
due TO the greater use OF bicycles, trolley
cars. etc. The horse, however. has fallen
of more than the mule In value, and the
latter in spite Of ignOble origin. commands
a better price. The average value of a
mule. including the young and old, is
t44.g6; OF a horse only 1910.
Little Profit in Raising.
Another reason for the decline and for
the decay IN the mule industry is The bad
condition OF the Southern farmer for some
years past With cotton netting only or
II cents a pound, the Southern cotton
farmer could with difficulty meet his debts
and could not afford to make any improve
ments. OF to purchase any additional stock.
The repeal Of the sugar bounty had the
same effect upon the sugar districts OF
Louisiana aud Texas which had previously
bought large numbers Of mules of the
highest grade for work on the Mississippi
bottoms requiring as they do deep plOw-
ing. This calls for the largest and finest
grade OF animals. generally known in the
market as sugar mules" costing from
$l25 to $175 apiece.
With these two markets cut OF there
was little profit in mule breeding The
breeders sold their mares or jacks, and
the annual output OF mules fell from TO-
coo 20 probably SO, 900 a year. This change
has been going on for the last seven or
eight years or ever since cotton got so
low The output Of mules. however, was
sufficient Cor the immediate needs Of the
country. or nearly so. There has been, II
is true. some decrease in the number OF
animals IN this country for some years
past the crop Of young mules not making
good the losses Of old animals from dis
ease and death.
Once More in Favor.
This was the condition Of affairs when
the Cuban revolution brought the mule
back into favor again and created de-
mand for mules, which has continued ever
since. Just now there is a period Of war;
especially in tropical countries, where the
mule is an absolute necessity. The de-
mand for the animals has, therefore,
greatly increased, and az the same time
the advance in the price OF cotton has
caused the Southern farmers to improve
their places and increase their stock,
which they greatly needed.
There is q sufficient amount OF mule
stock left over to supply the present de-
mand. but at greatly advanced prices. But
when this supply is exhausted 70 is going
70 cause a mule famine. The mule crop IS
a slow one and not to be harvested in
single year like corn or wheat or cotton.
There are comparatively few mule breed
ers operating stock farms just now.
II will take some time to get these
farms in operation. purchase the jacks and
brood mares Then there will have TO be
a long walt and d year or 50 TO bring the
mule colt 70 maturity. Altogether, IL VIII
take three or four years to get any return
from an investment made now IN mule
breeding BY the time the mules are put
upon the market there viii be mule
famine There is the prediction, II II can
be called a prediction, based upon the SOL
Id fact that the United States has cut
down its output OF mules from % TO 90 per
cent iust at a tine when the demand for
mules has become greater than ever be-
cause Of war
The Export of Mules.
The export Of mules from this country
\ YEAR ago was not over LOCO annually. In
1907 with the Cuban war, it rose to 5000
It was probably 10000 to $4,000 last year
and will be even greater for 1900. The
Spaniards first began the export Of mules
Tor use in the Cuban revolution. They
found the animal extremely valuable and
Indeed necessary in their campaigns against
the Cubans In the mountains They had TO
travel long distances from the railroads,
and they needed large numbers OF pack
mules. animals that could stand the climate
of Cuba.
A spanish commission was established at
New orleans for the shipment OF mules TO
cuba and perhaps 10000 were sent to that
island TO help subdue the Cubans- On the
very eve OF the war between the United
states and Spain. Spain still had a large
number of mules in this country. cargo
of the animals had been placed upon the
Spanish steamer Buenventura which was
about % leave for Havana. when an order |
from Washington stopped the shipment on |
the ground that the mules were Intended |
for the Spanish army to be used against |
this country The animals were disem- |
barked and driven back to the stockyards, |
and tho Buenaventura which had remained |
here dangerously late in order to take on |
the animals put TO sea. only TO be capt |
ured by the American feet in the Gulf and |
condemned as a prize OF war. The decision |
was subsequently reversed and the value |
OF the vessel paid over to the owners.
The Spanisrds announced themselves
well pleased with their experiences with |
American mules and declared that a boun-
tiful supply Of these animals doubled the
efficiency Of an army operating In the field |
and having long expeditions to make When
the United States went to war with Spain
IL prohted by the experience of that country
and supplied its army in Cuba with a large
force OF mules. The same thing was done
IN the Philippines. and the Government de-
mand called for u. coo animals.
Purchases by England.