The evening times., 1900-01-29


famine in the mule market in the next
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. 1t 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 it's original estimate. But, how
ever great the advance in price 1t will not
mend the matter nor prevent 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 a drain on the market in this
country which it cannot stand. The mar
ket, moreover, was caught in somewhat
denuded state with smaller crop OF ami
mails on hand than ever before. Mule rals-
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 war, prices ad-
vanced. This decline was partly atrribut-
able to 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
1896; of horse only sSa4O.
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
wears past. With cotton netting only or
1-2 cents a pound, the Southern cotton
farmer could with difficulty meet his debts
and could not afford to make any improve
ments. or to purchase any additional stock
The repeal OF the sugar bounty had the
same effect upon the sugar districts OF
Louisiana and Texas which had previously
bought large numbers Of mules OF the
highest grade for work on the Mississippi
bottoms. requiring they do deep ploW-
ing. This calls for the largest and hnest
grade OF animals, generally known IN the
market as sugar mules" costing from
SIPS to S175 apiece.
With these two markets cut on there
was little profit in mule breeding. The
breeders sold their mares or jacks, and
the annual output of mules fell from H.
OoO TO probably 0,O00 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 for the immediate needs OF the
country or nearly so. There has been, lt
is true some decrease in the number OF
animals IN this country for some years
mast. the crop Of young mules not making
good the losses of old animals from dis
ease and death.
Once More i'm 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 al the same time
the advance in the price Of cotton mas
caused the Southern farmers TO Improve
their places and increase their STOCK,
which they greatly needed.
There is a sufficient amount OF mule
"
mand. but at greatly advanced prices. But
when this supply is exhausted II is going
10 cause mule famine. The mule crop IS
a slow one and not to be harvested IA
single year like corn or wheat or cotton
There are comparatively few mule breed
ers operating stock farms Just now.
n will take some time to get these
farms in operation. purchase the jacks and
brood mares. Then there will have to be
ars Zn n
mule colt To maturity. Altogether, il VIII
take three or four years to get any return
eronn an investment made now in mule
breeding BY the time the mules are put
unon the market there viii be mule
famine There is the prediction, II ii can
he called a prediction, based upon the SOL
id fact that the United States mas cut
down its output Of mules from 50 TO 81 per
cent iust at a time when the demand Tor
mules has become greater than ever be
cause of war.
The Export of Mules.
The export of mules from this country
y wear ago was not over 1000 annually. IN
1907 with the Cuban war, it rose TO 5000
:, was probably 20.000 to $4,000 last year
and will be even greater for 1900 The
Snapiards first began the export OF mules
for use in the Cuban revolution. Ihey
found the animal extremely valuable ana
indeed necessary in their campaigns against
the Cubans in the mountains. 1hey had 10
travel long distances from the railroads,
and they needed large numbers OF pack
mules. animals that could stand the climate
of Cuba.
A Snanish commission was established at
Now orleans for the shipment Of mules TO
Cuba and perhaps 10 COO were sent to that
leland to helm subdue the Cubans. On the
very eve Of the war between the United
states and Spain. Spain still had large
number of mules in this country. cargo
of the animals had been placed upon the
Spanish steamer Buenventura when was
about TO 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 dlsem- |
barled and driven back to the stockyards, |
and the 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 Standards announced themselves 1
we'll 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 profited 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 Is 600 animals.