The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-10
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1900
TEN PAGES TODAY
A NEW sIAnoET.

II is an Ill wind that blows no man good,
runs the old time, familiar proverb.
While the British are shooting away
the foundations OF a rfpIAtllc in South
Africa and its defenders are shooting to
fragments some great regulations formerly
enjoyed by English officers, the two to-
gether have shot out profitable market
for American mules and horses
Texas is coming in for quite a share of
the profits OF this war-made market,
Remount stations have been established
at various points in the state, and an
other element of prosperity TO the already
auspicious conditions has been added.
Mules and horses that little while ago
we're a drug in the market are now in
good demand. II is likely to so continue
throughout the summer. When 1t Is over,
with the demand previously created by the
Spanish American war, our ranches VIII
be so depleted OF mules and horses as 70
make their raising 30 meet local demand
source OF profit again. There is moth
ing like war to eat UP surplus breadstuffs
and live stock. 10 this extent war is an
economic blessing TO countries looking for
markets for surplus products.
Some idea of the magnitude OF the Brit
sh demand for our mules and horses and
the amount of British gold it has left
with us may be had in these figures and
facts for with We are indebted TO a on
temporary:
The custom house statistics show the ship
lnent to date OF 20,909 mules from New Ot
leans, OF total value of $l,9i9'S'5 and Of
1922 horses. 0: a value of si5i,3l2, the mulea
averaging S95 each and the horses SlU2 The
shipments are now being made at the rate
OF about 1910 a month, or cargo every
week. The shipment of mulos to south Africa
and other transport duty has resulted in the
Withdrawal from the regular service OF New
Orleans Of no fewer than thirty SIX ships,
Gripping TO some extent the regular COM
mercial lines OF importation and eNporta-
ton but this loss has been more than made
good by the great increase given to the horse
and mule trade. as well as the shipment of
hay, food and other supplies TO South Africa.
Previous to the recent shipments to South
Africa no horses bad been exported to for
eiEn ports through New orleans.
It has been many weeks since Lord
Roberts took position at Bloemfonteln, af-
ter crushing Cronjes army, and announced
breathing spell TO the Transvaal capital.
He has had his breathing spell, but the
mobile Beers allowed him no wholesome
rest. They kept hammerlng away at the
unwieldy giant so breaking in upon hls
breathing spell as to permit him naught
but series of intermittent cat-naps from
which he rose faded and exhausted.
The mobility of the British army, as
stupid as 1t is, can not be restored until
its wornout artillery mules and cavalry
horses are replaced with fresh ones. All
this eats up time. Meanwhile Pretoria
appears as far away as it did the day fol-
lowing Paadersberg. At any rate 1t is
quite safe to assume that British buyers
will continue for many montbsHo demand
our mules and horses, and the foregoing
figures of the trade be greatly augmented
before the game burghers OF the Transyaal
shall FIRE their expiring shot amid the
ruins OF their beloved capital,