The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-11
More Than 300,0lD Animals Have
Been Sold for South Afri-
can Service.
B0ER WAR A BOON TO BREEDERS
Passing of the Horse Car Had
Closed the Market for Small
Animals, but They Are
Ideal for War.
REPl-ELIC SPECIAL.

SPECIAL.
New Orleans. La. June A-Horse and
mule breeders of the South have reason TO
thank their stars for the Boer War. II has
created a market for horses ana mules that
nobody seemed 30 want. and sent their
prices jumping from SO and SO TO S.5 and
SIS a head IL is estimated that more than
$4,000 "American-msde" mules and horses
have gone to South Africa in the past two
years.
While there has always been a fair de-
mand for valuable harness horses and
Aheavy draft horses. and the heavy mules.
Hknown as sugar" mules. We're always In
I good demand, the breeder OF horses and
mules generally finds the results OF his ef-
forts falling short of the type he IL aiming
al. and the result was that the product Of
really marketable animals prior TO the
demand caused by the British buyers was
not more than 30 per cent of the whole.
For every sugar mule produced two or
more cotton mules would find their way
into the world. and for every horse that
was up TO the mark in point of size. style
or speed. as the case might be. from two
TO half a dozen would make their appear
ance that had fallen materially short of the
standard aimed at by the breeder.
OF course. the breeder could not find use
for many of these -'culls' on his own farm.
and he was forced to sell them of for
whatever they would bring. For many
years the street car companies of the vari-
Gus large cities made a market for these
comparatively low-grade animals. but the
trolley put a sudden ending to that demand.
and then the breeders were well-nigh panic
stricken.
Then Came the british Buyer.
Just when it looked as though the storm
was about TO break upon them II was dis
covered that the British Army in South
Africa was but indifereutiy provided with
remounts and with pack animals for trans
portation. and buyers were sent TO this
country TO buy what was wanted.
The officers sent here Were not long in
finding just what they wanted. and they
were naturally pleased TO discover that
the mules and horses best suited to their
purposes were animals for which there was
!. practically no home market. A big sugar
inule; sixteen hands high or over. and
Weighing almost as much as a first-class
cray horse, would cut but a sorry figure
packing and hauling screw guns and sup
plies over perilous mountain trails or maxi
Ing fast time with light wagons and carts
over the rugged trails of the lowlands. They
were looking for high power and speed done
up IN light packages. and the cotton mules.
standing not more than fourteen and a half
hands high. tough. sound and as nimble as
goats. gould not have served their purposes
petter mad they been made to order. They
S SGnid Of fus ? To,S oh light f0rage; climb any
trail and move about with great CELEBRITY.
These little animals were then a drug in
the market at $40 each. and IL is no won-
der that they were eagerly snapped up by
the foreign buyers. Few of them were as
much as 15 hands high. and many of them
less than lfls. but they were what was
wanted for South Africa. and the trade
went on prosperously.
Horses for the Cavalry.
The purchase of American horses for the
British cavalry came later. At first the
horses most available being somewhat be-
low the regular standard of cavalry re-
mounts In point of height. there was some
hesitancy as to the propriety of their in
were accomplished. and practical horse
men were not long in discovering that
the Western bronchos.. produced by thor
oughbred. half-bred and trotting bred sires
upon mares having a liberal infusion of the
b.ood of the tough and wfry mustang and
the stout and tireless cayuse in their bottom
crosses. were capable of carrying a caval-
lyman and his heavy equipment with great
I er ease and at higher speed than English
bred horses or "Walers," an inch and a half
taller.
In this way thousands of Western and
southwestern horses ranging from l+a to
Orleans to South African ports for army
purposes, and they have been found In ev-
cry way superior to the average cavalry
horse of standard height
Since this trade opened over 10000 mules
and horses have been shipped from this
port to South Africa. The result is that
the supply is far from keeping pace with
the demand. and prices have corresponding
ly advanced. Cotton mules that were con-
sidered well sold at $40 each when the Brit
AsA Amy ohAeOi opNt III AiC
Southwest now sell readily for S5. while
a grade formerly rated at 80 now rates at
80 The increase in the price of bronchos.
sound and of fair size and substance, has
CORRESPONDENCE advanced.
Other stock Also Advances.
In the meantime sugar mules and high
class horses have materially advanced in
price, although the advance has not been
as sharp as in the cheaper grades. Breed
ers; being able 10 sell out the by-product of
their ranches. have found themselves In a
position strong enough to enable them to
hold their choice animals for what they re-
gard as remunerative figures. and this fact,
together with the decreased production fol-
lowing upon the semipanic caused by the
deveiopment of the trolley. is mainly re-
spcnsiple for the advanced prices in she
higher grades of horses and mules.
The LEGAL dealers report an active trade
in horses. although very few mules are now
coming in. the season for them being about
over: The demand for fancy roadsters and
saddle horses is very much In excess or
the supply. many dealers having had in
their hands orders for high-class park and
harness horses. which they have thus for
Wound themselves wholly unable to fill. The
inGse auctions are always well attended.
and II is not for as many as 100
horses 10 h. sold hv aYcfiopAar II, viz.