The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-18

clepaedias have so far failed to note the
fact that the burro as the donkey is
called in the Southwest, presents In it's
enerais.characteristics a most wonderful
exhibition of the qualities named. The
7bli1f;Q is a resident of the West and South
west. Originally. he came from Spain,
being introduced. into Western America
about three centuries ago. 1t may ap-
pear difficult for some people to believe
that in energy the burro Is something like
compound locomotive of many horse
power and that the burden Of his work
causes him less -eXertfon than a similar
amount Of work would cause an OK, an
elephant or. a donkey steam engine. It is
fact, nevertheless.
The buFRo has been and still Is an i'm
portant factor in the growth of the in
dustrles of the West and Southwest. He
has helped to develop mines, to construct
railroads and to build towns. He was one
OF the pioneers Of the West, and he is to-
day the friend and co-laborer of the West
eln men who are making the wealth Of
mat part of the country. Burros can go
where horse would fall They can live
on feed that a mule would reject. and. il
occasion demands it, they can go without
eating and still do their work. The burro
likes the sweet alfalfa grass. If, how
ever, he cannot get this variety of animal
food he~wln willingly take straw as a
substitute
Western miners who go prospecting are
glad Of the company of the faithful burro
On his back they feel safe from the perils
Of mountain travel. A burro never Sins.
he can walk along mountain trails where
man OF morse would meet certain death,
tourists travelling over the Denver e,
Rio Grande RAILROAD from Salt Lake CITY
to Denver viii see, if the Pullman porter
Is Well disposed to enlighten them So
a inf
hills of the Rocky mountains that no hu-
man being could walk in safety but which
are used. by burro trains in TRANSPORT
ing machinery. and supplies to the mines,
ana ore from the mines to the railroad.
A burro can be blindfolded and yet he
viii not take a false step.
Before the days of the railroad that runs
TO the summit of Pixies Peak, the burro
carried the traveller uD the uneven and
dangerous trail that leads to the top of
the famous mountain. And even now
tourists who prefer to do as the people
OF years ago did mount the gentle burro
and. ride, in safety to the top of Pixies
most interesting mountains in this coun-
try When the railroad up Pixies Peak
was building, the burro was most i'm
portant member of the construction party
With wheelbarrows, kegs of powder for
blasting, implements for the workInen and
supplies on his back he would trudge
along, only stopping when the fancy suit
ed him, or when his driver ordered him.
but always doing his work to the general
satisfaction of his master. 1t is well to
note, however, that the burro has some
thing of the mule in his makeup, and that
occasionally he can be as obstinate as the
proverbial army mule. At times no
amount of coaXing or beating will move
him. but IL the driver is well versed in
burro habits he viii give the animal a
lump OF sugar or a cabbage leaf and
the hurTo will resume the even tenor of
his way and behave as an obedient
worker, until the spirit of obstinacv
again comes over him.
One burro can carry on his back an
amount of wood that would fill a good
sized New York wood yard wagon. The
MoqG1 Indian wood peddlers use the bur-
70 to deliver wood to their customers and
at tunes the poor little beast of burden
is so loaded with this kind of fuel that
his head, legs. and tail alone can be seen.
lie is girdled with the wood and vet his
back never breaks and his equilibrium is
never lost. One burro can drag an
amount of lumber that would take two
ful-sized dray horses to haul in a truck
In transporting, lumber to the mines the
Westerner Will strap the larger pieces on
either side of the burro, the ends trailing
on the ground, and on the back Of the
creature fasten the smaller p1anks and
boards, and thus loaded the animal will
tramp from the good roads of the lumber
camp to the rocky Businesses Of the
mountain. The burFo is pilgrim that
seldom grows weary.
In the West children have their bur
ros, as in the East children have their
ponies. He is a-tPue companion and a
source OF never railing delight to the
rich children and the poor children of the
Western and Southwestern country In
Mexico or Arizona one will probably find
Mexican beggars' children, Moqui Indian
children and the children or higher class
eS riding on the burro. When a Mouui
burro is caught stealing corn or eating be-
tween meals, piece of his ear is cut
off. and this accounts for the many bur-
ros with mutilated ears in the Moqui re-
gionS. ~sl s-s
In the Rockies the burro is called 1.-THE
Rocky Mountain canary presumably be-
cause he can travel where ordinarily it
would require wings to go. The Eastern
donkey resembles the burro in size A
burro, however, has longer hair than the
donkey. while he is more intelligent
stronger and more trustworthy. The bur-
70, moreover, IS an affectionate and gen.
tie animal, an animal that is ready for
work and play. He cannot go at break
neck speed but he never fails to reach
his destination without mishap. In the
mountains it is a common sight to see a
mountaineer's baby sharing his meals with
the baby, or sleeping with him under the
pines.-New York Tribune.
Planning Ahead.
Edth-Mertie says she intends to learn