The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1903-09-04
CHAPTER ON THE BURRo.
Little Burden Bearer Has been
Important Factor In the buAo-
ing Up OF the West.

Carving whisky on steep mountain
sides from cabin to cabin, transporting
lumber to points where railways are on.
of the question, trudging to the secluoeo
mines laden with picks and shoveis-
such is the life Of the mountain pu'io'
A few of them have dwelt under the shei-
ter of the stables of the wealthy some
of them have had their lots cast with
circus. others have gone into the depths
of Pennsylvania mines, altosethei
away from the sunlight, but for the most
mart the burros are residents OF the
fast-developing west, says the fniiaoei-
phia Ledger.
Inst how much credit man is willing
70 grant the burro for the western oevei-
opment depends somewhat on the man.
The humble burro, like the mule. mas
been accorded too many kicks and Guns
and heavy loads from time immemor-
able. In early days the ass is given
| credit for more intelligence than the
horse. and it has long been contendeo
that the mules intelligence has been
much moderated, but in this mongrei-
the burro-his appreciated quaiinca-
| tions consist wholly in surefootedness,
sturdiness and the fact that he is easy 10
| keep. In Minnesota, Idaho. California
Arizona, Washington and in COLORADO,
outside of Denver, burros are to be found
in large numbers-in fact, in all the
western states where mountains exist
and mining is carried on
In the west the burro may be bought
as lew as five dollars. The majority OF
them bring not less than $40 or $l5. In
the localities where they are extensively
used one man may be found with 100 OF
them at his command. Burros vary In
color. as they also do in weight. They
NAV be found weighing 1000 pounds
Again they may weigh but $50 pounds
A good-sized mule will weigh 1.SOt
pounds in comparison. being
double the weight Of the burro.
The burro is a slow creature. seldom
covering more than four or five miles ar
hour. and it is not to be hurried. II
some respects he may be termed stub
born; in others he is not. When burrt
gets old he is sometimes inclined to b
ugly. but in the main he is much gentlel
than a mule. When he does become ugl.
he uses his teeth just as freely as hi
heels.
The burro will live to be 80 years o
age and still be of service as pack ami
NAL. which is better than can be expecte'
Of horse. There are really few animal
with which the burro could be compares
In hardness. A burro team will carr
) upon their backs a ], 200-pound load wit
| apparent ease Though they engage Il
such hard work and are Of great servic
q to residents of the west. they subsist o
t comparatively little. Often they collee
their own food by browsing about tn
bushes upon the sides of the mountain!
Like the camel, which is also used as
pack animal. they look lank and bon!
1t is difficult to find fat burro.
The lumber which the burros trans
port is usually carried from the loggin
!. camps in the cleared areas. up the mour
tains to the mines, and the constructio
Of many valuable mines has thus bee
made possible. AS the burro is adapte
b to the mountains, so likewise is he fitte
to travel in the American deserts 1t
said that burro can subsist long tin
y without water. and. furthermore, Thu
he is capable of seeming water gre'
way on