The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-11-19

The writer frequently calls atten-
ton to the prcats Of raising mules
for the market. Mississippi is espe-
1 cially favored for this industry, and 1t
is to be hoped that our people will
pay more attention in the future to
the mule. Joel A. Lowe, of Kansas,
has this to say about the raising OF
mules:
81. They can be raised cheaper than
any other stock.
"2. They will go to the market
much younger than any horse.
"3. They can be handled at two
years old, and, If properly managed,
will do as much work as a four-year'
old horse, and be the better for it.
~. They are less subject to disease
than any other stock, and not likely to
get blemishes by wire or otherwise.
have raised mules a number of years,
and never had one blemished, but
have had fine horses ruined.
"5. They avoid danger. and do not
get into holes or dangerous places.
If they run away, they seldom hurt
themselves or anything else, much.
The writer has nearly always good
bunch of mules, and has not been
kicked but twice in twenty years, and
both times by horse.
Sc. They stand heat much better
than horses. II you do not think so,
try span on your binder some sultry
day by the side Of your horses.
"7. They can stand more abuse and
hardship than the horse, but appre-
ciate good treatment more than any
other animal living, and live to a
greater age than horses.
"S. There is profit in mule raising,
\ because Of quicker growth; being
marketable at three years old. A
horse has to- be Eve years old, thus
4 two years. Of feed is saved. have
\ sold number Of two-year-old mules
for $3.50 each.
49, There is always a good demand
for mules of from five months up to
fifteen years old. Were there a
greater number of mules there would
be plenty of buyers. In times of wal
mules are always high. An army can
do as well without guns as without
mules. It was during the civil war
that the writer learned to appreciate
| the mule.
"10. Mules can be raised with less
care than cattle. They will eat straw
and anything that cattle will. In 1900
the writer bought twenty mules at
weaving time, wintered them on
wheat pasture, and sold them Janu.
airy list for $1,470 more than they cost
him. The cost of feeding was about
$500, but put it at $500, and it will
leave 1910 for the trouble, care and
interest on money. That would seem
a fair profit, but the real profit was
fully $1,000.
al. Two mules can be raised till
three years old on the same feed as
one steer. The steer will be worth
from $50 to $40; the mules form $25C
to $780,"
| If Mr.. loves reasoning is good, and
that is for the readers of this depart
ment to pass upon, there is more and
quicker money in mules than any
other stock that Mississippians could
| raise.
Xazoo City is hustling for business
as never before. Not many days since
q train was run over the Belzoni
branch Of the Y. & M. ", carrying q
large number Of her business men
who became acquainted with the PEG
pie and presented the claims of Yazoo
in the best light possible. The expert
ment proved satisfactory, and Other
trips are planned for the future. What
Yazoo is doing might be adopted by
other towns with profit. At this time
business is secured by going after it
The town that sits still and waits fol
something to turn up will never have
cause to report a great quantity Of
turnips. Hustle is the thing.
There is strong probability that
the Southern will extend its Ittabena
branch to Belzoni. The amount OF
bonus asked for has about been raised
and the people all along the proposed
route are active in the work of secur
ing the road. 1t would open up a
splendid section of country, one which
has superior nowhere in the State
Hazlehurst had very successful
flower show on the 10th and 18th
This is one of the annual events al
that thriving town, and the displays
made are pronounced excellent. The
ladies' take great pride in cultivating
flowers and have developed a nice
business in their sale.
"Push Mississippi when occasion
demands and opportunity offers.
An unknown writer has said that
in Mississippi there is great diver
sity of interests for the benefit of a
greater number of people than any
State in the Union. Whoever this
writer may have been, he was not fa1
from the truth. No State can offer
more to the man who is willing and
able to work than Mississippi. The
resources are an yet practically unde
veloped, and the yocations for making
| a living as yet are not defined. The
near future promises great revela
lions along this line.
So
1 The stand being taken by Missis
sippi conservators Of the peace that
the law must be respected, is bearing
fruit. Our people, as rule. are law
abiding, but there are times ant
places where the majesty of the Law
loses its respect. We must be a law
abiding people, and the officers SHOULD
be upheld in their effort to make til,