The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-03-09
GREAT DEMAND
FOR MULES.
CONTINUED GOOD PRICES ARE
AT LAST REVEALING TRUE
VALUE OF THE
animal.
STATE OFFICIALS PRAISE HIM.
Dean Of Missouri Agriculture College
And Other Reliable Authorities
Say His Worth Is
Underestimated.

One day in January four ordinary
mules were sold in Columbia, Mo, for
$1,000 Naturally they were large,
welcomed, fine looking animals, but
aside from this there was nothing ex-
-raordinaIy about them
Inquiries developed the fact that
while this was thought to be a good,
stiff price, there was nothing remark
able about it, considering the fact that
good mules in this section have for
some time been selling at 5000 and up
wards
1t is quite evident, therefore, that
the price of mules, at least in Central
Missouri is unusually high, and all
indications point to a stiff further rise.
1t seems that just now the demand for
mules-that is the best mules-exceeds
the supply, and the farmer who has a
large stock on hand is truly fortunate
The great trouble seems to be that
the full value Of the mule has not yet
been fully comprehended. He is too
likely to be COMPOUNDED with the
horsa, AMI considered as such in max
ing fnanc al calculations. An official
at the Missouri Agricultural Expert
ment Station in discussing the unus-
ual demand for mules declared that
there seems TO be less general infor-
nation obtainable regarding mules,
irrespective of horses than any other
subject in the whole realm of animal
husbandry.
He declared that so far as his per-
sonal knowledge extended no special
investigation on the subject of mules
has yet been made by any of the State
experiment stations of the country-at
least he could not remember having
ever seen a report or bulletin on the
subject.
while thousands of columns are
printed every year on the subject of
horses" he continued, the mule,
which when all things are considered
is of equal practical value, comes in
for but brief mention and is only dis
cussed in general way.
How seldom he said, do we find
in any of the reports a discussion of
the individual characteristics of some
particular mule, while horses without
number are displayed before us, in
Guiding perhaps pictures of proud own
ers riding or driving them, or perhaps
standing near by that they may have
the honor of being included in the
photographs.
1T is an old saying that a mule is a
much abused animal, and it may ap-
propriately be added that he is much
underestimate as well. 1t seems high
time that the full value Of the mule is
appreciated and that he receives just
consideration in the realm of animal
husbandry"
Doctor H. j. Waters, Dean of the
Missouri College Of Agriculture, also
took up the cause Of the humble mule
in no uncertain terms. He said that
the present unusual demand is per
haps due to the fact that at some
period in the last few years the farm
ers ceased breeding mules in such |
large numbers as usual for some rea-
son or other, and as a result there is
at present a shortage in the supply, !
oDd c~pgoo441ot bicr1, ,,rinoc
such fluctuations, said Doctor Wa
ters, are unusual, and are in keep
ing with conditions relating to all live
stock, but do not mean to say by this
that the present high prices for mules J