Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-08
MANY MULES.
Some of the Various Classifiea-
cations.

"HNt "SSsSs
Some of the Various Classifica-
cations.
Kansas City Is the worlds greatest
market for mules, those useful animals
that have helped make Missouri IA
nous, yet few persons other than deal
ers know anything about the versatile
beasts To the average person "a mule
is a mule" and that's ALL But the
dealers will tell you very different. The
mule man will talk Of cotton" mules,
mine" mules. "pitters." 'levee" mules,
sugar" mules, rice" mules and even
mahogany" mules. He will talk about
a mules conformation" estimate his
height to half an inch and classify him
the minute he looks at the animal.
Over half the mules sold on the mar
ket are cotton" mules. Most of them
are bought from Dec. to March 1, by
the southern planters, or the dealers
who supply them. A cotton" mule must
be a good mule. although an extra
large one is not demanded. The
height varies from IA to 15a hands,
and the weight Is from 750 to 1,100
pounds. Trim, smooth haired mules
that show breeding-the Missouri vari-
ety-are the kind sought for by the
southern dealers and called cotton
mules In trade vernacular.
Next In Importance is the "construc-
ton" mule. With the opening up Of
work after the financial furry this class
was in demand. The railroad con-
struction camps want big, rugged an
imals. Style is no object. Big-footed
animals are in demand to make the
drawing Of heavy loads in loose dirt
easier. Where levees are under con-
struction a larger mule still is used. A
construction" mule is Is to 16b hands
high. A "levee" mule should not be
under 16 hands. They are often hitch
ed singly to two-wheeled carts, and a
big animal is required.
But the mule that brings the highest
price is the advertiser" Size and
breeding both count here. For "adver-
tisers" or wagon" mules, as they are
sometimes called, big, well-shaped,
nicely matched animals, that make the
passerby turn and look again-in short
a team that advertises the owner-are
the kind that bring the big prices. They
are gradually taking the place Of horses
for heavy delivery purposes. Many To-
cal firms use them, sometimes hitching
them three abreast.
Mine" mules are a distinct type;
they must be broad and chunky, but
not tall The average height Is IA
hands. "Pitters" for hauling ore in un-
derground tunnels should not be over
12a hands high. An ideal "pitter'' is
shaped like a dachshund; he has long
body and short legs. Almost any color
will do for mine" mule except white.
At the mine entrance white mule gets
dirty and looks unkempt. Down in the
tunnels he remains just white enough
to frighten his mates. To the little
''pitter" mule in the flickering light of
the tunnels there Is something so un-
canny about his white brother that one
white mule in a mine will create a
panic.
Then there are Sugar mules and
rice" mules used on sugar and rice
plantations. 1.-The sugar" mule Is a
big, fancy priced animal, but the rice
mule need only be rugged. Mules used
in the lumber camps are called "log-
gers" The principal requirement again
is not style, but ruggedness. When the
call Games from the Central American
lumber camps the mule men call the
animals mahogany" mules.
The government buys mules describ-
ed in their specifications as wheel
mules, Swing" mules. lead" mules
riding" or Saddle" mules, and pack
mules. Government mules must be
sound and from 4 to 8 years old. Their
size varies.
Almost any kind Of mule will do fol-
a farm worker although the farmer
will often outbid the representative OF
a big firm for a pair Of advertisers.
Strangely enough, the farmer, the Srea:
producer Of mules, owns very small
per cent Of them. Most Of them are in
the hands of the great users Of the
hybrids, the southern planter and con-
tractor.
Mules are high in price now. A good
big construction" mule sells for 1926
in Kansas City. A well-matched pair
of advertisers" will bring $500.
Why is there such a demand for the
mule? The reason is not far to seek
The "fool mule" Of the comic paper is
not such a fool after all. He takes care
Of himself, and the barn men Of any
big teaming company will tell you a
pair Of mules will outlast two or three
pairs Of horses at hard work. A mule
could give an athlete points on train
ing. He will not overeat or overdrink
After hard work he will not eat OF
drink until rested He seems to know
that he cost his owner no small sum
and will not allow a careless driver t.
overwork him. He Is not Of a nervous
temperament, and loses no energy wor-
rying, as horse does To the diseases
that attack the horse in the south he Is
immune. Everything considered, the
demand for the mule is a just tribute
to his usefulness. Missourians should
have a proper pride in the Missouri
mule, the ideal beast Of draught and
burden for the south.-Kansas City
Star.
A TREASURE SHIP.