The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-01-21
Mules and War Prices.

Although Missouri dealers are fill
ing an order for 5000 mules month
ly for the British army, the number
of the hybrids moving through the
leading markets is still under the
normal total for this season. The
cotton States usually purchase be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 mules from
Missouri, Kentucky, Kansas, Nebras-
ka and other surplus-producing dis
tricts between October and April Of
each year, but the purchases by
| planters of the South this season are
insignificant, owing to the stagna-
| ton in cotton. Mules, however, have
not been at any time this season
more than SIS to SIS head lower
than the record prices of year ago,
| even before Great Britain was in
duced to try the animals on the bat
| tlefelds of Europe. Cotton mules
that were worth s125 to $50 a year
ago are now quoted at S115 to S165,
and dealers are confident that they
| will advance to former record levels
as soon as the world begins to pur-
chase cotton in South at fair prices.
AS a result there is no pressure to
sell the animals.
The British war order is rather
odd influence in the trade. The con-
tractors agreed to furnish mules Is
to 1873 hands high, with a girth
measurement of sc inches, five to
ten years old, at $175 head-a low
price, and no more than that for
which horses are being sold. The
agents of the contracting dealers
have been instructed to purchase no
load costing an average OF more than
s135 a head delivered at Kansas
City, and, in consequence, they have
been able to obtain only few in
Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska,
where the mules on farms are young
in age, producers asserting that their
animals are worth $25 to $40 more
a head. Planters in Texas and other
cotton States, however, who feel the
need of money to assist them in car
rying cotton are selling some Of their
old mules at low prices.
Most of the mules the South is SELL
ing for delivery to the British gov
ernment have already seen long SER
vice on farms, as few cotton growers
are willing to sell five or six year
old mule that cost 5000 year ago
for S12O to s125 today. The war
buying is therefore stimulating the
market little at present. However,
every old mule taken out of the
South now will have to be replaced
after peace is declared in Europe,
and then the war buying will begin
to boost prices in American markets.
"If ever the mule Industry had a
severe test of its basic strength"
said A. D. Cottingham, "it is having.
it this season. And developments
are proving that the animals possess
as strong an undertone as the most
optimistic mule men have claimed.
No other farm product can show
equal strength"
Mr.. Cottingham is looked upon as
the worlds largest individual mule
dealer. His sales of mules during
the past five years have averaged
5000 head annually.
"Of course, the European army
horse buying has helped mule prices
to degree" he continued. MANY
farmers have disposed of light horses,
suitable for cavalry use, with the in
tention of purchasing mules. The
number of mules being sold for the
European war is small in comparison
with the number of horses being TAX
en-, because the mules are higher in
price than horses, and also because
most of the European armies are in
experienced in handling hybrids.
Mules will be in greater demand
than ever during the next few years,
as farmers in the East are beginning
to use more and more of them.
eff we increase production rapidly
we shall find important export out
lets. I sold a large shipment last
year to outh Africa, while Cuba, Ha-
waii and Canada are regular import
ers of our mules. No livestock hand
lers can hope to earn greater profits
than the breeders and feeders of
mules. Samuel Sosland, in Coun-