The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1915-07-30
STILL BUYING MULES IN
THIS TERRITORY
British Government Has Raised Its
Average Bid 10 $160, And is Comb
ing the Country For Them.

| Average Bld To $3.50, Ana Is Comb
ing the Country For Them.
Charlotte Observer.
The week seldom passes but that
one or more long trains pass through
the city over the Southern en- route
for Norfolk or some other port city
loaded with mules and horses for
the war zone of Europe. These trains
are operated on a fast schedule and
have the right of way for the post
part over the regular movement of
traffic II has been estimated that
there have been tens OF thousands of
animals shipped through the city
since the first of the year. all of them
being consigned either TO England.
France or Italy. the latter country be-
ing one of the heaviest buyers earlier
in the year. These horses and mules
came from points farther South but
many of them were gathered up in
the Carolinas and forwarded either
to Atlanta or Savannah or some other
centrally located point for dis
| tribution.
Chief Assembling Point.
Atlanta has just been designated
the chief assembling point for the
mules that are to be purchased in
this territory for shipment to Eng
land. The mules that will be gath
cred up in this field will be shipped
to Atlanta and there forwarded TO
the port city for loading on steam
ers for the war zone. For the pres
ent the Georgia territory will be
combed thoroughly in order that all
the available animals procurable may
be obtained. Then the Carolina ter
ritory will be treated in like fashion
and so on until the British govern
ment obtains as many mules as de-
sired. Good mules are bringing $3.50
a head from the British Government.
with of course a higher margin
where the animals are extra fine. This
price is the standard with yariati
to meet the individual requirements
as the case arise. Last year the
average price was $140 which is an
advance of $50 a head since the war
began.
Mr.. |. n. Ragsdale of Atlanta has
contract with the British Govern
men whereby he will handle 100
head of mules daily. These animals
have TO be examined and approved
before they are accepted. They are
then paid for and the British repre-
sentatives assume all responsibility
for their saIe delivery. Two agents
OF the Government are now in At
lanta looking after the arrangements.
Mules Thinning Out.
The fact that the British Govern
ment has increased its price for
mules from $140 to $3.50 head in
dicates that the animals are getting
scarce in the South There has been
great export of horses as well as
mules ever since the war began, pur-
chases being made not only by the
belligerent Nations but the neutral
Nations as well. Thus for instance,
Greece has bought hundreds of thou
sands OF animals and also Holland,
Norway and Sweden, Spain Portugal
and various other countries. Eng
Jand, France and Italy of course have
been the great buyers, numbers be-
ing sent to Canada, Australia and
South Africa to take the place of
those already sent to the scene of the
war operations. The great bulk of
course have been shipped direct to
the war zone Itself.
II goes without saying that the
price of mules and horses this Fad
will be very high. The west mas
been drained during the past II
months and on account of the extra
ordinary demand, the prices will soar.
Farmers who have good stock had
better keep it for it will be an eX-
ceedingly difficult and expensive mat
Ter to lecure new animals.
The sight Of the mule trains pass
ing through the local yards is very
interesting one, although nothing
novel or strange. The cars are cattle
cars. with plenty of openings for
ventilation and there is an adequate
force along with which to keep every
thing in good shape. The trains move
on fast schedule and there are only
/ In -four baItc a Inwad