The New York herald., 1921-06-12
25,59S,O7S HORSES
AND MULES IN US.
Increasing Use Of Mules Indi-
Gated by Census Report
Just Made Public.
BY GURNEY c. CUE.

The Bureau OF the Census made pub
lie yesterday the figures relating to
horses and mules on the farms of the
United States on January l, 1920.
Though still subject to correction, they
show a total of 20,142,455 horses and
+ 5,450,623 mules, making 25,593,07S In
ali This exceeds the total of 1910 by
nearly 100000 horses and more than
100000 mules. When the thirteenth
census was taken, on April 10, 1910, the
number of horses was 19,220,33S, and
OF mules 4,100,512, spring colts excluded
in both cases. as they were last year.
There has thus been q, gain OF s22,1l7
horses and 1,350,111 mules, or 2,272,22S
horses and mules in ten years.
The rapidly increasing use OF mules
irdicated by the census report is one or
itr outstanding features. Never before,
II is believed, has the much misunder-
stood mule made headway at the rate
Of nearly 80 per cent in ten years.
Texas holds her place as the leading
State for the long cared hybrids, with
ss5,59S: Georgia with 406.724, Missouri
with Ssso45, and Tennessee with 352.-
$40 coming next In order. Missouri
and Kansas, are the great breeding
States, as shown by the presence or
1S3.590 mules under two years old In
the former and of $500 in the latter.
Four States report more than 1,O0O.-
eco horses on farms, Iowa leading with
386,522, Nebras ska ranking second with
1892, 2,Os6. Illinois third with 1,292,244'
and Kansas fourth with 1,082,827 Cur
iously enough, Nebraska Is the only one
OF these States In which the number
does not show falling Off by conpari-
son with the figures for 1910. Every
one of them made gains In the number
Of mules, but Texas was the banner
state in this respect, the number having
Increased 174,s3o, while her horses de-
creased 1s4,470 in ten years.
There are nine States In the Union
In which horses are outnuumbered by
mules or these, Georgia Is foremost,
having only 100,S59 horses to 4O6,724
mules. The other States are Alabama.
mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Arkan-
eas, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Tennessee.
The leading States In the production
Of horses, as indicated by the presence
Of colts under two years old, are chiefly
beyond the Mississippi and north OF the
Ohio. The group made up of Minnesota,
Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas reports
more than 100000 colts under two
years old out of a total Of 2,539,626 for
the entire United States. Iowa leads
with 1878 Montana makes note
worthy showing with 1924 colts in
total of 66S,723 horses. All the Rocky
Mountain States, in fact, disclose a re-
markably prosperous condition of affairs
In horse breeding, with 44S,6s6 colts
among 2.O76,739 horses of all ages.
New York, New Jersey and Pennsyi-
vania with 1,11S.492 horses report only
b7,645 colts among them, while similar
conditions are indicated by the reports
from the Southern States and from New
England In New York and nearly all
other Eastern States the farmers are
keeping more geldings than mares. show
Ing that they give little attention to
rearing their own horses.
This State, according to the census re-
port, had 536,171 horses of all ages on
farms on January 1. 1920. as compared
with 591,00S In 1910. OF the whole
number 2,919 were stations. 1889 were
colts under one year old. 1880 were
yearlings. 223.077 were mares two years
old or older. and 2s4,333 were geldings.
The number of mules In the State Is re-
ported as 1929. as compared with 4.o52
in 1910.