834 LABOURS OP A SINGLE MULE. 



all the lateral distance, which where greatest of the range C, and 

 from the outside of the pit across to the loading place, was usually 

 14 and in some wider parts 17 feet. This throwing of the marl 

 from the greatest depth and width of the pit was very heavy and 

 slow work. 



It was after the usual steady work of my then regular marling 

 force, begun the 24th of the preceding January at another digging, 

 and continued whenever the state of the weather and roads per- 

 mitted, that the excavation and carting were begun at this digging 

 on June 28th, 1844. On April 29th, previously, I had begun to 

 measure and to note the quantity of marl carried every day by 

 each cart, and the distances travelled ; and of which the record 

 was carefully and accurately continued until Sept. llth (with the 

 exception of a few days only, when the teams were at other work), 

 for every day when the weather and roads permitted marling. 

 Though noting thus the work of every separate cart and team, 

 whether regularly or rarely so employed, the trial was especially 

 designed for one particular mule, which was always kept at hauling 

 marl (when that work was going on), and which has continued to 

 be so employed to this time, in 1849. This mule is rather above 

 average size, and might have been sold for $65, according to the 

 prices usual in and before 1844. She had begun this labour 

 in January, when poor j had improved while so employed ; and 

 was in excellent working condition when marling was suspended 

 in September, for the purpose of all the mules being used for the 

 heavier labours of fallow-ploughing for wheat, and afterwards har- 

 rowing in the seed. I could extend the statement of this mule's 

 daily work, as particularly, by embracing what had been previously 

 observed and noted from April 29th, and also of all the other 

 teams, irregularly employed. But it will be enough to present the 

 portion of work done by this one, and only from the beginning of 

 the "excavations at this locality, of which the circumstances, and 

 for this purpose, have been so minutely stated above. It is only 

 by such careful observations, and actual measurements of quanti- 

 ties and distances, and these, moreover, continued for a considera- 

 ble extent of time, that any fair and unquestionable evidence can 

 be afforded of the amount and cost of any labour that can be per- 

 formed in a certain time, by men or beasts, and especially of the 

 latter. For a few days, or perhaps for a few weeks, there might 

 be performed labours which the teams would sink under if con- 

 tinued much longer. But when a certain measure of work has 

 been done regularly for months together, without any apparent 

 difficulty or hardship to hands or teams, still more, when the teams 

 have improved in flesh while continuing and even increasing their 

 daily labour (as in this case) , there can remain no question as to 



