THE MULE 163 



bone. Sugar mules bring the highest prices. Cotton mules on 

 the Chicago market range from 14 to 15^ hands high and weigh 

 from 900 to 1000 pounds. John Grant of the Kansas City yards 

 is credited with stating that they range from 13 to 16 hands 

 and that they are at the best age when from four to seven years 

 old. In the Southwest cotton mules are very common. They 

 are not of so uniformly high quality as sugar mules, but must 

 be smooth in finish. In bone they range from light to medium. 



2. Lumber mules stand from \^\ to 17 hands high and are 

 the largest, heaviest-boned, and most rugged sort. Capacity for 

 hard work is regarded as more important than quality, and weight 

 is essential in its application to hard pulling of logs. Very high 

 prices are paid for lumber mules. 



3. Railroad mules range from 15^ to \6\ hands, and weigh 

 from 1200 to 1500 pounds, as graded on the Chicago market. 

 They must be of excellent quality and weigh somewhat less than 

 lumber mules. They are used in grading and general hauling in 

 railroad construction. 



4. Mine mules — of two kinds, known as pitters and surface 

 mules — vary from 11 to 15 \ hands high, and must be chunky 

 and hardy, with heavy bone. Prices vary according to height, 

 quality, and weight. In commenting on this class, Mr. John 

 Grant further says : 



The miners are the hardest class to supply. They must be either dark 

 bay or black in color. White and sorrel mules are never used. When the 

 mines have long shafts, as in the Pennsylvania coal regions especially, they 

 say a white mule resembles a ghost and frightens the other mules beyond 

 control. The pitters must be long in body, heavy-boned, and have good 

 weight. They range from 12 to 151 hands and bring from $135 to $200, 

 while for any other trade they would bring $50 less. Surface mules are 

 used on the long hauls on top of ground. They are heavy but taller, and 

 have not such large bones. 



5. Levee mules are about the same as railroad mules, though 

 of somewhat better quality. They are used near steamboats and 

 docks for heavy work, especially in the South. They must be 

 of a rugged sort, perfectly sound, and capable of hard work. 



The above classes vary somewhat in detail, according to the 

 local markets, — St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Louisville, or 



