Why did so many Western-bound wagon trains use oxen instead or horses of mules?
Joshua Young
Star Valley, Arizona
Oxen were slower than mules or horses, but they had their advantages, such as they ate less, required less care, and they could pull heavier loads. And while a mule or horse could cost $90, an ox could be bought for about $50.
Related Articles
-
Why did Mountain Men prefer riding mules over horses? And how come the Indians never…
-
Stephen W. Kearny played a big role in the conquest and settlement of the West.…
-
Chester A. Arthur is the only U.S. president to make an extensive overland march, mostly…
