Bagwell, George 1985-12-04

George Bagwell discusses the history of cooperative efforts in Castro County, Texas.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: George A. Bagwell

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: December 4, 1985

Location: Dimmitt, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Hickman Price, Public stock sales, early 1930s, Description, Farming techniques, Efficiency, Theory versus practicality, Acreage, Irrigation, 1930s, Shallow water areas, Cooperatives in Castro county, Oklahoma Wheat Pool, 1920-1934, Lack of farmer support, Opposition of area grain companies, Billy Sol Estes, 1960s, Cooperatives (again), Dimmitt Consumer's Cooperative, 1929, Oklahoma Wheat Pool (again), Operation, Producers' Grain Corporation, 1938, Operation, Plains Cooperative Oil Mill, Aid to area cooperatives, Roy B. Davis, Producers' Grain Corporation (again), Aid to area cooperatives dividends, Problems with commercial grain companies

Tape 1, Side 2: Problems with commercial grain companies (again), Construction of concrete elevator, Dimmitt Wheat Growers Cooperative, 1930s, Board members, Patronage, Irrigation wells, 1950s, Starch mill, 1970s, Anti-trust suit, Decision to build, Aaron Isaacs, Engineer, Management problems, Financing, Effect on corn acreage, Feed lot boom, Overproduction, Source of cattle, Southern states, Cultivation of "unsuitable" lands, Mechanization, Excess, Family as economic unit, Optimum farm size, Dry-land versus irrigation, Hail suppression program, Farmer opposition, Absentee mortgage interests, 1930s, Foreclosures, Fuel cooperative

Tape 2, Side 1: Feed lot boom (again), Money lost in bust, Local bank, Decline in land prices since 1980, Herring estate, Flagg community, Land sales, 1920s, Promotion, U. S. Highway 86, Irrigation, 1950s, Early wells, Production cost increase, Equipment supply, Big T. Pump Company, L. P. Davis Company, Cooperative management program, Term limitation, Training, Farmland industries, Pressure tactics, Problems with declining rail service, Adrian, Texas, Oklahoma, Unsatisfied building of railroad track, Problems with competing grain companies (again), Reasons for failure of cooperative efforts, Importance of effective Board of Directors, Friona cooperative

Range Dates: 1920-1985

Bulk Dates: 1920-1985

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