Amis, Mr and Mrs C R 1968-07-28
C. R. Amis and his wife recall the heyday of the West Texas mining town of Shafter, including technical information on mining and its history in that community.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Amis
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: July 28, 1968
Location: Gainesville, Texas
Interviewer: W. R. McLeroy
Length: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
(Tape one: 1 hour, 30 minutes),
Introductory remarks, McLeroy,
Mrs. C. R. Amis,
Listing of mining towns,
Shafter, Texas - 1934,
Mining positions held,
Location and description,
Housing,
Town layout and Listing of citizens,
Tennis court,
Catholic church,
Building,
Death of deputy sheriff,
Listing of Buildings and Citizens (continued),
Camp atmosphere,
Origins of miners,
Recreation,
Food,
Cost of meat,
Mail deliver,
Groceries,
First grocery and Drug stores,
Social Life and Church,
Dances,
School,
Term "Mexican",
Mexican celebrations,
Quoting of "Biography",
Railroad stops,
Cibolo River history,
Nuns at Shafter,
Church building,
Ownership of town,
Cantinas (?),
School buildings,
Teachers,
Condition of roads,
Newspaper,
Location of cemetery,
Sports,
Present Shafter buildings,
Present citizens,
Climate,
Knife incident
Tape 1, Side 2:
Mr. Amis:
Texas silver mining location,
Shafter,
Location,
Mineral zone,
Population - 1940, 1960, 1980,
Highway service,
Railroad shipping plant,
Smelter - 1880s,
Climate and Flora,
Del Norte location,
Historical significance,
Fort Leaton establishment,
Mining joke,
First mining families,
Spencer's discovery,
Presidio Mining Co. and Cibolo Creek Milling and Mining Company,
Ore Production history,
Ore grinding methods,
Years of production,
Cyanidation plant,
Years of operation,
Unproductive years,
Nationalities of labor,
Wages,
Cost of consumer items,
Training Mexican miners,
Stoke naming,
Wetback incidents,
"Spanish" diggings,
Spencer biography,
Freight route,
Commanche Springs
Tape 2, Side 1:
(Tape two: 1 hour),
Conditions in mine - Shafter,
Stoke type,
Lime deposits,
Depth,
Production - tonnage,
Description of interior,
Water in mine,
Shaft 9,
Ore shipping points,
Sample ore,
Old survey accuracy,
Error,
Transporting ore,
Donkey,
Hand buckets (Windlasses),
Carts,
Aereo - Tramways - 1913,
Crushing plant,
History and types,
Mill types,
Capacity,
Maximum tonnage output,
Dry tons of concentrates,
Precipitates,
Average head,
Rock formation types,
Stratigraphic section of shaft region,
Mineral types,
Silver iodides and Bromides,
Smithsonian incident,
Listing of mineracs,
Tail loss incidence,
Filtrates,
Tonnage milled - 1885-1926,
Silver production
Tape 2, Side 2:
Ounces of silver produced,
Gold production - 1927-1940,
Value of gold,
Cash worth of silver,
Lead production - pounds,
Reasons for operation stoppage,
Figuring profit,
Drop in ounces per ton,
Source of labor - 1934,
Wages,
Fringe benefits,
Size of payroll,
Number of workers
Range Dates: 1885-1968
Bulk Dates: 1885-1940
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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