Helton, Robert M 1983-05-26
Robert Helton relates the history of boundary disputes on the Red River, between Texas and Oklahoma.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Robert M. Helton
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: May 26, 1983
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Robert Helton,
Age 70,
Born 1913,
Lived in Granfield,
Neighbors,
Position relative to boundary disputes,
Arrived in Granfield (1920),
History of Texas-Oklahoma boundary,
Conflicting claims to land (c. 1890),
Land locations,
Southwest corner of Oklahoma,
Greer County,
Jackson County,
Harmon County,
Greer County (again),
U. S. vs. Texas,
Prairie Dog Town Fork,
Main channel of the Red River,
Actual crisis,
Eviction of Burton-Divide,
Result,
Burton-Divide Oil Company,
Co-discovery of West Red River oil field,
Obtaining their right to drill,
Federal Leasing Act (1902),
Avoiding bloodshed,
Oklahoma National Guard,
Oklahoma vs. Texas,
Supreme Court ruling,
Comanche Treaty (1860),
Red River Act (1924),
Congressional Act of 1838,
New Administrators,
East Red River oil field discovery (1951),
Conflict over oil and gas rights,
Change in channel width (1936-1955),
Grassland created,
New boundary dispute (1955),
"Cowboy warfare",
Clay County dispute.
Tape 1, Side 2: Opinion relative to creation of boundary,
Louisiana Purchase (1803),
Treaty of Acquisition,
Adams-Onis Treaty (1819),
U. S.-Spain boundary agreement,
Negotiation,
Tenents,
Sabine River boundary dispute,
Oil and gas disputes,
Burkburnett oil fields,
Location,
South Burk field,
Discovery of Southwest Burk field,
String Town field,
Chris Smoker,
Production and development,
Thaller well (1918),
Production,
Bert Wagner Company,
Golden Cycle #1,
West River field production (1919),
Hershey field (1920),
Oil prices,
Oil report published (1965),
Economic failure,
Blue Sky laws,
Mexia (1920),
Oil boom Ranger Texas (1920),
Spindletop (1901),
Desdemona, Texas,
Well discovery (c. 1921),
Mr. Harvey’s father.
Range Dates: 1803-1955
Bulk Dates: 1890-1955
Access Information
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Transcript:
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