Brown, Tom 1974-07-03
Tom Brown, former manager of the Farmers Cooperative Cotton Compress, discusses the origin and development of that compress. He reviews various problems and operational procedures of the compress.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Tom Brown
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: July 3, 1974
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Jeff Townsend
Length: 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Family background, early life,
Origin of Farmer's Co-op Compress (1948) recalled,
Largest compress in the world,
Growth, expansion traced,
Effect of good storage on insurance rates noted,
B. L. Anderson discussed,
Volume of cotton cited,
Co-op gin development mentioned,
Recollections of early cotton stripping,
Discussion of port-interior conflict,
"Double compressing" noted,
"Universal density" bale examined,
Proposal of "branch plant" made,
Conservative nature of compress technology noted,
Compress operations reviewed,
Labor force, problems examined,
Labor union activities in 1965 remembered,
Death of Mexican worker attributed to union activity,
Density problems due to dry cotton character discussed
Tape 1, Side 2:
Question of "sewing" or "tucking" the bale head examined,
Railroad lawsuit against compress recalled,
Question of "marking" or "tagging" bale,
Character of port-interior conflict explored,
Reasons for disassociation with the Southwest Compress Association,
Outdoor storage justified
Range Dates: 1948-1974
Bulk Dates: 1948-1965
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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