Handlin, Stanley Asa 1983-11-02
Stanley Handlin discusses the agricultural history of the El Paso Valley, particularly Hudspeth County.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Stanley Asa Handlin
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: November 2, 1983
Location: Fort Hancock, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Background,
Born: Montana (1903),
To El Paso Valley (1919),
Love Ranch,
Cattle,
Marketing,
Roundups,
Employees,
Duties,
Range condition,
Anecdote: Willie Smith ropes a bobcat,
Working cattle,
Wages,
Loan to Figure 2 Ranch,
Digging ditches and drains (1920s),
Process,
French drains,
Canals; Hudspeth County Texas,
Farmer owned reclamation,
Straightening the Rio Grande,
Early canals,
Farmer owned reclamation (again),
Problems,
Handlin’s retirement from reclamation,
Crops grown El Paso Valley,
First cotton in valley.
Tape 1, Side 2: Crops grown (continued),
Wheat,
Threshing,
Cotton (again),
Clearing of land in valley,
Mexican labor,
Leveling,
Dry land farming,
Sheep raising,
Montana,
El Paso Valley,
Predators,
Acala cotton,
Development,
Crop rotation,
Alfalfa,
Cotton,
Groundwater irrigation,
Water table,
Drought (1930s-1950s),
Elephant Butte,
Small acreage operators leave valley,
Expense of irrigation,
Drought (again),
Land removed from cultivation,
Hudspeth County,
Water reclamation.
Tape 2, Side 1: Water reclamation (continued),
Lakes,
Silt removal,
Soil types,
Black alkali spots,
Urban growth; El Paso Texas,
Soil types (again),
Vegetables grown Hudspeth County,
Pecans,
Anecdote: argument over mowing machine,
Farming in Mexico,
Irrigation,
Salinity,
Mexico,
Social problems,
Crops grown,
Anderson-Clayton gins,
Interaction between Mexican and American towns,
Hair’s store,
Straightening the Rio Grande (again),
Chamizal Park,
Parceling of farm land.
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Range Dates: 1903-1983
Bulk Dates: 1919-1960s
Access Information
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Transcript:
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