Helton, Robert M 1983-05-26

From SWC Oral History Collection
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:



Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.