Jackson, Robert L 1954-06-05

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Robert L. Jackson discusses the history of cottonseed delinting.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Robert L. Jackson

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: June 5, 1984

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 7 hours


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Father S. B. Jackson, Farm agent, Supervision of farm foreclosures, Mother Irma Cannedy, Indian heritage, Oklahoma Territory, Childhood memories, Lack of amenities on farm, Anecdote: burning of kerosene lamp, School attendance, Move to Iowa Park Texas, Farm, Amenities, Irrigation Iowa Park, S. B. Jackson, Cottonseed breeding, Cottonseed sales, Texas prison farm system, Visiting plantation in Mexico, Delinting machine, Venus U. Cloer, Operation, Production of hydrogen chloride, Commercial seed treatment (1980s), Attempted improvements.

Tape 1, Side 2: S. B. Jackson (again), Commercial delinting Iowa Park, Methods, Lint sales, Anecdote: refusal of delivery during Depression, Delinting plant in Frederick, Oklahoma, Seasonal nature of delinting business, Off-season employment, Texas delinting interests, Financial problems in Frederick Oklahoma, Lawsuit with Pedigree Pure Staple Cotton, To Lubbock (1936), Education, Elementary through high school, Texas Tech (1936-1940), Civilian Pilot Training Program, Ground school, Landing strip, Army Air Corps (1940), Training program, Twin engine training, Discharge, Texas Tech (again), Corps of Engineers Reserve, Army Air Corps (again), Retention after Pearl Harbor, Engineering school, Short course, Cal-Tech, Aeronautic.

Tape 2, Side 1: Cal Tech (continued), Aeronautics course work, Father (again), Delinting operation Frederick Oklahoma (again), Machinery sales, Delinting installations, Problems, Robert L. Jackson, Entry into delinting business, Changes in process, Delinting plants in Lubbock area (1947), Jackson’s delinting plant, Machinery, Weather, Lack of records prior to 1949, Purchase of plant site, Specifics of arrangements, Improvements in delinting machinery (1948-49), Specific changes, Shortcomings, Further changes (1950), Development of delinting, Impetus behind development, Quality.

Tape 2, Side 2: Impetus (continued), Evolution of delinting method, Saw delinting, Flame delinting, Saw-acid delinting, Wet acid delinting, Rhodesia, Delinting season, Delinting machinery (1949-1950), Improvements, Measurement of acid gas, Chemical mixing.

Tape 3, Side 1: Chemical mixing (continued), Growth of cotton seed, Stages of growth, Effect of drought, Normal and abnormal sprout, Attempts at chemical uniformity, Early delinting chemicals, Lime, Process, Results, Wetable fungicide, Results, Soda ash, Characteristics, Results, Ammonia gas, Batch treatment method, Results, Continuous flow methods.

Tape 3, Side 2: Ammonia gas (continued), Results, Cloer patent, Operation of apparatus, Modification of apparatus, Results, Heating miscalculations, Heating requirements, Disease control, Ammonia gas as neutralizing agent, Corrosion resistant materials, Cloer and Polhemus, S. B. Jackson, Education, Patents and trademarks, Kemgas, Kemgas Process Company, Advertising.

Tape 4, Side 1: Advertising (continued), Ineffectiveness of billboards, Pink boll worm quarantine (1940s), Effect on delinting business, Treatment of seed, Farmer acceptance of delinting, India, S. B. Jackson and cooperative farmers, Agricultural experiment station Chilicothe Texas, J. Roy Quinby, Don Jones Lubbock.

Tape 4, Side 2: Farmer acceptance of seed treatment, Dependability of seed treatment, S. B. Jackson (again), Education (again), Efficiency of delinting machine, Value of experience in equipment manufacture, East Texas farmers, Lambert, Northeastern Oklahoma, Custom delinting, Death, Burlap bags, Relationship between seed breeders and delinting plants, Change in planting technique, California farmers response to Acid delinting.

Tape 5, Side 1: Equipment improvements (1950s), Gas measurement, Uniformity in seed mixing, Moisture testers, Seed dryers, Suction telescope.

Tape 5, Side 2: Suction telescope (continued), Drying (again), Awareness of importance of moisture content, Research, Free fatty acid, Soviet Union, Delinting improvements (again), Hourly capacity, Oil mill grade, Expansion of operation, Decrease in acid gas (1959), Continuous flow delinting (1965).

Tape 6, Side 1: Delinting improvements (continued), Dust and fume control, Seed drying capabilities, Reasons for drying, Machinery and operation, Result of improvements, Wet delinting plant, Semi-wet delinting plant, Cost of delinting.

Tape 6, Side 2: Ceresan, Early experiments with seed treatment, Use by mobile delinting operations, Scandinavia, Competing "disinfectants", Farmer mentality relative to seed treatment, Human consumption of treated seed, Necessity of seed treatment, Tech farm seed, Certification, Problems with seed, Systemic fungicide treatment, Explanation, Expense and result, Systemic insecticide treatment, Expense and result, Triple-treatment, Wheat thrift, Rhodesia (1973), Acid delinting plant.

Tape 7, Side 1: Acid delinting plant (continued), Peasant farmers, Origins of mold organisms and weeds, West Texas, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), World politics, Trade sanctions, Jackson’s impression of Rhodesia, Roads, Government programs, World politics (again), United Nations sanctions, Disposal of delinting waste, Seed waste, Lint, Feedlot industry, Acid waste disposal, Environmental concerns, Liquified acid.

Tape 7, Side 2: Liquified acid (continued), Storage, Hydrochloric acid, Dow Chemical Corpus Christi, Potassium sulfate company, Denver City company, Fort Worth chemical company, Sulfuric acid and industrialization, South Africa, Delinting plants service by Jackson, Lamesa Delinting Company, McFarland Co-op Gin McFarland California, Service orientation, Small-capacity delinting plants, Machinery, Problems.

Range Dates: 1930-1984

Bulk Dates: 1930-1984


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