Slate, Lynn 1974-05-14
Lynn Slate, early mercantile and farm implement dealer, discusses his business career and farming activities in the Sudan area.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Lynn Slate
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: May 14, 1974
Location: Sudan, Texas
Interviewer: Jeff Townsend
Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Family background, early life,
Moved to Texas from Iowa (1914),
Reasons for moving to Sudan (1919),
Mercantile business in Sudan established,
P. E. Bosen, Sudan land promoter, recalled,
Reasons for decline of population in Sudan,
Bank opposition to tractor cited,
Review of farm implement business,
Competing companies discussed,
Fernow family farms recalled,
Mercantile credit policy examined,
Anecdote on poor credit risk,
Business practices reviewed,
Storage business noted.
Tape 1, Side 2: Barter, trade with farmers mentioned,
Use of postmaster’s position for profit in egg sales told,
Fear of farmer cooperative expressed,
Attitude toward Lubbock’s claim to underground water supply given,
Terms of land purchases in 1924 and 1940 given,
Recollection of water drilling (1950),
Early cotton buying, production remembered,
Farmers’ modification of store-bought implements examined,
Use of manure for fertilizer noted,
Dependence of farmer on banker cited,
Discussion of cloud seeding and hail insurance,
Myths concerning tractors explained,
Tractor servicing recalled.
Range Dates: 1914-1950s
Bulk Dates: 1919-1950
Access Information
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Transcript:
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