8/17/2019 31295013672232

1/198

ANALYSIS OF COTTON GIN BUILDINGS

IN THE SOUTH PLAINS REGION

by

MICHELLE SHARON GAYLE CLUCK HAINZE, B.A.

A THESIS

IN

ARCHITECTURE

Submi t t ed to the Graduate Facu l ty

of Texas Tech Univers i ty in

Part ial Fulf i l lment of

the Requi rements fo r

the Degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Approved

Chaí rpersôn o rTf i^^^mîpf t t^e

A ccep t ed

Déån of the Graduate/School

August, 1999

8/17/2019 31295013672232

2/198

© 1999 by MicheUe S. G. C. Hainze

8/17/2019 31295013672232

3/198

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S

The aut ho r wishes to express her appreciat ion to he r commit tee chai r ,

Professor Elizabeth Louden, for her unfai l ing support , guidance, and

encou ragem ent . The auth or a lso wishes to express than ks to Dr. JoAnn

Shro yer and Professor Phil l ip M ead. They have both provide d excel lent

di rect ion and supp ort for the au thor . Th ank s also to Dr. Michael Jon es w ho

provided the idea for this thesis.

Sincere grat i tude is also extended to the author's husband, Thomas, for

his loving encoiu:*agement an d help in edi t in g this th esis; with ou t him , t hi s

th es is woxild no t ha ve been completed. Th is th es is is therefo re lovingly

dedicated to Dr. Thomas W. Hainze, Jr.

11

8/17/2019 31295013672232

4/198

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A C K N O WL E D G E ME N T S i i

ABSTRACT vi

L I S T O F T A B L E S v i i

LIST OF FIG UR ES vi ii

L I S T O F A C R O N Y M S x i v

PREFACE XV

CHAPTER

L INTRODU CTION 1

Pur pos e of Stu dy 2

Re sear ch Objectives 3

Research Quest ions 4

II.

  REVIEW OF LITERATURE 5

Pu rpos e of the Cotton Gin 5

Th e Grow ingC ycle of Cotton 6

Cot ton Ha rves t ing 8

H isto ry of Cotton 8

H istoiy of Cotton in Texas 11

His tory of Cotton Gins 12

Gin Design Before the nin ete en th Cen tury 12

Slave Labo r and Cotton 13

EU W hitne y and th e Firs t Successful M echanical Cotton Gin 15

m

8/17/2019 31295013672232

5/198

Ginning M ethods a nd Bui lding Requ ireme nts from 1800 to 1 900 . . . 17

Ginn ing Methods from Bui lding Requirem ents 1900 to the

Presen t 18

Su m m ary of Ginning Methods and Bui lding Req uirem ents 25

Ag ricu l tura l Policies 25

Bui lding M ateria ls 30

M anu factur ers of Gin Components 31

Cot ton G in si n Texas 33

Cotton Gin s in th e Lubbock Region 35

Sum m ary 36

III .  MET HOD S 76

Methodology 76

D es i gno fS t udy 77

U s e o f D a t a 7 8

IV. RES ULT S 81

Findings 81

Res earch Quest ion 1 82

Rese arch Que st ion 2 83

Research Quest ion 3 83

V. SUMM ARY 114

Summary 114

Conclusions 115

Imphcat ions 115

Recommendat ions 116

IV

8/17/2019 31295013672232

6/198

BIBLIOGRAPHY

WORKSCITED 118

WORKS CONSULTED 122

APPENDIK

A J G L O S S A R Y 1 2 7

B:VISUALVOCABULARY 133

C:COTTONGINS

  140

8/17/2019 31295013672232

7/198

ABSTRACT

Cot ton gin s t ructures are the dominant , rural archi tectural bui lding

form in the South Plains region. Historic research methods were employed to

docu men t an d analyze of thes e structu res before they disapp ear. Defining

features and elements that enable recognit ion of types and styles of these

buildings have been documented in a ' 'Visual Vocabulary."

V I

8/17/2019 31295013672232

8/198

L I S T O F T A B L E S

2.1 Proc esses involved in the ginn ingo f cot ton, 1925 37

2.2 Major cot ton ginn ing developm ents 38

2.3 U. S. an d Tex as cot ton gin stat ist ics 39

2.4 Ag ricul tural poUcies and pra ct ice s 40

3.1 Research method s 80

4.1 Active cot ton gins in Texas by Crop-Report ing distric ts 85

4.2 Su mm ary of bui ld ingfo rm sby county 86

4.3 El em en ts in dete rm ining a prototype cot ton gin buildin g 91

B .l Vis ual Vocabulary 134

vu

8/17/2019 31295013672232

9/198

L I S T O F F I G U R E S

2.1 Plow -type cotton pla nt er, ca. 1880 44

2.2 Riding cot ton pla nte r, ca. 1900 44

2.3 Co ttonse ed directly from a cotton boU 45

2.4 Cottonseed so ldb y seed special ists 45

2.5 Cotton seed lings 46

2.6 You ng cotton pl an t 46

2.7 Cotto n flowers 47

2.8 Cotton rea dy for pickin g 48

2.9 Close-u p of cotton boll 48

2.10 Co ttonlo cks 49

2.11 Cotto nfield ready for har ves t ing 49

2.12 W orkers picking and sacking cot ton by ha nd 50

2.13 W orkers weigh ing in the irc ot t on "pickings" for the day 50

2.14 Ex pe rim en tal mec hanical cot ton picker, ca. 1917 51

2.15 St r ipp er harv est ing 52

2.16 H arve st ing cotton wi th a m ode m mechanical s t r ipper 52

2 .17 Chu rka g in f ro m lnd ia 53

2.18 M odel of an Eli W hitn ey cotton gin ca. 1800 53

2.19 Com plete gin sys tem by Eag le Cotton gin Co., 1893 54

2.20 Older style single gin stan d w ith pr ess in the yard ,

pow eredb y a s t eam t rac tor 54

viii

8/17/2019 31295013672232

10/198

2 .21 F ro n t v i ew of sy s t e m gi nb yF . H . L um m u sSo ns , C o., 1909 55

2.22 Re ar view of system gin by F. H. Lu m m us Sons, Co., 1909 55

2.23 One story gin, showing four gin sta nd s on the grou nd

floor, 1925 56

2.24 Pl an for a one story cot ton gin, designed by the D ep artm en t

ofA gricul tu re, 1935 56

2.25 Go ve m m en t designed tower dryer, 1930 57

2.26 Go ve m m en t suggested arr an ge m en ts of bxii ldings for a gin

p l a n t i n l 9 3 8 5 8

2.27 Gin build ing dime nsions suggested by th e Go vem m ent in 1938 58

2.28 Go ve m m en t suggested gin building dime nsions in 1956 59

2.29 Floor pl an of old-style cotton gin, w ith pow er drive betwe en

g in an dp re s s 60

2.30 Floor pl an of 1956 style cotton gin 60

2.31 Sche ma tic diag ram of a pne um atic gin t ra sh coUection system 61

2.32 Q ua dm ple cyclone arra ng em ent , commonly used in the 1970's 62

2.33 Sch em atic dia gra m of in-Une filters, from th e 1970's 63

2.34 B ur r hop per w ith m an y cyclone coUectors mo im ted on top 64

2.35 Go vem m en t recomm ended gin t r as h coUection system 64

2.36 Th is is a typic al layo ut for a mo ving-h ead-typ e module

feeder system 65

2.37 Go vem me nt recommended gin yard layout in 1994 66

2.38 A 1994 gin p la n t floor pla n for a 10-bale/hr. roUer gin system 67

IX

8/17/2019 31295013672232

11/198

2.39 A mo dern, completely enclosed tr as h house wit h a pa ir of

cyclone coUectors mo tmte d on th e top 68

2.40 A typical 1990's overhead cot tonseed storage house wit h a

hoppe rbo t t om 68

2.41 Co ntin enta l Eagle Cotton Gin System, 1997 69

2.42 Com m unity bap tism behind a gin pl an t in Cego, TX, ca. 1885 70

2.43 Th e gin pl an t at Sp arta , TX, ca. 1885 70

2.44 T h e H e rm a n n Focke gin in Mexia, TX, 1888 71

2.45 Gin at Tric kha m , TX, Coleman Cou nty, ca. 1890 71

2.46 So uth Pl ai ns gin in Coleman Coun ty, TX, ca. 1910 72

2.47 Fa rm er s Gin Associat ion gi np la nt at Burto n, TX 72

2.48 Goo dm an gin, ca. 1875 73

2.49 M ule pow ered gin ma chine ry on groimd floor of Goo dma n gin 73

2 .5 0 N e w D e a l G i n C o 7 4

2.51 La nds cap ing at Associated Cotton Grow ers gin pl an t

in Crosby ton, TX 74

2.52 M ode m g in p la n t i n Crosbyton, TX 75

2.53 Inside a mo dem gin pla nt wi th Cont inental Eagle ginning

equipment 75

4.1 Active cotton gins in Texas by Crop-R eporting dis tric ts in 1997 94

4.2 Loc ations of cotton gins found in Crosby County, TX 95

4.3 Loc ations of cotton gins found in Ha le County, TX 96

4.4 Loc ations of cotton gins found in Hockley Cou nty, TX 97

X

8/17/2019 31295013672232

12/198

4.5 Loc ations of cotton gins found in Lubbock Cou nty, TX 98

4.6 W es te m view of Associated Cotton Growers Gin (AGC Gin) 99

4.7 N o r t h e m v i e w o f A C G G i n 9 9

4.8 Lo cat orm ap for AC GG in 100

4.9 Associated Cotton Growers Gin dat a 101

4.10 W es te m view of City Gin, Inc 102

4.11 So uth w es tem view of City Gin, Inc 102

4.12 Loca tor ma p for City Gin, Inc 103

4.13 City Gin, Inc. d at a 104

4.14 N or th em view of Crossland Ind epe nde nt Gin, Inc 105

4.15 So ut he m view of Crossland Inde pen den t Gin, Inc 105

4.16 Locator map for Crossland Inde pen den t Gin, Inc 106

4.17 Crosslan d Ind epe nde nt Gin, Inc. da ta 107

4.18 So uth w es tem view of Goodman Gin 108

4.19 W es te m view of first floor drive m ech anis m for

Goodm an Gin 108

4.20 Loca tor ma p for Goo dman Gin 109

4.21 Goodm an Gin da ta 110

4.22 So uth w es tem view of New Deal Gin Co 111

4 .23 Sou thea s t em v iew ofN ew De al Gin Co 111

4.24 Loca tor m ap for New Dea l Gin Co 112

4.25 New De al Gin Co. da ta 113

xi

8/17/2019 31295013672232

13/198

C.l Associated Cotton Growers 141

C.2 Loren zo Co-op Gin, Inc. # 1 142

C.3 Lore nzo Co-op Gin, Inc. #2 143

C.4 Loren zo Co-op Gin, Inc. # 3 144

C.5 Cros sland Ind epe nd ent Gin, Inc 145

C.6 C & R Gin, Inc 146

C.7 Av e. F & 5th St.: RaUs, TX 147

C.8 Ave . B & E. M ain St.: Crosbyton, TX 148

C.9 A be m ath y Gin Co 149

C.IO City Gin , Inc 150

C . l l Farm er ' s Co-op G in # l 151

C .12 Fa rm er ' sC o -opG i n#2 152

C.13 Fa rm er's TUCO Gin 153

C.14 G aiy 's Cott-N-BoU Gin 154

C.15 Ha le Ce nter Co-op G i n # l 155

C .16 H a l e C e n t e r C o - o p G i n # 2 156

C.17 Hy -Gr ade Gin, Inc 157

C.18 Ji m Odom 's W hite Gold Gin 158

C.19 Six Po int s Gin 159

C.20 Opdyke Fa rm er's Gin 160

C.21 Ropes Fa rm er's Co-op #1 161

xu

8/17/2019 31295013672232

14/198

C.22 Rop es Fa rm er 's Co-op #2 162

C.23 Ala mo & U S 62: LeveUand, TX 163

C.24 Ca nyo n Cotton gin 164

C.25 Fa rm er 's Gin Slaton, Inc 165

C.26 Go odm anG in 166

C.27 Idalou Co-op G i n # l 167

C .28 Ida l o uC o-op G i n #2 168

C.29 K i talo uG in 169

C .30 N ew D ea l G i nC o 170

C.31 Posey Gin Co 171

C.32 Sl ato n Co-op Gin  Co. #1 172

C.33 Sla ton Co-op Gin  Co. #2 173

C.34 Sl ato n Co-op Gin  Co. #3 174

C.35 E . 2"d & Pec an: Idalou, TX 175

C.36 CR 1800 & FM 1585: Lubbock Cou nty

  1

  176

C.37 I 27, exit 12: Lubbock Coun ty #2 177

C .38 A ve .A & 1 3 t hS t . : L ubbo ck , T X #1 178

C.39 So ut he as t Dr. & Loop 289: Lubbock, TX #2 179

C.40 Broa dwa y & M ain: New Deal , TX 180

C.41 N . 8*^ & W. Dic kens : Slaton , TX 181

xm

8/17/2019 31295013672232

15/198

L I S T O F A C R O N Y M S

AAA: A me rican Automobile Associat ion

ACG: Associated Cotton Growers

BACT: Best Available Control Technology

BC:

  Before Christ .

BCE: Before Common Era

CCC:

  Commodity Credit Corporat ion

CE:

  Common Era

EPA: Environmental Protect ion Agency

FCAA: Federal Clean Air Act

G N P :

  Gross Nat ional Product

NCA: National Cotton Associat ion

N C C :

  National Cotton Council

NFER: Natural Fibers Economic Research

OSHA : Occ upatio nal Safety & H ealth Agency

TABC: Texas Air Control Board

TTU: Texas Tech Universi ty

UNRC: Ul t ra Narrow Row Cot ton

U S:  U n i t e d S t a t e s

USDA: Uni ted States Department of Agricul ture

XIV

8/17/2019 31295013672232

16/198

PREFACE

Th is ma ste r ' s thes is does not prete nd to be a complete and al l -inclusive

stud y of cot ton gin bxiildings. Co nstr ain ts of t ime an d resourc es, both

financial an d physical , hav e necessari ly Umited the scope of th is re sea rch

effort. Th e stu dy of cot ton gin building s is a new area of rese arc h and , a s

such, has ra ised many interest ing quest ions that should be explored by

future scholars .

XV

8/17/2019 31295013672232

17/198

C H A P T E R I

IN T R O D U C T IO N

Cotton is a major in du stry and contributor to the economy of Lubbock

an d i ts siur ou nd ing region. Given the impo rtance of cot ton, the dominance of

gin buildings in the region, and the ephemeral nature of industrial bui ldings;

documentat ion and analysis of these historic structures is needed to inform

future gen erat io ns abou t the ir cul tu ral history. To enable recognition of types

an d styles of thes e buildings, an un der stan din g of the ir features and defining

elements must also be gained, thus the exist ing structures need to be located

and documen ted photographical ly .

"Cotton is King" has been the unofficial motto of the South Plains and

considering i ts long history i t is hkely to rem ain so in th e foreseeable future.

Since ant iqxii ty, cot ton ha s been prese nt on this continent . According to Ka ren

G. Britton (1992), the definitive authority on the history of cotton in Texas,

'*WiId cotton grows in tropical and subtropical regions of the United States,

Mexico, [and] So uth Am erica . . ." (p. 3). Th ere is evidence th a t cotton ha s bee n

grown since

 5,000

 BC in the Te hau can Valley of Mexico. The cu ltivation of

cotton is tho ug ht to have ra nge d a s far no rth as New Mexico by 500 BC

(N atu ral Fibe rs Economic Resea rch [NFER], 1975, p. 1).

Cotton wa s amon g the ear he st crops grown by Eng lish colonists in th e

New World, al though their efforts were not successful imti l the South was

colonized (Bri t ton, 1975, p. 9). Cotton wa s an im po rtan t pa rt of the domestic

1

8/17/2019 31295013672232

18/198

economy, but w as too cost ly to export for profi t un t i l E h W hiney inven ted the

me cha nica l cot ton gin in 1793 (Bri t ton, 1975, p. 13). This invention would

forever chang e the cul tu re an d economy of the South .

Cotton an d cot ton ginning came to Texas along with S teph en F. Au st in

in th e 1820's. By 1828, Au st in 's Colony had five pla nta t ion gins in op erat ion

an d m ore were in service in E ast Tex as (Bri t ton, 1975, p. 23). Only sma ll

amounts of cot ton were grown on the South Plains unti l the twentieth centuiy.

In 19 01, only 26 bale s of cotton were produ ced in Colorado City, Texa s, 100

m iles sou th ea st of Lubbock. However, by 1905, a gin bui lt in Lubbock

produced 700 bales of cotton. This first cotton gin in the Lubbock area was

buil t of wood covered with co rrugated m etal and w as powered by a s team

engine (Britton, 1975, p. 62).

Purpose of the Stud v

Cotton gin buildings are common sigh ts on the South Plain s of W est

Te xas . The y have become a cu ltur al icon becau se cotton is th e major crop in

this ag ricul tura l region and a pr im ary reason the high plains was set t led.

However, because these bxii ldings represent a vemacular response to

necessi ty, they are eph em eral , last ing only so long as they provide a benefi t to

th e o wn er or the ben eficial economics of rem ova l exceeds th e cost of recyc hng

the m ate rials . This study is in response to the grad ual , bu t continu al

disappearance of this cultxural icon, the rural cotton gin.

8/17/2019 31295013672232

19/198

Every g enerat ion h as the need and the obhgat ion to s tudy the past , not

only to develop an un de rsta nd ing of theix cul ture, bu t also to un de rst an d the

qua li t ies a nd e xperiences of the pa st . We need to identify the r em aini ng cot ton

gin structures and develop an understanding of what makes a cot ton gin

bui lding unique vemacular archi tecture . Prepared wi th this data ,

pre serv at io nist s wil l be able to inform th e pubhc, ma king people more awar e of

the archi te ctural a nd cu l tural importance of these his tor ic s t ructu res an d to

explain w hy repre sen tat iv e prototypes should be preserved (Schuster, 1997, p.

102).

An analysis of predominate features was prepared as a basis for

und erst and ing w hat m akes each building imique, including the source and

purpo se of compo nent massing . This thes is pre sen ts gin building information

in the form of an a rchi tectu ral visual vocabulary of im po rtan t features, and

pho togr aph s of im po rtan t components of the stru ctur es. A Visual vocabulary'

consists of visual images and written definitions of the featxires necessary to

analyze an architectural subject and to estabhsh i ts prototype.

Research Obiectives

This stu dy wiU provide information useful to pre sen t an d future historic

preservat ionists and historians conceming cotton gins on the South Plains of

Texas , To rea ch t ha t objective the foUowing i tem s have been p rep ared :

• A visual vocabu lary th at defines the pred om inate featu res th a t identify the

building type 'cotton gin. '

8/17/2019 31295013672232

20/198

• An arch itec tura l check hst wiU be mad e to record information a bou t exist ing

cotton gins.

• Ph ot og rap hs of exi stin g cotton gin buildin gs to provide a significant so urce

of data for future archi tectural historians and historic preservat ionists.

Research Quest ions

Th is study involves historical research metho ds and is primarify

concemed with defining the architectural archetype or tjT^ology of Cotton Gin

Buildings in West Texas.

1.  W hat are the predominate physical character i s t ics and features t ha t

defijae a cotton gin building?

2.

  Is the re a relat ionship betw een the type of equip me nt housed and the

arc hite ctu ral form of the cot ton gin building?

3.

  What elements are determinants in the select ion of a prototype

historical bui lding?

8/17/2019 31295013672232

21/198

C H A P T E R I I

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Purpose of the Cotton Gin

The purpose of a cotton gin is to separate cotton hnt, or fibers, from the

seeds embedd ed within th e l int . Originally, cot ton w as harv ested an d th e

seeds were rem oved by hand , which left clean hnt t ha t was ready for

processing by spin ning miUs. Today, cotton is mechanicaUy harve sted and

ginn ed. Li nt produce d today is fuU of debris and m us t be extensivefy cleaned

at th e gin si te before the h n t is read y to be sent to spinn ing mUls.

Before cot ton can be ginned, i t mu st be plan ted, ten ded, a nd eventuaUy

har ve sted . Cult ivat ion was tradi tionaUy har d, labor intensive work. In the

so ut he m p ar t of the U nited Sta tes (US), i t wa s performed by slaves before the

CivU W ar. Affcer the CivU W ar, cotton was plan ted an d har ve sted , an d ginned,

by fi-eed slav es (Brooks,

  1911,

 p. 224). By 1910, mech anical plan ter s and

steam -pow ered gins had been invented (Figures 2.1-2.2). These inventions

resul ted in creat ing a market for a vast pool of migrant workers between

September to October (Brooks, 1911, p. 244). Racial prejudice and fear of this

seas ona l influx of African-Americans and M exicans wa s at lea st part iaUy

responsible for the drive to inve nt a m echanical harv este r (Brooks, 1911, pp .

224-5).

8/17/2019 31295013672232

22/198

The Growin^ Cydfí of Cotton

Th e cotton pla nt , g enu s 'Gossypium,' is a me mb er of the 'M alvace ae/ or

maUow famUy. It is rel ate d to th e hibiscus flower (Britton, 1992, p. 3). Cotton

is pla nte d in mo st of the S outh d uring the period between m id March an d earfy

M ay (Brooks, 1911 , p. 315). Today cotton is pla nte d in rais ed row s. After th e

CivU W ar, i t wa s pl an ted in smaU hiUs spaced two feet ap ar t. Each hiU

contained eight seeds, since the germiaat ion rate was about 25% (Brooks,

1911, p . 175). Today, cotton growers buy seeds from com mercial seed

prod uce rs ins tea d of using the ir own cottonseed, both to insu re a more

pred ictable qu ah ty of cot ton and to increase the g erm ination rate of the

cottonseeds (Figures 2.3-2.4).

Approximatefy ten days after plant ing, the seeds germinate and sprouts

ap pe ar (Figure 2.5). In a few weeks, depending upon w ea the r conditions, the

pl an ts sp ht in to 8 to 20 bra nch es and reach a height of 10 to 15 inches. At thi s

poin t bud s develop. The bud s are caUed "squares" because of the ir shap e

(Brooks, 1911, p. 315) (Figure 2.6). Shortfy after th e sq ua res ap pea r, th ey o pen

an d produ ce a whi te flower about 1 V̂ inche s in wid th an d len gth (Figure 2.7).

The second day, the flower tums pink, and the day after that the flower tums

a de epe r pin k. At th e end of th e thir d day, th e flower drops off, lea ving a smaU

br igh t gree n boU (Brooks, 191 1, p. 316) (Figure 2.6).

Cotton fields were weeded by hand with hoes or "chopped" from first

eme rgence imtU the end of Aug ust , when t he p lan t was too tal l to work the soU

8/17/2019 31295013672232

23/198

any longe r. In the day s of slavery, this period of about a m onth, from A ug ust

xmtU har ve st , w as considered a hohday and a welcome rehef from ha rd outdoor

wo rk in h ot w ea the r (Brooks, 1911, pp. 163-4).

Ab out a mo nth after t he cot ton boUs app ear, the cot ton pl an t reach es a

he igh t of two to four feet. Du ring th a t time, the boUs chan ge in color, from

brig ht gree n to da rk brown and they become dry and har d. The boU cracks

open w ith a n aud ible sound and th e cot ton burs ts out into four or five

seg m en ts caUed locks (Brooks, 1911, p. 316; Britto n, 1992, p. 24) (Figu res 2.8-

2.10). Fro m a d istan ce, the open cotton looks like a field of w hite roses

(Brooks, 1911, p. 75) (Figure 2.11).

W hen th e leave s of th e pla nt faU off, t he cotton is ha rv est ed (Figure

2.11). In the nineteenth century, leaves were aUowed to faU off naturalfy when

th e first freeze h it at th e end of October (Brooks, 1911, p. 76). Today, far m ers

spray the cotton crop with defohants to harvest the crop before the first freeze

of the season (National Cotton Association, 1999).

Before th e CivU W ar, a typical acre produced abo ut one bale, or 500

po un ds of cotton hn t (Brooks, 1911, p. 76). By 1909, cotton land h ad become so

overworked, t ha t only 168 poimds pe r acre were produced (Brooks, 1911, p.

296).

  According to th e Un ited S tates D epa rtm en t of AgriciUture's (USDA)

A nn ua l Rep ort of Cotton Ginnings, May 1998, the average yield of cot ton l int

per acre was a record breaking 680 pounds in 1997.

8/17/2019 31295013672232

24/198

Cotton Harvestinfr

Before the invention of mechanical strippers and harvesters in 1917,

cotton w as harv este d by ha nd . Men, women, and chUdren walke d down the

row s of cotton d rag gin g long sacks behin d the m . They woxUd puU the cotton

lint from th e h ard , dried hidls and stuff i t into sacks which hu ng from the ir

shoiUders (Figures 2.12-2.13). These sacks were about ten feet long and

weighed about 50 pounds when fuU (Britton, 1992, p. 24). The typical worker

would pick ab ou t 150 to 200 pou nds of cotton pe r day (Brooks,  1911, p. 164),

M echan ical harv est i ng m ade a major difference in productivi ty and

profitabihty for the cotton farmer (Figure 2.14). Earfy mechanical strippers

ut ih zed two people, a m an to drive the h arve ster, and a boy riding on back to

keep the cot ton flowing smoothly thro ugh th e mecha nism . A m an an d a boy

could ha rv es t five acres a day. Th is resiUt comp ares favorabfy to 10 to 20

people pick ing five acres of cotton by han d (Britton, 1992, p. 101; Brooks, 1911,

p .

  164). Because mechanical strippers were costfy when first introduced,

cotton grow ers wi th sm all farm s could not afford th em . Therefore, they did no t

become popiUar u nt il after W orld W ar II (Britton, 1992, p. 101) (Figures 2.15-

2.16). Altho ugh m igr an t labor is stiU used to keep young cotton plant s weed-

free.

Historv of Cotton

Cot ton grows wUd through out the So uthe m H emisphe re. Scient is t 's

beheve t h a t earfy va riet ie s of cot ton dispersed thro ugh flotation over the ocean

8

8/17/2019 31295013672232

25/198

and by wind or in th e fur of smaU anim als. It adap ted i tself to local ch m ates

untU ne arl y 100 wUd va rie ties developed (B ritton, 1992, p. 1).

Researchers do not know how people first discovered cotton's usefulness.

However, there is evidence that cot ton was bemg cult ivated in Pakistan by

3,000 BCE; since bits of string and woven cloth have been found in excavations

in the Ind us River Valley. The Roman Emp ire imported cot ton prod ucts fix)m

Pa kis tan and Ind ia as luxury goods. The presence of cot ton and cot ton cloth in

the Bahamas was one of the factors that convinced Columbus that he had

found a route to India in 1492 (NFER, 1975, pp. 1-2).

Remains of Indian cotton have also been found at archeological sites in

anc ient N ubi a on the ea st em coast of Afi ica. This site, dat i ng back to 2,500

BCE, indicates that cot tonseeds were used for animal fodder rather than for i ts

fibers to m ake cloth. These si tes indicate widespread knowledge a nd

cultiv ation of cotton in an cien t tim es (B ritton, 1992, p. 1).

The Arab traders who brought Indian cot tons and Chinese si lks to the

Roman Empire apparentfy brought cot ton cul t ivat ion to Egypt and other parts

of N ort h Afirica. The foUowers of M uh am m ad , obeying th eir c om man d to

sprea d th e rehgion, bro ugh t cotton cul t ivat ion to Spain. By 950 CE, Cordoba

ha d become the Eu rop ean center of cot ton cul tivat ion and tra de . According to

Britton (1992), "The word

  cotton

  comes from the Old Spanish

  cotôn

 which in

tum is derived from the Arabic qutun  or qutn'  (p. 4).

8/17/2019 31295013672232

26/198

From Spain cot ton t rade spread throughout Europe by the tenth

centu ry. EventuaU y, Venice became the major cot ton-trading cen ter of Eu rop e.

By the t ime of Columbus, the Portuguese and the Spanish were competing to

break th e Vene t ian monopofy of the Euro pean m arke t by estab hshin g new

trade routes to India .

W hen H ern án Cortés arrived in Mexico m 1519, he found a th rivin g

economy based upo n cotton cxUtivation and expo rt. The Aztecs exported

300,000 bales of cot ton to the M ayans a nd th e Inca s. Pieces of cot ton dat i ng

back to 2,500 BCE have been found at Hu aca P rieta in Pe m . The varie ty used

there had a very long staple or fiber length of  1%  to 2 inches, comparable to

the finest cotton grown today, and a few plants would have provided enough

fiber to clothe an entire famUy (Britton, 1992, p. 5).

The Enghsh tried to estabhsh cot ton as an export crop in the Jamestown

Colony in 1607, but foimd the New England chmate too.harsh for its successful

ciUtivation as an export crop. However, cotton became an important domestic

crop.

  Not xmtU South Carohna and other Southem Colonies were estabhshed

did cotton became a major export crop. In 1793, Samuel Slater stole

mechanical spinning technology from his employer in England and set up a

factory in Rho de Island an d the Am erican TextUe in du st ry took off. W hen

Sla ter died in 1836, his esta te w as valued a t more tha n one mUIion doUars

(Britton, 1992, p. 9).

10

8/17/2019 31295013672232

27/198

The dem and of N ort he m y am and textUe miUs wa s greater tha n the

So uth em pla nte rs could sati sfy given the hm i tat ions of han d labor m the

prod uction of cot ton hn t . The t ime was ripe for the inv ention of the cot ton gin.

Eh Whitney's revolut ionary cot ton engine was invented at the right t ime and

place to forever change the South.

Historv of Cotton in Texas

WUd cotton wa s found grow ing in Texa s by Cabeza de Vaca in 1530. He

repo rted seeing Ind ian s weav ing cot ton for clothing. By 1745, Spa nish

m issi on arie s in S an A ntonio were ciUtivating wUd cotton or "flax wool," as th ey

refe rred to it . Th is cotton was of inferior q ua ht y with a very sh ort stap le of

only

  hs

  to

  Á

in len gth (NFER, 1973, p. 8).

Colonel J. E. Groce, a member of Stephan F. Austin's "original three

hu ndr ed," introd uced Hyb rid variet ies of cot ton to Texas. In 1822, Groce

planted 100 acres in cot ton near the present town of Hempstead in Southeast

Texas. Colonel Groce is considered the "father of the Texas cotton industry."

In 1833, thr ee ye ars before his dea th, he produced a 9,000 bale crop. He buUt

one of the first cotton gins in Texas and started the first Cotton Exchange in

Texas. In 1836, his son, Leonard, buUt the first cotton

 oU

 press in Texas n ea r

Brenham. The oU w as used for lamp s, soap, pain ts, and lubric ants (NFER,

1973,

 p . 9).

In 1849, 58,073 ba les of cotton were produce d in Te xas, an d by 1859,

produc tion ha d increas ed to 431,465 bales. Thirty yea rs later, in 1889,

11

8/17/2019 31295013672232

28/198

production exceeded one milhon bales. By 1920, Texas produced 19.4% of the

worId*s cotton, whUe th e e nt ire Un ited S tate s production w as 62% of the

world's cotton. After 1920, Texas cotton production steadUy dropped xmtil by

1960,

  Tex as pro duc ed only 9.3% of the wo rld's cotton. Th is dechne i n

percentage was caused by a decrease in acreage aUotments by the U.S.

govemment, and an increase in production by foreign countries.

Historv of Cotton Gins

Gin Design Before the Nineteenth Centurv

Th e Hin du s of Ind ia developed the first gin technology to sep ara te fibers

from

  seeds,

  The In di an gin wa s a wooden foot-roUer (Figure 2.17). A worker,

sea ted on a stool , tu m e d the roUer between h is/her feet and a stone; at the

same time, the worker would piUI the fibers into pUes behind the stone and

pu sh the seeds in front of the stone. This method was used in India tmtU the

1940's. According to Britton (1992):

EventuaUy the foot-roUer evolved into the churka gin.

Churka

  is a Sanskrit word, sometimes speUed "jerka," and

describes th e jerkin g motion of the roUers when they are puUing

the fibers away from the seeds; gin  is an abbreviated form of the

eigh teen th-ce ntu ry ter m "cotton engine." (p. 10)

By 1770, th e c hu rka gin had been improved by going from two s mall

hardwood roUers, each one foot long, one the diameter of a dime and the other

a nickel , opera t ing l ike a wrin ger wa sher, to a large r machine w ith grooved

roUers th a t aUowed the ginne r to avoid bending over. The improved c hur ka

12

8/17/2019 31295013672232

29/198

gm w as significantfy faster, i t aUowed the p roduc tion of up to five poimd s of

Im t pe r day ve rsu s one poimd per day with the older chu rka. Production w as

stiU too low to meet the demands of the newly emerged cotton yarn miUs, so

cotton plan ter s be gan to redesign the a ncient gin (Bri tton, 1992, p. 10).

A man named Krebs of PascagoxUa, Mississippi modified the cotton gin

in 1772. Hi s gin produ ced 70 pou nds of hn t per day. The Kreb s gin ha d foot

treadles and grooved iron spindles, set into a frame four feet taU. The next

significant improvement in roUer gins came in 1790 from Dr. Joseph Eve.

Eve's machine had two pairs of roUers, three feet long and 5/8" in diameter,

an d it w as belt driven . Sev eral of the ses gin s coxUd be hn ke d tog eth er an d

powered by horse s or mu les. Eve stated t h at his gin could produce 250 to 300

poimds of cotton per day. Unfortimatefy, this machine left an imdesirable

crimp in the fibers that reduced the sales price of the hnt (Britton, 1992, p. 11).

Slave Labor and Cotton

Agricul tm'al work was hard and di r ty . Imported inden tured serva nts

tend ed to "cancel" the ir contracts by disapp earing into the wU dem ess. To solve

th e problem of th e agricxUtural labor shortage, plan tat io n o wners beg an to

import African and West Indian slaves. The first African slaves sold as

agricul tural workers appeared ia Jamestown in 1621. This pract ice was

just ified in various ways, but w as essentiaUy an act of greed w ithou t

conscience. After 1670, the colonies developed elaborate legal codes that made

13

8/17/2019 31295013672232

30/198

blacks slaves for l i fe and chi ldren inheri ted their mother 's status (Bri t ton,

1992,

 p . 7).

Slaves were not immediatefy put to work in cotton fields, they were first

placed on tobacco plant at io ns, wh ere high profi ts cotUd be mad e. Cotton wa s

not yet an important export crop. Slaves were preferred over indentured

servants because al though the slave cost more, the indentured servant woiUd

leave after four to seven years and the slave remained for hfe, aUowing for a

longer amort izat ion of

 cost.

  Oth er factors the pl an ter s cited to justi fy slavery

included: black women woiUd work in the fields, but white women would not,

blacks would accept lower hving stan dar ds, an d blacks could not move up into

wh ite society. EventuaUy, most pla nte rs came to reah ze tha t they were in

financial bondag e to the ir slaves. There was a t rem end ous financial o bhgation

to feed, clothe, and ho use th e people need ed to work th e soU. Consequentfy,

pla nte rs were always hovering near bankruptcy in the las t decade of the

eig hte en th c entu ry (B ri t ton, 1992, p. 7);

Plant ing, tending, and picking cot ton was backbreaking work, and slave

labor w as th e obvious solution. Sort ing cot ton hn t from seed s wa s also

laborious. A slave coiUd ha nd sort only about one poun d of l int per day, t hu s

cotton production was a year-round endeavor. Even with the improved churka

gin, only five pou nds of hn t per day was produced. Improved ginning

techn ique s, from 1800 onw ard, made cot ton a profi table expo rt crop. The

14

8/17/2019 31295013672232

31/198

importance of slave labor was revived and the future of the Southem economy

w as doom ed to revolve aroxmd the ins t i tut io n of slavery.

Eh Whitnev and the First Successful Mechanical Cotton Gin

In 1793, Eh Whitney, a schoolteacher from Massachuset ts invented the

first successful modem cotton engine. The Whitney gin was the first to

incorpo rate th e concept of carding into the ginn ing process. W hitney claimed

that his gin coiUd produce ten times as much cotton as before, fifty times as

m uch if a hors e wa s used to pow er the gin (Britton, 1992, p. 13) (Figure 2.18).

Whitney's new gin machine had five major parts: the Frame, the

Cylinder, the Breastwork, the Clearer, and the Hopper:

• Th e Fra m e wa s a squa re mad e of har d t imb er for stren gth . It

provided a rigid housing for the moving parts of the cotton gin.

• The C yhnd er wa s wood, six to nine inches in diam eter and two to

five feet long. The surface of th e C yhn der wa s filled wit h teet h m ad e

of common wire, set in ann ul ar rows and spaced far enough ap ar t to

aUow seeds to pa ss thro ug h th em .

• The Breastw ork w as moim ted above and paraUel to the roUer. The

bre astw ork ha d grooves for the tee th of the roUer to pa ss thro ugh .

Th e purpose of th e grooves wa s to sepa rate the cot ton l int from the

cottonseed.

15

8/17/2019 31295013672232

32/198

• Th e Clean er ha d brush es or rows of brist les to sweep the surface of

th e Cyhn der. The Cleaner sepa rated the l int from the Cyhn der. It

rot ate d in th e opposi te direction from the Cylinder.

Seed cot ton wa s fed into the gin throu gh th e Hopper, which h ad a

moveable side that aUowed the operator to adjust the flow of seed cotton into

th e gin for optim al performan ce. The cot ton wa s pu t into the Hopper, c arried

thro ug h the Breastw ork by the teeth of the Cyhnder , bm she d from the teeth

by the C learer a nd sen t flying throug h the C learer by centrifugal force

(Britton, 1992, pp. 13-14). According to Britton (1992); "Legend states that

Whitney saw a cat clawing at a chicken through a slat ted coop and thus

determined to draw the fibers by means of teeth through a series of metal ribs"

(p .

 15).

Th e W hitney cot ton engine was so successful t ha t the ent ire history of

th e S ou th w as forever altere d. In 1792, only 138,000 poim ds of the two miUion

poim ds ha rve ste d w as cleaned and sold to spinning miUs and in 1793, only

63,000 cotton bales were s ent to mar ket . By 1796, 200,000 cotton bales w ere

produ ced for ma rk et in g to spinning mUls. The addition of carding had ma de

the entire cotton crop highly profitable (Britton, 1992, p. 15). In 1819, the year

of the Missouri Compromise, the success of cotton led inevitabfy to the

en tre nc hm en t of slaveiy; which in 1793 had seemed to face ext inct ion.

Altho ugh M r. W hitney's new cotton engine was not large, i t w as too

expensive for ma ny smaU pla nte rs to hav e their own gin. Therefore,

16

8/17/2019 31295013672232

33/198

independent ginners, operat ing on shares, hke flour miUers and lumber miUers

had for cen turie s, sp ran g up ovemig ht . These new busin esses needed a new

buUding form to house th e cot ton engine (gin). B am s, th a t had comfortabfy

housed stored cot ton and workers removing cot tonseeds by hand, did not

accomm odate th e production flow of the new mech anical cot ton ginning

ma chin es. The new mac hines needed to be raised above the are a seeds and

lint were separatefy deposited. According to Britton (1992): "The earhest gins

were housed in single-story buUdings with th e hand -cran ked gins placed on

the main floor, above or adjacent to the hnt blow room (which had access to the

outside), and t he b ase m ent used for packing the cot ton into sacks" (p. 18).

Gin ning Metho ds an d BuUding Req uirem ents from 1800 to 1900

According to Britton (1992), modem gin plant technology faUs "into four

stage s: [1] the invention of the mechan ical gin stand in 1793 , [2] pneu ma tic

handling of bulk seed cotton through a mechanized system (the 1880s), [3] the

shift from m an ua l to mach ine har ves t ing (the 1950s), and [4] the developm ent

of m odu les (the 1970s)" (p. xui). AU of the se inn ova tions h ad an im pac t on th e

design of the cotton gin bmlding.

Prior to the 1880s, the typical gin buUding was ei th er

  l-Y^

 or two s tories

taU. Cotton wa s brou ght to the gin in horse drawn wago ns. The wagon wa s

driven un de r an overhimg wagon shed wh ere the cotton wa s em ptied manualfy

an d hfted onto th e second floor. Seedc otton w as fed by ha nd in to th e gin. The

gin dumped seeds into containers imdemeath i t on the fi rst floor and dumped

17

8/17/2019 31295013672232

34/198

l int m to a se pa ra te two story hn t room for packa ging and balhn g. EventuaUy,

cotton bales were shifted onto a loading dock and placed onto flatbed wagons

for delivery to m ar k et (B ritton, 1992, p 70). (Fig ures 2.19-2.20) C ott on ba le

size and weight were not standardized to the current size and weight of 27 by

54 inches and 500 pounds, untU the 1930's. Bale size and shape varied fix)m

round , to squ are shap es, and w eights of 200 to 750 poun ds, depending upon

the personal preference of the bale press manxifacturer (Britton, 1992, p. 73).

Ginning Methods a nd Bui ld ing Reoui rement s

from 1900 to the Present

By 1900, the cotton wagon was emptied by a "sucker pipe," or telescopic

pn eu m atic han dle r. The cot ton wa s conveyed to the sepa rator, where some

tr as h a nd green boUs were removed from the cot ton. Spiked bel ts carried seed

cotton into feeders and gins stands on the second floor, typicalfy three or four

gin stan ds w ere combined into a gin "system." From the gin stand, cot tonseed

w as carried by a buc ket elevator and distribu ted to the customer's seed bin or

to the ginner 's seed bin. Ginned hnt was pneumaticaUy canied to the bat tery

cond enser an d double-box press, where i t wa s formed into bales (F igures 2.21-

2.22). Ste am en gine s were most commonly used to power the gin. Ste am

eng ines we re usuaUy ho used inside the gin bvdlding and generaUy ha d a l ine

shaft, up to 80 feet in length., that lay upon the ground floor (Britton, 1992, p.

85).

18

8/17/2019 31295013672232

35/198

The Federal (Jovemment took an act ive role in the development of the

cot ton indu st ry, w i th the Uni ted S tates De partm ent of Agricul ture (USDA)

being th e prim ar y agency to intera ct directfy with the growers and ginne rs. In

1925,

 G. S. Meloy, in USDA F arm er's BuUetin No. 1465. recomm ended th at

new co tton gin buUdings be one-story constm ctions with e ar th or concrete

floors. Th is recom me ndation came from two primary reason s: (1) reduce fire

risk, an d (2) the more complex contemporary eqm pm ent n eeded to be movmted

more securefy than in the past , thereby reducing vibrat ion and extending the

hfe of th e e qu ipm en t. (Meloy, 1925, p. 5) (Figure 2.23).

The principle p ar ts of a cot ton gin pla nt in th is era w ere: (1) elevator

(pn eu m atic or belt d riven), (2) cleaner/feeder (consisting of

 boU

 breake rs ,

sep ara tors , an d b eaters ), (3) the gin stand (saw type), (4) air blast gin saw

clea ner, an d (5) bale p res se s (screw, steam , or hyd rauh c) (Meloy, 1925, pp . 5-

17).

  An earfy form of me chan ical drying of seed cotton wa s men tioned by

B en ne tt in (1935). He noted th at i t was becoming a common pract ice for the

ginner to pass his own cotton through the gin feeder overflow before going to

th e gin stan d. Th is pract ice caused the cot ton to be double beat and cleaned,

as a side benefit , th e cotton w as dryer before enterin g the gin stan d. The

result was a much higher grade cot ton that brought a much higher price

(B en ne tt, 1925 , pp . 6-7). Co tton wa s grade d accord ing to: (1) color, (2) sta ple

length, (3) filament diameter, and (4) cleanliness. The principle processes in

th e ginn ing of cot ton m 1925 are shown in Table 2.1 .

19

8/17/2019 31295013672232

36/198

By 1935, Cha rles A. Ben nett , in USDA Farm er's BuUetm No. 1748,

recomm ended instaUing mo dem ginning equipm ent in a fi re resis tant one

story or  l-V^  story buUding due to the highly flammable nature of diy cotton

fibers

  (pp.1-7).

  The re were sev eral types of mac hinery in use in 1935, in

recognit ion of th at fact, th e USDA made process recomm endations in stea d of

specific equ ipm ent recom men dations (Table 2.2). The USDA prin ted a

suggested floorplan for new cotton gins that would accommodate the

equipment they recommended (Figure 2.24). Bennett had developed and

pa ten ted a mech anical dryer for the USDA in 1928 th at woiUd m ark ano ther

cha ng e in the cotton gin buUding form. A dry er tower wa s now needed to

house the new eq uipm ent designed by Benn ett (1935) (Figure 2.25).

"R at proof concrete" flooring w as add ed to the USD A's su ggeste d

m od em izat ion s for cot ton gin buUdings in 1938 (Bennett , 1938, p. 4). Be nn ett

diagrammed suggested arrangements of buUdings and groimds (Figure 2.26).

The preferred cot ton gin btdlding was a one story structu re w ith concrete

floors, 16 feet taU from floor to ceihn g pla te, 40 feet wide a nd 20 to 25 feet lo ng

pe r gin sta nd (Figure 2,27). Recommended buUding features included

structural steel or heavy t imber frame trusses to support block and tackle

loads from the ir lower chords, inchned ra mp s were preferred to steps, and a

crane to raise cotton bales (Bennett, 1938, p. 4).

The recommended ginning equipment was increased to include: (1)

cleaning and extracting equipment, (2) huUer front for cleaning cotton, (3)

20

8/17/2019 31295013672232

37/198

artificial drying equipment, (4) saw shaft gin stands, (5) seed elevators and

conveyors, (6) seed scales, (7) water proof hoppers to drop seeds into wagons,

and (8) me chanic al m ea ns for disposmg of gin t ras h (Benn ett , 1938, p. 2). AU

steel gin stands fi rst appeared in 1930 and were recommended as a fi re

preventat ive measure (Bennett , 1938, pp. 13-14).

Ginning equipment changed dramaticalfy after World War

  11.

  The size

of ginning equipment had increased such that in 1956 the USDA

recom mend ed t h at aU gin biûlding interior heights be increase d to at leas t 24

feet from floor plate to ceihng plate to provide adequate headroom for safety.

The US DA did not chang e th eir 1938 recom me ndations for lot layouts of

ginn ing buildings, bu t they did provide new sugg ested gin buUding designs,

th is tim e o m itting th e two story gin biúlding tjrpe (USDA, 1956, pp . 1-3)

(Figure 2.28). New floorplans w ere provided to facUitate th e layou t of

contem porary gin equ ipm ent (Figures 2.29-2.30).

Modemization suggestions included the addition of: (1) conditioning

apparatus, to add or remove moisture, as needed, (2) redesigned cleaners and

extractors, (3) modem aU metal conveyor systems, (4) new style feeders, (5)

new gin stands, (6) hnt cleaners (considered new and revolutionary), (7) seed

and t ra sh ha nd lers , and (8) newfy developed tras h coUectors and incine rators.

Tr ash incine rat ion w as recomm ended in recognit ion of the groxmd poUution

caused by dum ping gin t ra sh and helped to reduce the sprea ding of pin k boU

worm (USDA, 1956, p. 14) (Figure 2.31).

21

8/17/2019 31295013672232

38/198

The 1970s brought a new concem to cot ton ginners, the Federal Clean

Air Act of 1970 was a pp he d to cotton ginning. Cyclone coUection equ ipm en t for

gin t rash had already become standard gin equipment, however, since trash

incinerators were no longer aUowed after 1975, in-hne filters (to control hnt

and dust emissions) were added to cyclones (Figures 2.32-2.33). Cyclones swirl

th e co tton ar ou nd in a "cyclone" p at te m , aUowing hea vier objects to faU, whUe

hghter objects remain in the air st ream, to continue on in the ginning system.

Gin tr as h w as th en coUected in bu rr hopp ers for proper disposal , which

included its use as a compost material, cattle feed, or top dressing for fields

(USDA, 1977, pp. 80-88) (Figures 2,34-2.35).

The USDA recommended the foUowing gin machinery in 1977: (1) green

boU trap, (2) air-hne cleaner, (3) feed controUer, (4) tower dryer, (5) cyhnder

clean er, (6) stick m ach ine, (7) feeder, (8) saw type gin stand , (9) saw -cyhn der

lin t cleane r, a nd (10) bale p res s (USDA, 1977, p. 101). Ad ditiona l safety

equip me nt an d features recommended included: autom at ic sprinkler systems

(wa ter or chemical), non-combustible bu rr h oppers a nd cyclones, no smo king

signs,

 aU m eta l ma chinery, and non-combustible buUding m ater ials (steel ,

brick, or concrete) (USDA, 1977, p. 107).

USD A Cotton Gin ners Handbo ok No. 503, (1994) states th at most

m od em gins now use two stage s of seed cotton drying and thr ee or four seed

cotton cleane rs an d two l int cleaners to improve hn t qual i ty (p. 4). This

red un dan cy is needed b ecause 99% of US cotton is now mechanicaUy

22

8/17/2019 31295013672232

39/198

harv este d, w hich re su l ts in a product th a t is fuU of t r as h a nd o ther foreign

m at te r . The ginning indus t ry underwe nt two major changes in the ye ars

between 1977 and 1994. The high volume gin stands introduced in the 1950s

have become stand ard and over hal f

  (78%

  in 1998) of cotton gins have

converted to the modxUar system of handling seed cotton. The modiUar system

was first introduced in 1972, but due to its initial cost, i t was slow to replace

the ,  by now, t rad i t ion al pne um atic feeder. The first commercial module-feeder

was instaUed in Seminole, Texas (Southwest of Lubbock, Texas) in 1975

(USDA, 1994, p. 4, 48; National Cotton CouncU [NCC], 2/14/99) (Table 2.3 and

Figu re 2.36). ModtUes can vary in size and length, depe nding upon the module

m anu factu rer, bu t the ap proxim ate size is eight feet high by eight feet wide by

32 feet long, weigh ing ab out 15,000 poim ds of seed cotton (B ritton, 1992, p .

112).

As a resiUt of the changes in ginning technology, the USDA changed its

recommendation for the layout of a gin yard (Figure 2.37). The USDA also

cha nge d i ts floorplan layo ut of a cotton gin to include th e u se of modtUe feede rs

(Figure 2,38). AIso, t ra sh coUection houses und erw ent chan ges. Some stat es

now require th at th ey be enclosed to prev ent wind from blowing tr as h aro und

during unloading operat ions (Figure 2.39). Seed houses tmderwent changes

also,  becoming larger and more rodent proof (Figure 2.40).

The high costs of buUding constmction and equipage of cotton gins along

with increasing production capaci ty, has resul ted in a steady decl ine in the

23

8/17/2019 31295013672232

40/198

nu m be r of cot ton gins aU over the U S, especiaUy in Texa s. In 1900 the re were

29, 214 active gin s in th e U S; in 1997, th ere were onfy 1,153 active g ins

(USDA, 1994, p. 5; USDA Annual Report, 1997) (Table 2.4).

To da ys cot ton gins are computer controUed mo dem factories. Clean,

weU ht, spacio us, an d high ly productive woiUd describe th e typic al gin bxiUt

today. At the T exas Cotton Gin ners ' Associat ion 92"^ An nua l M eeting an d

Cotton Trade Show, held m Lubbock, Texas, April 8 and 9, 1999, the theme

w as "Ginning Into the M UIennium." The exhibi tors included software

com panies and electronics ma nufa cturers m akin g prod ucts to scientificalfy

control the g innin g process, to improve productivi ty an d h nt qua hty.

The modem gin plant has many parts: (1) suct ion command, (2) module

feeder, (3) feed control, (4) tower drier, (5) inclined cleaner, (6) vacuum feeder,

(7) strip pe r, (8) stick m ach ine, (9) vac uum feeder, (10) tow er drie r, (11) inclined

clean er, (12) vac uum feeder, (13) imp act clean er, (14) conveyer dis tribu tor, (15)

extractor feeder, (16) gin stand, (17) centrifugal hnt cleaner, (18)  2"*^

centrifugal lint cleaner, (19) battery condenser, (20) covered hnt shde, (21) up-

pa ck in gp re ss , (22) bale bagging and conveying system, (23) down pac king

press ,

  (24) 2"^ down packin g pre ss, and (25) bale tying sys tem . In add ition, th e

gin facUity reqtd res a ux ihar y sy stem s for seed storage, cotton storage, an d

trash processing (Figure 2.41).

24

8/17/2019 31295013672232

41/198

Summarv nf Ginninpr Methods and BuUding Heauirements

Gmning methods and the buUding forms required have come a long way

since Eh W hitne y inve nted his cot ton gin in 17 93. The buUding needed to

house cot ton gins has t ransmuted over t ime to reflect the equipment housed

w ithin i ts utU itarian stmctiu-e. The cotton gin buUding ha s gone from a smaU,

simple wooden bar n, to a complex individualized s tm ctu re , to a large, simple

aU-metal warehouse s t ructure .

AgriciUtural Pohcies

The US govemment has been very involved in the cot ton industry.

Dinnng the twentieth century, the US Congress has taken an act ive role in

direct ing this important contributor the Gross National Product (GNP). One of

the most involved departments of the Federal govemment is the USDA, which

ha s been extremefy influen tial in the cot ton industry. USDA act ivi ties include

th e desig n of cotton gin equ ipm ent a nd cotton gin buUdings. Dxiring the

1900's, the U SDA issued a num be r of pa m phl ets and booklets aimed at

incr easi ng cot ton production a nd improving cot ton processing. M any of those

pubhcations, such as Farmer's BuUetins and AgriciUture Handbooks, have

been use d in the pre par at io n of this thesis. Bu t USDA involvement in the

cot ton indus t ry did not s top at preparing instm ct ion al pamp hlets . Since 1892,

the y have act ivefy eng aged in resea rch th a t ha s led to signifîcant pa te nt s

affecting nearfy all aspects of the cotton industry.

25

8/17/2019 31295013672232

42/198

In 1930, Congress passed an act , estabhshing addit ional regional

Res earch Gin ning Lab orato ries in M ississippi , New Mexico, Sou th Carolina,

an d Ok laho ma . Res earch ha d begun in 1926 in TaUxUah, Louisiana, w here

Charles A, Bennett developed a tower dryer for damp seed cot ton that became

the in dus t ry s tan da rd. Ben net t ' s tower dryer was 22 feet taU and w as init iaUy

ad de d a s a tow er on th e back of existin g gin buUdings (B ritton, 1992, p . 95)

(Figure 2,25),

Dxuing the depression, there was a 50% decline in the price of cotton in

the U ni ted St ates , In response, Congress created price-support program s an d

later acreage control programs to keep the cot ton industry ahve (NFER, 1989,

p .

  7). In the 1920's and 1930's, gove mm ent prog ram s focussed on domestic

conc em s, to stabihze cot ton prices dm in g the depression. The creat ion of the

United States Commodity Credit Corporat ion (CCC) al lowed the farmer to

extend th e period in which to m arke t agric iUtural products and guaran teed a

m inim um pu rcha se price (NFER, 1989, p. 31). According to NF ER

  (Jhe

Historv of Cotton in Texas, 1989, p. 30), some of the price-support strategies

t r ied by the US G ovem me nt s ince th at t ime include:

• restric t ion s on production,

• rest r ic t ions on ma rket ing,

• Go vem me nt loan and purchase program s,

• export subsidy paym ents ,

• benefit s pay m ents

26

8/17/2019 31295013672232

43/198

• sur plu s disposal program s,

• loan s to foreign gov em me nts for the pu rch ase of US cotton,

• ba rte r wi th other nat ions, and

• the Lend-Lease program .

In 1936, the Bankhead BUI reduced cotton acreage to stabUize cotton

produ ction and to raise prices. The USDA issued production stam ps to

farm ers, wh ich they pr esen ted to gin m an age rs to legalfy get the ir seed cot ton

ginned. The aU otmen ts were based upon the farme r's average jdeld in prior

years .  Since the sta m ps could not be t raced back to the original farmer once

the y were rem oved from th e booklets issued, ther e w as no way to stop black

m ar ke t t radin g. Local ginn ers refixsed to aud it the sta m ps for the gove mm ent,

so the p rog ram w as soon abando ned (Bri t ton, 1992, p. 95).

In mid 1950's, the Texas State Department of Health, the United States

D ep art m en t of He alth , Educa tion, and W elfare, the Biureau of Mines in th e US

Department of Interior, and the USDA conducted joint research that resxUted

in recommending the usage of cyclone trash coUectors and composting gin

trash for use as an inexpensive fertihzer (Britton, 1992, p. 106). This

architectural feature has become synonymous with cot ton gins since that t ime.

The drop in the pe rcentag e of world cotton production in T exas and the

United States from 1920 (Texas, 19.4%; US, 62%) to 1960 (Texas, 9.3%; US,

30.4%) has been at t ributed to a decrease in acreage aUotments by the

27

8/17/2019 31295013672232

44/198

Govemment and an increase in production in the rest of the world (NFER,

1973, p. 11).

Th e Clean A ir Act of

 1963,

  amended in 1970, set minimum emission

standards for cot ton gins (FuUer, Gilhs, PameU, Ramaiyere,

  &

 ChUders, 1997,

p .

  1). The Environ me ntal Protection Agency (EPA) ehm inated t r ash bu m in g

as a poUut ion control me asure. Trash bu m in g had been ear her promoted by

the USD A as m ea ns of controUing the pink boUworm and gene rat ing ene rgy to

rxm gin plants (USDA, 1994, pp. 172, 192). Thus, the distinctive architectural

feature of the '"burr bum er " began to disappe ar (Figure 2.31).

In 1990, new farm legislation encouraged farmers to wisefy use irrigated

lan d by settin g sub sidie s base d upon efficient wa ter usag e. Since cotton

produces the hig hest income per acre/foot of apphe d wa ter th an any other field

crop grown in the US, farmers were financialfy encouraged to increase cotton

production in arid lands such as the South Plains (AUIery, 1995; NCC, 1999).

Federal tax credits for "SoU and Water Conservation Efforts" also contributed

to an increase in arid land cotton production (AiUery, 1995).

The F ed era l Clean Air Act [FCAA] am en dm en ts of 1990 have affected

th e cost of gin pl an t operat ion. New poUution sta nd ard s requiring upg raded

poUution control me asu res ar e expected to contribute to the ant icip ated 1/3

reduction in active cotton gins this decade. Costs associated with gin pla nt

up gra des a re expected to cause smaUer, economicaUy ma rgin al opera t ions to

go out of bu sin es s (FuUer et al., 1997).

28

8/17/2019 31295013672232

45/198

By 19 93, the Texas Air Control Board [TACB] wa s implem enting th e

FCAA in Texas. Cot ton gins emi t suspended part iculate m at ter t ha t i s not

considered a heal th risk, therefore they are regulated imder a nuisance

sta nd ard . How ever, the cost to inst i t ute poUution controls in gin pla nts by

using the Best AvaUable Control Technology [BACT] is considered by many too

costfy for olde r gm p la nt s to imp lem ent (FuUer et al., 1997, p. 2).

Occupational Standards and Health Agency [OSHA], standard 1928.57

regarding safety in cot ton gins, sets guarding requirements for gin equipment

and clearance distances for safe gin operation. This requirement has resxUted

in larger and more spacious gin facihties that are safer for gin workers

(Becker,1999). This regiUation is considered necessary because of the high

number and cost of gin accidents resiUting from the use of old gin equipment

an d open ma chine ry. The Lubbock area ha s a high percen tage of older cot ton

gins and h as th e high est gin accident rate in the US, according to the U SDA

(USDA, 1994, pp . 259-261). Texa s Tech University P rofessor Dr. Lloyd U rb an ,

reminiscing about his own childhood playing in the old gin in Veribest, Texas,

sta ted th at "i t wa s a wonder he stUl ha d aU his body pa rts " (Urban, P erso nal

Communicat ion, March 1999).

The influence of Go vem me nt pohcies and pract ices in the cot ton

in du st ry is aU perv asiv e. It includes every aspect of th e process, from

develop me nt of seed variet ies thro ugh the production of the final product , a nd

into th e m ar ke t in g an d sales of cot ton worldwide. Table 2.4 hsts some of the

29

8/17/2019 31295013672232

46/198

more important Policies and Pract ices that have affected the cot ton industry in

Texas and the US.

BuUding Materials

Cotton gin buUdings in the earfy twe ntieth century w ere usuaUy of

t im be r frame con stmc tion, clad with galvanized sheet me tal . By the 1920's

galvanized metal was accepted as the ideal

 fireproof,

  low cost buUding material

for gin house (Lewis, 1987, p. 17). Earher buUdings generaUy have both

cor m ga ted m eta l waUs an d roofs. As t ime went by, steel framing replaced

timber framing (in the 1950's) and powder coated steel siding replaced

galvanized cormgated metal (in the 1980's). However, the basic formula of

economical constmc tion rem ained unchan ged: cheap, functional, and low

main tenance .

Floors were general ly m ade of wood at the t u m of the c entuiy , bu t w ith

th e ur gin g of th e USDA , most new gins buUt after 1925 ha d concrete floors.

This w as th e resxUt of the U SDA's 1925 recomm endation th at packed e ar th or

concrete woxUd be more fire res ist an t (Meloy, 1925, p. 5). Concrete rem ain s t he

choice of flooring toda y beca use of its low cost an d ea se of ma inte na nc e.

Brick w as not u sed very often as a buUding ma teria l because of i ts

ini t ia l cost and relat ive permanenc e, which made mo demizing and

recon figuring eq m pm en t difficult. W hen a gin w as bvdlt of brick, i t bespoke of

a very prosperous farming commxmity tha t wanted to make a pubhc s ta tem ent

con cem ing i ts promin ence in th e larg er comm imity (Lewis, 1987, p. 18).

30

8/17/2019 31295013672232

47/198

Since gin plants were frequently located in the center of a smaU town

and served a s the c ent ral focus of smaU farming com mun it ies, the USDA gave

advice on how to m ake gin pl an ts look more pres enta ble. In 1956, the USDA's

advice included th e type a nd color of pa in t to use on gin bidld ings, For th e

metal buUdings that were common in the Southwest , they recommended zinc

or alum inu m p ai nts to cool the bidlding. For wooden buUdings, which w ere

stUI in use in the So uthe ast , th ey recomm ended m etaUic oxide pa int s in reds,

brow ns, and greens to preserv e the wood. The USDA also recomm ended the

use of color coordinated composition shingles for wooden stmctures (USDA,

1956,

 p. 37).

Manufacturers of Gin Components

After Eh Whitney patented his mechanical gin, there was an explosion

of gin s tand man ufacturers . Many made improvem ents on W hi tney 's ini t ia l

design, but many manufacturers made unauthorized copies and soon were

forced out of business by the rightful patent owners (Britton, 1992, p. 19).

Th ere were just 14 gin man ufactu rers left by 1890 and they soon

con sohd ated i nto only seven com panies. According to Br itton (1992, pp . 76),

among the 14 were:

1.  Da niel P ra tt Gin Co. (PrattvUIe, AL),

2.

  Eagle Cotton

  Gin

  Co. (Bridgew ater, CT),

3.  Sm ith Sons Gin and Ma chine Co, (Birming ham , AL),

4.

  M im ger Imp roved Cotton M achine Mfg. Co. (DaUas, TX),

31

8/17/2019 31295013672232

48/198

5.

  W inship M achine Co. (Atlanta, GA),

6. No rthing ton- M ung er-P rat t Co. (Birmingh am, AL),

7.  F. H . Lu m m us Sons Co. (Cîolumbus, GA),

8. C ha th am M achine Co. (Bryan, TX),

9. Ca rv er Cotton Gin Co. (Eas t Brid gew ater, MA),

10.

  BiUlet Gin Co. (location unk now n),

11.

  Bro wn Cotton Gin Co. (New London, CT), an d

12.  St ar Fou ndry (locat ion unkn own ).

In 1899, the first six manufactures hsted above merged to form the

Continental Gin Co. At fi rst they continued to manufacture under their old

names, but by 1911, they had consohdated their effbrts under the Prat t and

M ung er com pany na m es (Bri t ton, 1992, p. 76). Ch ath am bu m ed down in

1899 an d wa s not rebuUt (Britton, 1992, p. 57). GiUlet contin ued ope ration s

xmtU 1927 (Bri t ton, 1992, p. 94). Lum mu s changed i ts nam e to the Lu m mu s

Cotton Gin Co. an d moved to DaUas, TX in 1910. Lu mm us issued pa ten t

l icenses to the S tep hen D. M urra y Co. of DaUas, TX in the same yea r.

Today ther e are only thre e cotton gin ma nufa cture rs left ; Co ntinenta l

Eag le Corp. of Prat tviUe, AL (the large st in the w orld), Lu m m us Ind ustri es of

Colum bus, GA, an d Consohd ated Cotton Gin Co. of Lubbock, TX. A lon gth e

way, the Ha rdw icke -Ette r Co. of She rma n, TX and th e Jo hn E. MitcheU Co. of

St . Louis , MO wen t out of business . Hardw icke-Et ter began man ufacturing

cotton gins in the 1920's (Vandergriff, 1997, p. 13). Co ntin en tal Eag le absorb ed

32

8/17/2019 31295013672232

49/198

the Moss-Gordin Co.and Murray Co„ both Texas based companies that were

popular manufacturers m the 1940's (Bri t ton, 1992).

Cotton Gins in Texas

Cotton ginning and cottonseed crushing were important industries in

Texas by the t u m of the c entury. By 1890, Texas led al l other sta tes in the

prod uctio n of cotton . In 1900, Texa s produced 1/3 of the N ation 's cotton crop

and Galveston was the Nation's top cotton port (NFER, 1989, p. 5). Only the

1901 discovery of

 oU

 at S pindletop, near Bea umo nt, TX, ma naged to

overshadow cotton's importance to the state.

Texa s also led the Na tion in the mechanizat ion of the cot ton ind ustry .

M ost m an ua l labor in cotton production was gone by the 1880's. Only weed ing

and harvest ing chores remained after the invention of the mechanical stalk

cutt er an d the m echan ical plan ter (NFER, 1989, p. 5).

There is some dispute over the who buUt the first cotton gin in Texas.

The NF ER cen ter says the first gin was buil t in 1822 by Joh n Cartw right at

Patroon, in Shelby County (NFER, 1989, p. 13). Britton says the first cotton

gin was built in 1822 by Colonel J. E. Groce on his plantation, located between

the Brazos an d Colorado rivers, nea r Hem pstead in WaUer county (Bri t ton,

1992, p. 22), The one certa in thi ng is th at t he Groce famify w as m ore

influential than the Cartwright famUy, the Groce plantat ion encompassed

67,000 acres and used over 100 slaves to grow and process cotton (NFER, 1989,

33

8/17/2019 31295013672232

50/198

p .

  2). In 1836, Leonard Groce, son of

 Col,

  J. E. Groce, buUt the first cottonseed

oU miU m Te xa s (N FE R, 1989, p . 25).

Cotton gins were often the center of social hfe in nu:al Texas, along with

th e ge nera l store, local church an d pubhc school . One extreme exam ple can be

seen in Figure 2.42, where what appears to be the ent ire town is gathered for a

com mu nity ba ptism (Bri t ton, 1992, p. 53). In the past , i t took nearfy aU yea r

to process a single season's harvest . M odem gins only ru n about two m on ths

out of the year. To maintain a steady income today, local gins seU fertihzer,

insecticid es, herbicides, hvestock feed, and fuel for ma chi nes . The local cotton

gin is stUI a major cen ter of activity for farm ing c om mu nities, se rving a s a

clearing house for crop condit ions, Government progr am information and othe r

agriciUtural concems (NFER, 1989, p. 13).

Gin biUIdings in Texas b m lt before 1900 tend ed to be wood frame

constmction with metal roofs (Figures 2.43-2.45). After 1900, most new gins

adde d galvanized c orm gate d m etal siding (Figure 2.46). Mo st of the original

gins in Texas have been lost to neglect and m odem izat ion. One of the oldest

gins left in Texas, the Bu rton Fa rm ers G in Association gin, wa s restored and

tu m e d into a cot ton m use um in 1986 (Bri t ton, 1992, pp. 85, 124). The B urto n

gin is a two-story gin, constmcted of cormgated galvanized iron, buUt in 1914,

and most of i ts eqmpment came from the Lummus Cotton Gin Co. (Figure

2.47).

34

8/17/2019 31295013672232

51/198

An e ven older exam ple of a cotton gin exists on the cam pus of Texas

Tech University (TTU). It is a wooden two-story, mule-powered cotton gin,

w ith an im us ua l indoor mule-powered bale pres s. It was bml t in Tyler, Texas

in 1875 by Sam uel A. Goodman, Jr. In 1961, the gin wa s donated to the T exas

Tech Mu seu m by the he irs of i ts buUder. The gin wa s restored in 1977 an d

dedicated a s a mem orial to En nis E. Moss, Sr. , the T exas mven tor of the Moss

l int cleane r (TTU, 1977). However, due to neglect, this historic st m ct ur e is

seriousfy in da ng er of being lost. It shoiUd be restored a gain a nd placed a s a n

exhibi t in the R anch ing Heri ta ge Center at TTU (Figures 2,48-2.49),

Cotton Gins in the Lubbock Region

The oldest gin built in the Lubbock area was the Caprock gin btUIt in

1904 somew here in L ubbock Coxmty. The "Cap," as it w as afíectionatefy

known, was initiaUy buUt of

 wood,

  but was covered with galvanized,

co rm gat ed iron in 1906. The Cap used aU the late st eqiUpment, such as

pneu ma t ic suct ion pipes and a s team engine powered by bu m in g gin t ras h.

Unfortunatefy, the exact location of this stm ctu re is unknow n today (Bri t ton,

1992, p . 62).

Ex am inatio n of exist ing cotton gins in the Lubbock region indica tes th at

m eta l buUdings are th e m ost common. Only one example of a brick buUding

w as found an d only one wooden buUding w as discovered (Figm-e 2.50). A

detaUed anafysis of Lubbock area cotton gins appe ars in Ch apte r IV of th is

thes is .

35

8/17/2019 31295013672232

52/198

Des pite th e u rgin g of the USDA, since 1925, to add landsca ping to

cotton gin plants, Lubbock area gins appear to have ignored this aesthet ic

considerat ion . Only one gin pl an t was found to have evidence of landscap ing,

and that was confined to a small area of shrubbery, near the door of its office

binlding (Figure 2,51).

Cotton gin ning wa s so im por tant t ha t Texas boasted of hav ing four gin

manufacturers in 1860, today, one of the three remaining manufacturers is

ba sed in Lubbock, TX (Britton, 1992, p. 33).

Summarv

Gins were often abandoned when new technology appeared or when

major t ransportat ion routes disappeared or relocated. Because few people

appreciate the loss of industrial buUdings, we are quickly losing the oldest gins

th a t are so dist inct ive in the ru ra l landscape. M odem gins tend to be simple,

rect ihnear stmctures that no longer accurately reflect the shapes of the

eqm pm ent housed inside them. They tend to be large open warehou ses th at

can be qmckly ad ap te d to ne we r technologies (Figures 2.52- 2,53). We shoiUd

document representat ive examples of the remaining bmidings to avoid losing

connection with our ctUtural heri tage.

36

8/17/2019 31295013672232

53/198

Table 2 ,1, Pro cesse s involved in th e gin ning of cot ton, 1925.

Process

Diagram of Process

H A R V E S T I N G

Hand

picked

Harvesfing

Machlne

ptckcd

S n a p p e d S l e d d e d

C O N D I T I O N I N G

^.---''^ Conditioning ^^"'•"^--^

S + o r e d

D a m p

1 D i r e c t -to g î n

D r y

O a m p

Ory

Machine

d r i e d

^ f ^ Coiton gin telescope [ ^

Mechanlcal sy5+ema of íse dln ^ Pneumatic systems of fe ed în ^

PR EC LE AN IN G , ^ Special processes of - X ,

t ing j I

r y Í n g '

  C lean ing

E i t ract i

A i r - l ne c tea

n ng j

P R E F E E D I N G

Separator

Speciai processes o f - ^ y

D r y î n í C l e a n î n g C x t r a ct l ng |

I Mechaoica l d is t rîbu- top Pneum at c d î s t r Íb uto r |

F E E D I N G

B i ^ - d r u m

f e e d e r

Gin sjand cieaning feeders

Muitî*drum

feeder

Sm«ll-drum

feeder

Smalt-drum

feeder with

frontorrear

attachment

Front

  or

incl ined

apron

f e e d e r

Flat or

basket

f e « d « r

Unit

ejrt ractor

c l c a n e r

f e e d e r

G I N N I N G

Brush gins

Plain or

s Íng íe

r lbs

tíulle r with

s in^ le

r ibs

HulUr mth

double

r i b s

Aip-biast gins ^' 'N .

Plaîn or

s in^ la

r i b s

HulUrw th

s in^ le

r ibs

Huller w th

double

r i b s

D I S P O S A L

L i n t f l u e

C o n d e n s e r

T r a m p e r

6 a l e p r e s s

Source: Meloy, USDA Farmer's Bullet in No. 1748: Ginning Cotton.

1925.

37

8/17/2019 31295013672232

54/198

Table 2,2. Major cot ton ginning developments.

Period

B.

  C.

1794

1796

1800-1820

1834

1884-1900

1914

1900-1950

1931

1947-1951

Development

Churka g in

Mechanical gin

Continuous-flow gin

Screw presses

Mechanical feeder

Pn eum at ic seed cotton

hand l i ng

Mechanical sled

harves t e r

Seed cot ton cleaners

Seed cotton dryer

Lánt cleaners

Inventor(s)

India

El i Whi tney

Henry Ogden Holmes

Alex Jones

Farmer near Lubbock, TX

Charles A. Bennet t

Eugene Brooks,

1972

Modular seed cot ton

hand l i ng

Victor Stedronsky, and

Charles Shaw

Lambert Wilkes and

J. K. Jones

Source: USDA Ag ricul tura l Handboo k N o. 503: Cot ton Ginner ' s

Handbook, 1994.

38

8/17/2019 31295013672232

55/198

Table 2.3. U. S, and Texas cot ton gin stat ist ics.

Year

1919/20

1940

1960

1970

1980

1997

US

18,440

11,650

5,395

3,750

2,254

1,153

Active Gins

Ref.)

A

A

A

A

A

A

Texas

4,113

2,995

1,450

1,065

900

360

Ref.)

C

C

C

C

D

B

Source:

  (A )

 USDA Agricul tu ral H andbook No. 503: Cot ton Ginner ' s

Handbook. 1994;

(B) USDA censu data for 1997;

(C) Natural Fibers Economic Research,

150 Ye ars of Cotton in T exas. 197 3; and

(D) NFIC, The Historv of Cotton in Texas. 1989.

39

8/17/2019 31295013672232

56/198

Table 2 .4: Go vernm ent agric ul tura l poHcies and pract ices

Ye ar Policy/Pract ice Source

1897 H. J. W ebb er conducted cot ton bree ding (2) p. 78

experiments for the USDA.

1909 The USD A establ i she d nine grading s tan da rds (2) p . 90

for cotton.

1914 The U S Cotton Fu tu re s Act requ ired the use of (5) p. 11

official Govemment cot ton standards for futures

t rad ing .

1918 The USD A set cot ton staple sta nd ar ds . (2) p. 90

1930 Co ngress pas sed an act to estab l ish add it iona l (2) p. 95

regional Research Ginning Laboratories in

Mississippi , New Mexico, South CaroKna, and

Oklahoma.

1932 The N ati on al Recovery Act requ ired gin (2) p. 95

m anu factu rers to organize formally into an

ind ust ry to e l imin ate compet i tive pr ic ing.

1933 The A gric ul tu ral Ad justm ent Act , which extend ed (5) p. 31

into th e 1960's, set "pari ty" prices based upon

prices between 1910 to 1914. Pari ty prices were

abandoned because they did not respond to

global m ark et in g condi t ions.

1936 The B an kh ea d Bil l reduc ed cotton acreage to (2) p. 95

stabi l ize cot ton production and raise prices.

1939 Tex as esta bl is hed a cash aw ard for any Texan (5) p. 14

who invented or developed something that

increased cot ton consumpt ion by

300,000 bales a year.

40

8/17/2019 31295013672232

57/198

Table 2 .4 . C ont inue d.

Yea r Policy/Pract ice Source

1942 Th e loan va lue of cot ton wa s set by US classin g (2) p . 97

offices in each region.

1942 The US DA encou raged me chan izat ion of th e (2) p. 99

cot ton indu st ry to ma ke US cot ton m ore

compet it ive in in t e ma t ion a l m arke t s .

1950's In mid 1950's, th e Texas St ate D ep art m en t of (2) p. 106

He al th , t he US Dep ar tmen t of Hea l th ,

Edu cat ion, and W elfare, the Bure au of M ines

in the US Department of Inter ior , and the

USDA conducted joint research th at res idted in

recomm ending th e usag e of cyclone t ra sh

coUectors and composting gin t r as h for use as

an inexpensive fert i l izer.

1954 PubHc Law 480: The Ag ricul tu ral Tr ad e (5) p. 31-2

Dev elopm ent an d Assistance Act of 1954,

created a program to st imvdate exports by

guaranteeing agricul ture loans to foreigners .

1958 Th e USD A sta nd ard ize d cot ton-grad ing (2) p . 90

procedures to assure uniform cotton grading.

1963 Th e USD A st ar te d M icronaire (staple fineness) (5) p. 15

test ing for US cotton.

1963 Th e Cle an Air Act of 1963, am en de d in 1970, (4) p. 1

set minimum emission s tandards for cot ton gins.

1965 Th e Food an d Ag ricu lture Act of 1965 set pric e (5) p . 3

supports as a percentage of world prices.

Farmers were ofíered diversion payments to place

acreage into approved conservat ion uses.

41

8/17/2019 31295013672232

58/198

Table 2 .4 . Cont inued.

Year Policy/Pract ice Source

1966 Con gress pa sse d th e Cotton Rese arch an d (5) p . 16

Prom otion Act an d bega n coUecting $1 pe r b ale

produced from growers to fund the program.

1968 Th e US DA sta rte d cot ton fiber stre ng th tes t ing . (5) p. 16

1970 As a poUution control m eas ure , the (7) p. 172

En vir on m en tal Protect ion Agency (EPA) & p. 192.

eUminated t rash buming, which earUer

been earUer promoted by the USDA as a

m ea ns of controUing th e pink boUworm.

1977 Th e Food an d Ag ricul tu ral Act of 1977 set targ et (5) p . 33

prices based upon the cost of production.

Tar gete d prices lagged behind inf la tion and

histo rical actu al costs of production did not

adequately reflect current production costs,

therefore, farm income continued to faU unti l 1981.

1983 A pay me nt- in-kin d program was in efíect. Fa rm ers (5) p . 33

were pai d wi th su rplu s cot ton if they reduced

the i r acreag e by 20% throug h the CCC prog ram .

1985 Th e Food Se cur ity Act of 1985 w as desig ned to (5) p . 33

imp rove the comp eti t iveness of US cotton. It

differed from the 1977 program in that the

Secretary of Agrici i l ture was given the authori ty

to ma ke an nu al ad jus tment s to the program .

1990 Th e Fe de ra l Clean Air Act (FCAA) am en dm en ts (3) abs

of 1990 affected the cost of gin plant operation

by requiring upgraded poUution control devices.

1993 Th e Tex as Air Control Boa rd (TACB) wa s (4) p . 2

assign ed to imp lem ent th e FCAA in Te xas.

42

8/17/2019 31295013672232

59/198

Table 2.4. Conti i iued.

Sources:

(1) Ail lery, M arcel P. "Fed eral Comm odity Pro gra ms an d

R et u m s to Irr igat io n in the West." Economic Research

Service, staffpaper AGE-9502, Wash. D.C.:USDA,

March 1995. Abst ract .

(2) Br i t to n, K ar en G erh ard t . Bale o'Cotton: The M echanical

A rt of Cotton Gin ning . CoUege Stat io n, TX: Texas A& M

Universi ty Press , 1992.

(3) Fu ller, Ste ph en , MeU ainie GiUis, Calvin Pa m eU ,

Anantha Ramaiyere, and Roy ChUder. "Effects

of Investment in Air PoUution Controls on Financial

Per form anc e of Tex as Cotton G ins: A Sim ulat ion Analysis."

Depar tmenta l Tprh imcal Renor t

  97-1.

  Prep ared for Texas

Agricvdtural Exp erim ent Stat ion - De partm ent of

Ag ricu l ture Economics. CoUege Stat io n, TX: Texas A&M

Un iversi ty Pre ss , 1997. Abst ract .

(4) FuU er, et al. FuU tex t artic le.

(5) Tex as N at ur al fibers Economic Res earch . The Historv of

Cotton in Tex as. Aust in, TX: Un iversi ty of Texa s Press , 1989.

(6) N ati on al Cotton CouncU. "From Field to Fabric." On line.

Intemet. Feb. 14, 1999. AvaUable:

http://cotton.rd.net/ncc/pubUc/ncc/fiId2f.htm

(7) USD A Ag ricu l ture Han dboo k No. 503 : Cotton Gin ner 's

Ha nd boo k. W ash . D.C.: USDA, 1994.

43

http://cotton.rd.net/ncc/pubUc/ncc/fiId2f.htmhttp://cotton.rd.net/ncc/pubUc/ncc/fiId2f.htm

8/17/2019 31295013672232

60/198

Figure 2 .1. P low type cot ton plan ter, ca. 1880. T his pla nte r aUowed one

man to plant eight acres a day, work that would have taken 10 to

15 people before the Civil War.

Source: Brooks, The Story of Cotton, 1911.

Figure 2.2. Riding cot ton planter, ca. 1900. This single row planter was

puUed by a horse.

Source: Britton, Bale o^Cotton, 1992.

44

8/17/2019 31295013672232

61/198

Figure 2.3. Cottonseed directly from a cotton boU.

Source; Texas A&M, "Flora images". On-line. April 25,1999.

• " ^

4 \ t %

Figure 2.4. Cottonseed sold by seed speciaHsts.

Source: Howe, "UNRC Management Pract ices . . . ," Cotton Farming

Management. Nov/Dec 1998.

45

8/17/2019 31295013672232

62/198

Figure 2.5. Cotton seedhngs.

Source: Gamble, "SeedUng Protect ion Grows Healthier Stands," Cotton

Farming Management , Nov/Dec 1998.

Figure 2.6. Young cotton plant .

Source: Bayer advert isement in, Cotton Farming, Apri l 1999.

46

8/17/2019 31295013672232

63/198

Figure 2.7. Cotton flowers.

Sourc e: Nat ion al Cotton C ouncil, "Cotton Images." On-l ine. Apri l 25, 1999.

47

8/17/2019 31295013672232

64/198

Figure 2.8. Cotton ready for picking.

Source: Brook s, The S toi^ of Cotton, 1911.

Fig ure 2.9. Close-up of cotton boU.

Source: Lat ta Plantat ion, "Cotton Images." On-Une. Apri l 25, 1999.

48

8/17/2019 31295013672232

65/198

Figure 2 .10 . Cot ton locks .

So u rce : T ex as A &M , "F l o ra Imag e s , " O n -U n e , A p r i l 2 5 , 1 9 9 9 .

F i g u re 2 .1 1 . Co t t o n f î e l d r ead y fo r h a rv es t i n g .

S o u r c e : N a t i o n a l C o t t o n A s s o c i a t i o n a d v e r t i s e m e n t , C o t t o n F a r m i n g

M a n a g e m e n t . N o v / D e c 1 9 9 8 .

49

8/17/2019 31295013672232

66/198

Fi g u re 2 .1 2 . W o rk e r s p i ck i n g an d s ack i n g co t t o n b y h an d .

Source : Brooks , The Sto ry o f Cot ton , 1911 .

F i g u re 2 .1 3 . W o rk e r s w e i g h i n g i n t h e i r co t t o n "p i ck i n g s " fo r t h e d ay .

So u rce : Bro o k s , T h e S t o ry o f Co t t o n , 1 9 1 1 .

50

8/17/2019 31295013672232

67/198

Figure 2.14. Experimental mechanical cot ton harvester, ca. 1917.

Source: Bri t ton, Bale o'Cotton. 1992.

51

8/17/2019 31295013672232

68/198

F i g u r e 2 . 1 5 . S t r i p p e r h a r v e s t i n g .

So u rce : Smi t h , "Co t t o n P ro d u c t i o n W i t h a T w i s t , " Co t t o n Fa rmi n g

M a n a g e m e n t . N o v / D e c 1 9 9 8 .

F i g u r e 2 . 1 6 . H a r v e s t i n g c o t t o n w i t h a m o d e r n m e c h a n i c a l s t r i p p e r .

S o u r c e : S m i t h , " E q u i p m e n t T e c h n o l o g y E v o l v e s , " C o t t o n F a r m i n g

M a n a g e m e n t , N o v / D e c 1 9 9 8 .