By Smith                                             H.C.R. No. 171

         75R9028 JHS-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The citizens of Euless will devote three days to

 1-2     planting trees in their city during the annual "Arbor Daze"

 1-3     festival on April 18-20, 1997, and this display of community spirit

 1-4     is indeed deserving of special legislative recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The tradition of Arbor Day dates back to 1872, when

 1-6     Nebraska pioneer J. Sterling Morton proposed that a special day be

 1-7     set aside for the planting of trees; as a result of that proposal,

 1-8     more than one million trees were planted on the once-barren

 1-9     Nebraska plains, and today Arbor Day is observed throughout the

1-10     nation and the world; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Trees produce oxygen, provide habitat for wildlife,

1-12     and provide shade that moderates temperatures and can cut cooling

1-13     costs; they reduce erosion of mineral-rich topsoil and are a

1-14     renewable resource for paper and wood products; and

1-15           WHEREAS, For 125 years, the citizens of Euless have eagerly

1-16     taken part in this annual observance, and their active

1-17     participation has led to national renown for the city's "Arbor

1-18     Daze" festival; moreover, the National Arbor Day Foundation has

1-19     recognized Euless as a Tree City USA, a distinction that means a

1-20     great deal to these public-spirited Texans; and

1-21           WHEREAS, The citizens of Euless are justifiably proud of this

1-22     longstanding and well-known tribute to trees, and the members of

1-23     this chamber are pleased to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of

1-24     these individuals and their commitment to the proliferation of

 2-1     trees in the Euless community; now, therefore, be it

 2-2           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-3     hereby recognize April 18-20, 1997, as "Arbor Daze" in Euless and

 2-4     extend sincere best wishes to the citizens of this fine city for

 2-5     their continued support of this vital effort.