R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, One of the more intriguing chapters in the history
1-2 of the State of Texas involves the construction of the current
1-3 State Capitol and the origin of the legendary XIT Ranch; and
1-4 WHEREAS, When the previous Capitol was destroyed by fire on
1-5 November 9, 1881, a special legislative session was called to
1-6 develop a plan for erecting a new building; lacking sufficient
1-7 liquid capital, the legislature opted to encourage potential
1-8 investors with a portion of the state's vast land holdings in
1-9 exchange for the development and construction of an edifice worthy
1-10 of the citizens of Texas; and
1-11 WHEREAS, A Chicago investment group accepted the state's
1-12 proposal and took possession of more than three million acres of
1-13 prime Texas Panhandle land encompassing parts of 10 counties; the
1-14 10 members of the "Capitol Syndicate" christened the land the XIT
1-15 Ranch, a name popularly believed to stand for "Ten in Texas," and
1-16 soon drove in the first herd of cattle; and
1-17 WHEREAS, The XIT Ranch was hailed as the biggest ranch ever,
1-18 and its existence was largely responsible for Texas' worldwide
1-19 reputation as a cattle empire; at its height, the ranch maintained
1-20 150,000 head of cattle and was criss-crossed with more than 1,500
1-21 miles of barbed wire; and
1-22 WHEREAS, The construction of the Capitol began in early 1882
1-23 and was completed on April 20, 1888, at a cost of nearly $3.75
1-24 million; the state assumed more than $500,000 of this expense and,
2-1 in effect, received just more than one dollar an acre for the
2-2 Panhandle tract, at least twice as much as the asking price for
2-3 land at that time; and
2-4 WHEREAS, Although seeking outside investment aid would not
2-5 have been unprecedented, the sheer enormity of this bold move did
2-6 help to secure Texas' fame as a daring and iconoclastic state set
2-7 on distinguishing itself from the rest of the union; the Texas
2-8 State Capitol remains the tallest building of its kind in the
2-9 nation, and its fascinating history has made generations of Texans
2-10 proud; now, therefore, be it
2-11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-12 Legislature hereby commemorate the opening of the XIT Ranch exhibit
2-13 in the Capitol Complex Visitors' Center and recognize the vital
2-14 role this Panhandle expanse has played in the construction of the
2-15 State Capitol.
Chisum
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 227 was adopted by the House on
February 25, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House