R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Cotton Day at the Capitol will be celebrated on
1-2 March 18, 1997, in recognition of the important role the crop has
1-3 played and continues to play in the economy of our state; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Cotton has earned its title of "King" in Texas for
1-5 more than a century; since 1880, Texas has led all other states in
1-6 cotton production, and the annual cotton harvest is approximately
1-7 one-fourth of the total production in the United States; and
1-8 WHEREAS, This bountiful crop was first cultivated by the
1-9 Spanish missionaries in San Antonio as early as 1745, when it was
1-10 reported that several thousand pounds were produced annually; and
1-11 WHEREAS, Anglo-American colonists began cultivating cotton in
1-12 1821 when Stephen F. Austin brought families to settle on the
1-13 fertile soil between the Trinity and Brazos rivers; and
1-14 WHEREAS, New areas for cotton production were opened as the
1-15 Indian tribes were pushed westward by an ever-expanding population
1-16 of settlers; the introduction of barbed wire and the building of
1-17 railroads increased the industry further; cotton-growing spread to
1-18 the plains and the prairies of the Panhandle by 1908 as irrigation
1-19 brought much-needed water to the regions; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Grown exclusively for its fiber in the beginning,
1-21 cotton has become a versatile plant whose seeds are used for
1-22 cooking oils, livestock feed, and cleansing products, as well as
1-23 for various other products made from their linters, hulls, and
1-24 meats; and
2-1 WHEREAS, Since 1987, the annual cotton crop has averaged 4.51
2-2 million bales; the total value of upland and pima lint cotton
2-3 produced in Texas in 1996 was $1,421,366,000, and cottonseed value
2-4 in 1996 was $238,290,000; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Texas exports much of its cotton to all parts of the
2-6 world with major buyers located in Japan and South Korea; cotton
2-7 continues to be a major source of income for our state, and Texas
2-8 remains an important supplier of cotton products for the world;
2-9 now, therefore, be it
2-10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-11 Legislature hereby recognize March 18, 1997, as Cotton Day at the
2-12 Capitol and extend to all those associated with the cotton
2-13 industry sincere best wishes for continued success in the future;
2-14 and, be it further
2-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-16 prepared for representatives of the cotton industry as an
2-17 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Patterson
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. 368 was adopted by the House on March
18, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House