By Patterson H.R. No. 368 75R9102 JTR-D 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.