R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
1-2 welcome the descendants of Charles B. and John V. Farwell as they
1-3 visit the Capitol Complex on April 16, 1997, to view the XIT Ranch
1-4 exhibit; and
1-5 WHEREAS, This significant display chronicles one of the more
1-6 intriguing stories in the history of the Lone Star State, the 1882
1-7 transfer of three million acres of state land holdings to an
1-8 investment firm headed by Chicago's Farwell brothers in exchange
1-9 for the construction of a new Capitol building; and
1-10 WHEREAS, The seeds of this agreement, which set aside the
1-11 huge expanse of untamed Panhandle territory for sale or trade, were
1-12 planted in the Texas Constitution of 1875; when the former Capitol
1-13 was destroyed by fire on November 9, 1881, an offer was extended to
1-14 a number of investment firms across the country and was eventually
1-15 accepted by the Farwells' syndicate in 1882; and
1-16 WHEREAS, The Capitol was completed on April 20, 1888, and the
1-17 result was a monument truly worthy of the citizens of the Union's
1-18 largest state; during the six years of construction, the investment
1-19 group introduced cattle to its newly fenced property and, in the
1-20 process, created the largest fenced cattle ranch in the world,
1-21 christened the "XIT Ranch"; and
1-22 WHEREAS, This transaction resulted in the construction of one
1-23 of the world's most striking buildings and also helped bring law
1-24 and order to the Texas Panhandle; in 1963, the last of the XIT
2-1 lands were sold, ending nearly 80 years of ownership by the
2-2 "Capitol Syndicate"; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Among the descendants of these gentlemen in
2-4 attendance today are Reginald de Koven Hudson and his wife, Joan
2-5 Hudson, Lucia Winston Heyworth, Vaughan C. Spalding, and Kathleen
2-6 Spalding; other relations who have already visited the exhibit
2-7 include William Montague Ferry, Nancy Ferry Hinds, and Deborah
2-8 Smith Haight and her husband, John McV. Haight, Jr.; and
2-9 WHEREAS, By helping to commemorate the XIT Ranch exhibit, the
2-10 descendants of Charles B. and John V. Farwell have further
2-11 preserved the legacy of both their forebears and the Lone Star
2-12 State, and this act of historical recognition adds yet another
2-13 interesting chapter to the saga of this land we call Texas; now,
2-14 therefore, be it
2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-16 Legislature hereby welcome the descendants of Charles B. and John
2-17 V. Farwell to the State Capitol and extend to them warmest best
2-18 wishes for continued happiness in the future; and, be it further
2-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-20 prepared for these individuals as an expression of high regard by
2-21 the Texas House of Representatives.
Chisum
Swinford
Smithee
Laney
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. 622 was adopted by the House on April
16, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House