R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The recent Capitol restoration project uncovered a
1-2 century-old artesian well on the southeast grounds of the Capitol,
1-3 and this rediscovery of a unique piece of our statehouse's grand
1-4 history is truly deserving of special recognition; and
1-5 WHEREAS, For many years after its completion in 1890, the
1-6 well served as a critical source of water for the Capitol,
1-7 providing drinking water for weary guests and serving as a
1-8 reliable irrigation source for the Capitol grounds; a grotto and at
1-9 least one other artificial pond were fed by the spring, and its
1-10 water was also used to power the building's hydraulic lifts that
1-11 preceded modern elevators; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Tapping into the Trinity aquifer, the well was part
1-13 of what geologists refer to as "the artesian epoch" in Texas
1-14 history, a period during the late 19th century when hundreds of
1-15 such wells were drilled throughout the state; the Capitol's
1-16 artesian well was such a success that the state was able to stop
1-17 purchasing water from Austin's City Water Company for a time, and
1-18 until the completion of Lake Travis in the 1930s, the Capitol well
1-19 provided much-needed potable water to Austin residents when
1-20 droughts or floods compromised the city's public water supply; and
1-21 WHEREAS, Because of its high mineral content, the well
1-22 yielded drinking water that was a bit too stout and sulphurous for
1-23 refined tastes, but many hailed the potent drink as a medicinal
1-24 wonder; in addition, the well enabled scientists to monitor the
2-1 water level and quality of the Trinity aquifer, which feeds the
2-2 growing areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, Waco, and the Texas Hill
2-3 Country; and
2-4 WHEREAS, Unfortunately, this lost piece of Capitol history
2-5 was discovered too late for inclusion in the recent restoration
2-6 project, but the State Preservation Board, at the urging of
2-7 interested hydrogeologists, citizens, and legislators, has fitted
2-8 the well with a temporary cap to permit future restoration; such a
2-9 project would greatly enhance the extensive work that has been done
2-10 on the Capitol grounds, and future visitors may well have the
2-11 opportunity to drink from the well that played such a pivotal role
2-12 in the development of this great building; now, therefore, be it
2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-14 Legislature hereby recognize the historical significance of the
2-15 artesian well on the southeast grounds of the Capitol.
Danburg
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. 1317 was adopted by the House on June
1, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House