By: Armbrister S.R. No. 291 1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride 1-4 in recognizing the City of Columbus, the oldest surveyed and 1-5 platted Anglo-American town in Texas, which will celebrate 1-6 its terquasquicentennial, the 175th anniversary, on 1-7 May 14 through 17, 1998; and 1-8 WHEREAS, This historic community, located at the site of 1-9 an earlier Indian village called Montezuma, was settled in 1823 1-10 by members of the "Old Three Hundred," the pioneers who received 1-11 land grants in Stephen F. Austin's first colony; and 1-12 WHEREAS, In August, 1823, Stephen F. Austin, assisted by 1-13 Baron de Bastrop and Rawson Alley, surveyed 170 acres eight miles 1-14 above the Atascosito Crossing; this site was to be the capital 1-15 of the colony, but Stephen F. Austin, presumably influenced by 1-16 the frequency of Indian raids and a desire for a more centrally 1-17 situated capital, abandoned the location and selected a similar 1-18 spot on the Brazos River; the original site remained a small 1-19 hamlet known as Beason's Ferry, and the hardy inhabitants of 1-20 that early settlement reportedly adopted the present name of 1-21 Columbus in 1835, on the suggestion of a former resident of 1-22 Columbus, Ohio; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Many of the community's residents distinguished 2-1 themselves in the Texas War of Independence, and the town was 2-2 burned by Sam Houston's army in 1836 during the "Runaway Scrape" 2-3 to prevent its use by the Mexican forces; after the victory at 2-4 San Jacinto, Columbus was resettled, and the new townsite was 2-5 platted in 1837; and 2-6 WHEREAS, In the pre-Civil War days, Columbus emerged as 2-7 a prominent commercial center; cotton and other products were 2-8 shipped out aboard steamships and barges which navigated the 2-9 Colorado River; the railroad arrived in 1860, and the city 2-10 subsequently became an important processing point for Texas 2-11 cattle; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Throughout its long and illustrious history, 2-13 the City of Columbus has been one of the most distinguished and 2-14 responsible communities in the state; today, Columbus is enjoying 2-15 an era of renewed growth and prosperity, and the future indeed 2-16 appears bright to its optimistic and industrious citizens; and 2-17 WHEREAS, To honor the city's 175th anniversary appropriately, 2-18 its proud citizens are sponsoring a grand and festive celebration 2-19 from May 14 through May 17, 1998; numerous activities are scheduled 2-20 to entertain and delight the many local citizens and visitors who 2-21 will attend this historical terquasquicentennial celebration; and 2-22 WHEREAS, During the past 175 years, the City of Columbus 2-23 has contributed immensely to the growth and progress of the 2-24 State of Texas, and its reputation as a warm and friendly city is 2-25 richly deserved and a great credit to the state; and 3-1 WHEREAS, It is appropriate that the citizens of Columbus 3-2 be commended on their successful efforts in building one of 3-3 Texas' finest municipalities and that the City of Columbus be 3-4 congratulated on the celebration of its terquasquicentennial 3-5 anniversary; now, therefore, be it 3-6 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-7 75th Legislature, hereby commemorate the establishment of the 3-8 City of Columbus by members of Stephen F. Austin's original 3-9 colony in 1823; and, be it further 3-10 RESOLVED, That official copies of this Resolution be 3-11 prepared for the City of Columbus as an expression of the pride 3-12 and high regard of the Texas Senate. 3-13 ____________________________________ 3-14 President of the Senate 3-15 I hereby certify that the above 3-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-17 on March 6, 1997. 3-18 ____________________________________ 3-19 Secretary of the Senate 3-20 ____________________________________ 3-21 Member, Texas Senate