R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The cultural, historical, and economic contributions 1-2 of Orange County are of singular importance to the State of Texas 1-3 and on January 25, 1999, a delegation of proud citizens from this 1-4 distinguished county will be in Austin to celebrate their county's 1-5 rich legacy to the state; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Clovis points and spearheads provide proof that even 1-7 12,000 to 15,000 years ago, human endeavor was carving a niche for 1-8 history out of the river bottoms and cypress swamps where the 1-9 Sabine River meets the Gulf of Mexico; the Atakapan Indians left 1-10 little behind but burial mounds, stone weapons, and the shell 1-11 remains of their homes, yet they were among the first to settle and 1-12 prosper in this corner of Southeast Texas; and 1-13 WHEREAS, The years of competing French and Spanish claims 1-14 over territory in the area created a constant back-and-forth flow 1-15 of trappers, surveyors, soldiers, and settlers whose allegiances 1-16 often shifted as easily as the tides; when the waters cleared, 1-17 Texas had joined the United States, and in 1852 Orange County was 1-18 partitioned, with the county seat of Madison renamed Orange 1-19 following the town's incorporation in 1858; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Despite early uncertainty, residents of the area had 1-21 proved themselves to be highly resourceful and successful: river 1-22 traffic up and down the Sabine regularly hauled cotton and produce 1-23 grown in the rich soil, area forests provided a wealth of timber 1-24 for lumber and shipbuilding, and general mercantilism and industry 2-1 promised sustained growth and fortune despite the looming Civil 2-2 War; and 2-3 WHEREAS, While the war years were grim, the prospects of 2-4 Orange County recovered during Reconstruction as a restored Union 2-5 whetted its appetite for commerce; expanded railroad networks, 2-6 continued timber operations, and the increasingly important port 2-7 activities of the area all served to fill county coffers; and 2-8 WHEREAS, The discovery of oil in 1913 ushered in a new era 2-9 for the county, as manufacturing, refining, population, and profits 2-10 all soared; in 1916, port facilities were expanded and the 2-11 Sabine-Neches Waterway was dredged from Sabine Lake through Sabine 2-12 Pass and into the Gulf of Mexico, inviting further expansion of the 2-13 oil and chemical industries and providing the Port of Orange with 2-14 deep water operations; and 2-15 WHEREAS, World War II renewed the vigor and growth of Orange 2-16 County, and the economic prosperity fueled by wartime need 2-17 continued through the post-war boom as shipbuilding reached new 2-18 heights; DuPont, Allied, Spencer, Firestone, and Goodrich-Gulf all 2-19 opened plants in the area, and local farms produced citrus, rice, 2-20 cotton, peas, soybeans, vegetables, nursery stock, cattle, and 2-21 crayfish for consumers across the state; and 2-22 WHEREAS, Today, Orange County stands as one of Texas' most 2-23 forward-looking regions; from the top of the 177-foot high Rainbow 2-24 Bridge over the Neches River and the canebrakes below, to Chemical 2-25 Row, an extraordinary miles-long run of steel, glass, catwalks, and 2-26 flames, Orange County is indeed special to Texas and to Texans; and 2-27 WHEREAS, The constant increase in tourists and traffic along 3-1 the I-10 corridor between Texas and Louisiana has prompted the 3-2 Texas Department of Transportation to build a Texas Travel 3-3 Information Center in the area, and the new Tony Houseman State 3-4 Park and Wildlife Management Area is a definite draw to tourists 3-5 and residents alike, further guaranteeing the vitality and future 3-6 potential of beautiful and historic Orange County; now, therefore, 3-7 be it 3-8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 3-9 Legislature hereby recognize the many contributions of Orange 3-10 County and its citizens to the State of Texas and that January 25, 3-11 1999, be declared Orange County Day at the Capitol as a special 3-12 tribute to one of Texas' finest counties; and, be it further 3-13 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-14 prepared for prominent display in Orange County as a commemoration 3-15 of this grand day and as an expression of highest regard by the 3-16 Texas House of Representatives. Lewis of Orange _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 25 was adopted by the House on January 25, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House