1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 397
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure
 1-4     in joining the residents of Van Zandt County, including the
 1-5     gifted and talented students from Wills Point Junior High School,
 1-6     their principal and advisors, the Van Zandt County Choir, and
 1-7     Van Zandt County and city elected officials in declaring Tuesday,
 1-8     March 16, 1999, as Van Zandt County Day; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Van Zandt County was carved out of Henderson County
1-10     and was created by an enactment of the Texas Legislature on
1-11     March 20, 1948; the county was named in honor of Isaac Van Zandt,
1-12     an early pioneer who was a candidate for Governor of Texas, but
1-13     was stricken by yellow fever and died in 1847; and
1-14           WHEREAS, The two largest towns in the county are Wills Point
1-15     and Canton; Wills Point was mapped out in 1873 and originally
1-16     named Iola and later named Wills Point after William Wills; the
1-17     Wills Cabin has been preserved and is now being moved to a
1-18     permanent park; Wills Point is considered the Bluebird Capitol
1-19     of Texas and is host for the Bluebird Festival in April; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Canton was mapped out in 1850 and was incorporated
1-21     in 1919; it is the county seat and is home of the world-famous
1-22     First Monday Trade Days, one of the largest outdoor flea markets
1-23     in the world; First Monday Trade Days allows Canton to have the
1-24     lowest tax rate in the county; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Other towns include Edom, Edgewood, Van, Fruitvale,
 2-2     and Grand Saline; Edom, one of the county's oldest towns, was
 2-3     established in 1856 and is known for the annual Edom Art Fair,
 2-4     its active historical society and its civic theater; Edgewood was
 2-5     established in 1878 and is known for its Edgewood Heritage Park
 2-6     Historical Village; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Van was established in 1891 and is noted for its oil
 2-8     fields and for the Van Area Museum of Oil and Natural History;
 2-9     Grand Saline, the first county seat and post office, was
2-10     established in 1873 and is known for Morton Salt and its salt
2-11     mine; it is home to the only building made completely of salt,
2-12     the Grand Saline Salt Palace; and
2-13           WHEREAS, Van Zandt County has a population of over 40,000
2-14     and its economy is based on oil, tourism, and agribusinesses; most
2-15     of the county's annual income is from cattle, hogs, and dairy
2-16     products; it is a major hay, blueberry, and sweet potato producer;
2-17     the county is fortunate to have the Sabine and Neches rivers and is
2-18     home to Purtis Creek State Park; and
2-19           WHEREAS, Van Zandt County is becoming known for its dedication
2-20     to uniting the people and communities of the county through the
2-21     works of the Council of Van Zandt County Communities in sharing
2-22     calendars of events, supporting countywide activities including,
2-23     but not limited to, the Van Zandt County Fair and Parade, the East
2-24     Texas State Fair, and the Van Zandt County Relay for Life, and
2-25     especially sponsoring the legislative year visit to Austin through
2-26     Van Zandt County Day focusing on legislation affecting citizens of
 3-1     Van Zandt County; now, therefore, be it
 3-2           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 3-3     76th Legislature, hereby express appreciation to the people
 3-4     of Van Zandt County for the county's many amenities and its
 3-5     contributions to our state and extend best wishes for a joyous
 3-6     Van Zandt County Day; and, be it further
 3-7           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared
 3-8     for the Van Zandt County delegation as an expression of high regard
 3-9     from the Texas Senate.
3-10                                                    Cain
3-11           Armbrister           Harris              Ogden
3-12           Barrientos           Haywood             Ratliff
3-13           Bernsen              Jackson             Shapiro
3-14           Bivins               Lindsay             Shapleigh
3-15           Brown                Lucio               Sibley
3-16           Carona               Luna                Truan
3-17           Duncan               Madla               Wentworth
3-18           Ellis                Moncrief            West
3-19           Fraser               Nelson              Whitmire
3-20           Gallegos             Nixon               Zaffirini
3-21                       Perry, President of the Senate
3-22                                  ______________________________________
3-23                                          President of the Senate
3-24                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-25                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-26                                  on March 16, 1999.
3-27                                  ______________________________________
3-28                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-29                                  ______________________________________
3-30                                           Member, Texas Senate