By Hawley H.R. No. 361 77R7600 MW-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes pride in 1-2 recognizing March 6, 2001, as Cotton Day at the State Capitol in 1-3 honor of the significant role cotton has played in the history and 1-4 economy of our state; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Cotton was grown in Texas by the Spanish 1-6 missionaries in San Antonio as early as 1745 and was grown by 1-7 Anglo-American colonists when Stephen F. Austin brought families to 1-8 settle between the Trinity and Brazos rivers; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Since 1880, Texas has led all other states in cotton 1-10 production; with the Lone Star State producing approximately 1-11 one-fourth of the total production in the United States, cotton has 1-12 indeed earned its title of "King" in Texas; and 1-13 WHEREAS, In the late 1850s and early 1860s, a sharp rise in 1-14 cotton production occurred as settlers pushed westward; the 1-15 introduction of barbed wire and the building of railroads increased 1-16 the industry, and by 1908, cotton was grown in the plains and 1-17 prairies of the Panhandle when irrigation brought water to the 1-18 area; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Cotton remains the main cash crop of Texas, and 1-20 since 1991, the state has averaged 4.40 million bales per year; the 1-21 total value of upland and pima lint cotton produced in Texas in 1-22 1999 was $1,022,238,000, and cottonseed value that same year was 1-23 $158,960,000; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Originally grown for its fiber, cotton has become a 2-1 versatile plant; its seeds are used for cooking oils, livestock 2-2 feed, and cleansing products, and various other products are made 2-3 from its linters, hulls, and meats; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Texas remains an important supplier of cotton 2-5 products for the world, with major buyers located in Asian 2-6 countries and our neighboring Mexico; now, therefore, be it 2-7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-8 Legislature hereby recognize March 6, 2001, as Cotton Day at the 2-9 State Capitol and honor all those associated with the cotton 2-10 industry in our state.