1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 331 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in 1-4 recognizing March 6, 2001, as Cotton Day at the State Capitol 1-5 to honor the significant role cotton has played in the economic 1-6 history of Texas; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Cotton farming began in Texas as early as 1745, 1-8 and was practiced by Spanish missionaries living around present-day 1-9 San Antonio; later, Anglo-American colonists who traveled to Texas 1-10 with Stephen F. Austin would begin cultivating cotton on their 1-11 settlements between the Trinity and Brazos rivers; and 1-12 WHEREAS, In the late 1850s and early 1860s, a sharp rise 1-13 in cotton production occurred when new areas for planting were 1-14 opened with the westward push of Texas settlers; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Several developments aided cotton production in 1-16 West Texas, an arid region devoted to ranching; inventions 1-17 like barbed wire, along with the expansion of the railroad and 1-18 improved methods of irrigation, allowed cotton to be grown in 1-19 the plains and the prairies of the Panhandle by the early 20th 1-20 century; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Because of its pervasiveness, cotton earned the 2-1 title of "King" in Texas; today, cotton is still King in Texas, 2-2 with its annual cotton harvest accounting for approximately 2-3 one-quarter of the nation's total cotton production; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Since 1991, the annual cotton crop in Texas has 2-5 averaged 4.40 million bales; the total value of upland and 2-6 pima lint cotton produced in Texas in 1999 was $1,022,238,000, 2-7 and cottonseed value in 1999 was $158,960,000; and 2-8 WHEREAS, In this new millennium, uses for cotton are ever 2-9 increasing; in addition to its fiber for cloth, cottonseeds 2-10 are now used for cooking oils, livestock feed, and cleansing 2-11 products, as well as for various other products made from 2-12 its linters, hulls, and meats; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Texas is a major supplier of cotton for not only 2-14 the United States, but for the world; major buyers of Texas cotton 2-15 are located in Asia and in Mexico; and 2-16 WHEREAS, The state is especially proud of its tradition 2-17 of cotton growth and production; cotton is a versatile crop which 2-18 affords thousands of Texans their livelihood, and all those men 2-19 and women associated with its production are truly deserving of 2-20 legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas hereby 2-22 designate March 6, 2001, as Cotton Day at the Capitol and 2-23 extend a warm welcome to all those associated with the cotton 3-1 industry who will visit Austin on this day; and, be it further 3-2 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-3 the cotton industry as an expression of appreciation from 3-4 the Texas Senate. 3-5 Lucio 3-6 ______________________________________ 3-7 President of the Senate 3-8 I hereby certify that the above 3-9 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-10 on March 6, 2001. 3-11 ______________________________________ 3-12 Secretary of the Senate 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 Member, Texas Senate