H.R. No. 266



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Pittsburg are in Austin 
today, February 19, 2003, to celebrate Pittsburg Day at the State 
Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, The county seat of Camp County, Pittsburg is also 
the oldest city in the county; the town was officially named in 
honor of the family of William Harrison Pitts when the post office 
was established in 1855, and the loose confederation of farmers and 
traders who inhabited the area began to settle in earnest; and
	WHEREAS, With the arrival of railroads in northeast Texas 
during the 1870s, Pittsburg residents found themselves at the 
crossroads of two rail lines; the East Line and Red River Railroad 
ran east-west tracks and the Texas and St. Louis Railway ran 
north-south, with Pittsburg at the heart of a bustling new shipping 
and supply network; and
	WHEREAS, Rail connections and abundant timber in the area 
generated a prosperous commodity exchange, and soon the town was 
filled with sawmills, builders, and shopkeepers; the local 
newspaper, the Pittsburg Gazette, began publication in 1884 and has 
documented the town's successful course through the years ever 
since; and
	WHEREAS, Today, Pittsburg continues to enjoy a steady economy 
based on agriculture, lumber, and light manufacturing; much of the 
land surrounding the town is still thickly forested, and the area 
offers some of the best bass lakes in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, In the old Cotton Belt Railroad depot, the Northeast 
Texas Rural Heritage Center & Museum exhibits a variety of historic 
photos and artifacts, including the Ezekiel Airship, a replica of 
what purportedly is the first flying machine; a walk among the 
vintage buildings downtown gives eloquent testimony to the charm 
and grace of the past, which Pittsburg has preserved so well; and
	WHEREAS, The residents of Pittsburg can reflect on their 
community's history with great pride, and they can look forward 
with great expectations to what will undoubtedly be a bright 
future; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2003, as Pittsburg Day at 
the State Capitol and extend to its residents sincere best wishes 
for success and happiness in the future.

                                                                          Hughes

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 266 was adopted by the House on 
February 19, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House