SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 383

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
join Texans across the state in recognizing March 20, 2003, as 
Chisholm Trail Day at the State Capitol; and

	WHEREAS, The Chisholm Trail is one of the most widely 
recognized trails in the history of Texas and the United States; 
it represents an important period in the development of the 
cattle industry in Texas that helped the state to recover after 
the Civil War; and

	WHEREAS, The Longhorn was a hardy breed of livestock 
descended from Spanish Andalusian cattle brought to Texas by 
early 16th century explorers; after Spain abandoned the area in 
the early 1800s and after the Texas Revolution, the cattle were 
left to roam free and grew into the millions; and

	WHEREAS, Worth two dollars a head in Texas, the cattle 
brought 10 times as much in the North, where railroads led to 
meatpacking centers in the East; eventually millions of cattle 
were herded out of Texas in one of the greatest migrations of 
animals ever known; and

	WHEREAS, Many tributary routes from South and Central Texas 
entered a main cattle drive stream that surged north toward 
Austin, Waco, and Fort Worth before crossing the Red River; while 
many Texas trails headed north, the Chisholm Trail became the 
first and best known major cattle trail to the Kansas railheads 
after the Civil War; today, much of its route parallels the 
Interstate 35 corridor; and

	WHEREAS, Fort Worth, which has long been known as 
"Cowtown", is located on what was the Chisholm Trail routes; the 
city offers visitors the opportunity to see a daily cattle drive 
in the historic Stockyards, features a large mural honoring the 
Chisholm Trail in Sundance Square, and is home to the Cattle 
Raisers Museum, the Fort Worth Stock Show, the Red Steagall 
Cowboy Gathering, and other attractions and events honoring
our Texas livestock heritage; and

	WHEREAS, The story of the Chisholm Trail epitomizes a 
unique period in Texas and United States history and gave rise to 
the cowboy legend commemorated through books, songs, stories, 
and mythical tales; to help educate future generations and 
encourage economic development through heritage tourism, the 
Texas Historical Commission published a new brochure in 2002, 
"The Chisholm Trail:  Exploring the Folklore and Legacy"; now, 
therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, hereby express appreciation to the Texas 
Historical Commission and other state agencies and to local 
governments, museums, historic sites, and community groups for 
their efforts in keeping alive the memory of the Chisholm Trail 
and declare March 20, 2003, Chisholm Trail Day at the State 
Capitol; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as a 
memento of this occasion.
                                                                          Nelson




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 20, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate