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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas has customarily recognized a |
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variety of official symbols as tangible representations of the |
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state's culture and history; and |
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WHEREAS, The precious metal silver has played a prominent |
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role in the story of the Lone Star State, and it continues to be a |
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visible part of Texas culture, reflecting the enduring influence of |
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Spanish colonial design and the western heritage that is so much a |
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part of the state's lore; and |
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WHEREAS, Silver has been mined in Texas for more than three |
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centuries, beginning shortly after the Spanish established their |
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first permanent settlements in the area in the late 1600s; the first |
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mines were founded by Franciscan friars who dug for silver deposits |
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near El Paso, and these same sites were worked periodically for the |
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next 200 years; and |
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WHEREAS, In the late 1800s, prospectors began exploring other |
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parts of West Texas, with figures such as John W. Spencer, Samuel B. |
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Buckley, Lieutenant John L. Bullis, and Colonel William R. Shafter |
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focusing their efforts on Presidio County; this led to the opening |
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of the Shafter Mining District, which was the site of the famous |
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Presidio Mine; operated between 1884 and 1947, it produced more |
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than 90 percent of all the silver that has ever been mined in Texas |
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and became a prominent business that spurred greater development in |
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the Big Bend region; and |
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WHEREAS, Other mining districts in the state also yielded |
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silver; Hudspeth and Culberson Counties were home to the Van |
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Horn-Allamoore and the Plata Verde Districts, and Hudspeth County |
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also contained the Quitman Mountains District; in addition, |
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Brewster County was the site of the Altuda Mountain District, and |
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mining took place at locations in Llano, Mason, and Gillespie |
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Counties in the Hill Country; in total, Texas mines yielded more |
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than 33 million fine ounces of silver, which had a value of nearly |
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$23.5 million, between 1885 and 1952; the manual labor of carving |
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these riches from the rocks fell to a hardy group of miners who, in |
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true Texan fashion, used their skill and determination to complete |
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a difficult and dangerous job; and |
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WHEREAS, Most mining came to an end in the 1950s, but interest |
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in harvesting the state's silver deposits continues; 20 million |
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troy ounces of the metal are believed to still remain in the Shafter |
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Mining District, and resources of this kind may prove profitable |
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given silver's widespread use in commercial and industrial |
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applications, where it plays a role in everything from photography |
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to coin making, x-rays, water treatment, and electronics; and |
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WHEREAS, Jewelry makers and other artisans also rely on this |
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precious metal, and the stately sheen of silver is a key element in |
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beautiful stylistic designs, both rustic and refined, that can be |
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seen throughout Texas; in belt buckles, tie clasps, and boot |
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decorations, it is a staple of the western-wear fashions that |
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harken back to the state's pioneer past; moreover, silver's rich, |
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pure luster also makes it a favorite material for religious jewelry |
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and other devotional objects, as well as any item or decoration that |
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may benefit from its luxurious, glittering hues; and |
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WHEREAS, In both its historical and economic significance and |
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its enduring connections to Texas imagery and culture, silver is a |
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fitting symbol for the state and its people, and it is indeed |
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appropriate that this metal receive special legislative |
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recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate silver as the official precious metal of Texas. |