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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On June 1, 2007, Garza County and the city of Post |
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are celebrating their centennial; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated along the Caprock Escarpment at the edge of |
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the Llano Estacado, this rugged country drained by tributaries of |
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the Brazos River was first inhabited by nomadic hunters; from 1700 |
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to the 1870s it was home to the Kiowa and the Comanche and was |
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settled by ranchers in the mid-1870s; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1906 the cereal manufacturer Charles William Post |
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bought about 200,000 acres in order to start an experimental |
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community under the aegis of the Double U Company; in 1907 the town |
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of Post City was founded, as the company laid out streets, built |
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houses, and planted trees, and the Algerita Hotel, a gin, and a |
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textile plant were constructed; that same year Garza County was |
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formally organized, with Post City as the county seat; and |
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WHEREAS, C. W. Post's agricultural experiments included his |
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famous "rain battles," during which explosives were fired from |
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towers and kites along the edge of the Caprock in an attempt to |
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provoke rainfall for the growing of grain; while little corn or |
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wheat was ever grown in the county, it did become an important |
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center for cotton; and |
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WHEREAS, The discovery of oil and gas in the 1920s helped to |
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stabilize and diversify the county's economy, and today the county |
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depends upon a combination of ranching, cotton, and oil and gas |
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production; and |
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WHEREAS, Today Post delights visitors and residents alike |
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with its friendly, small-town atmosphere and the restored historic |
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buildings of its picturesque main street; the Algerita Art Center |
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features work by area artists in the restored hotel, and the Garza |
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County Museum explores the lives of ranchers, cowboys, and early |
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settlers through room settings and displays of memorabilia; |
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situated in one of C. W. Post's original buildings, the O. S. Ranch |
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Museum houses rotating displays of art and artifacts collected by |
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the owners of the O. S. Ranch, including Fabergé eggs and Waterford |
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and Lalique crystal; and |
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WHEREAS, Other attractions include the Old Mill Trade Days |
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marketplace on the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of each month |
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and the renovated Garza Theatre, one of the first movie theaters in |
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West Texas; additionally, vistas of cliffs and canyons along the |
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Caprock Escarpment can be viewed from scenic highway F.M. 669; and |
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WHEREAS, The city of Post and Garza County have a colorful |
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history that is truly worth celebrating, and it is fitting that |
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special recognition be given to this unique region of the Lone Star |
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State on its 100th birthday; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Post and Garza County on their |
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centennial and extend best wishes to their citizens for a fine |
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birthday celebration; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for Post and Garza County as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Heflin |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1679 was adopted by the House on May |
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11, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |