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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Cotton has ranked as one of the most important crops |
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in Texas for a century and a half, and in 1997, the 75th Legislature |
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named it the official fiber and fabric of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Introduced to Texas by Spanish missionaries, cotton |
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soared in production between 1850 and 1900, when it reached more |
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than 3.4 million bales; contributing to the expansion were the |
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opening of new lands for cultivation, the extension of the |
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railroad, and the influx of thousands of immigrants from the Deep |
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South and from Europe; and |
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas has been the home of a number of |
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major innovations in the cotton industry; Robert S. Munger |
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developed an automated system ginning process in Mexia in 1884, and |
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in 1980 the country's first high-volume instrument cotton-classing |
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office opened in Lamesa; and |
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WHEREAS, Approximately one-third of all the cotton harvested |
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in the United States is grown in Texas, and the state usually ranks |
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first among all the states in cotton production; and |
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WHEREAS, The history of Texas cannot be told without taking |
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into account the enormous role that cotton has played in the |
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development of the state, and the crop continues to provide the |
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livelihood of thousands of Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 3, 2009, as Cotton Day at the |
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State Capitol and extend to all those associated with the industry |
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and who are present here today sincere best wishes for an enjoyable |
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and memorable visit. |