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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is pleased to |
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join the citizens of Brewster County and Texans across the state in |
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celebrating Brewster County Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, |
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Brewster County is the largest county in Texas and is home to Big |
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Bend National Park, the largest park in the state; the county was |
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established in 1887, when it was carved from Presidio County, and |
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its county seat is Alpine, home to Sul Ross State University; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of the Spanish expeditions of the 16th |
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century were the first Europeans to explore the area; the county's |
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rugged, mountainous terrain discouraged settlement until after the |
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Civil War, when the development of the cattle industry and the |
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arrival of the railroads, along with the presence of the United |
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States Army, made the area safe and profitable for settlers; and |
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WHEREAS, In the late 19th century, the discovery of mercury |
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touched off a mining boom in the county, and by 1905, the Chisos |
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Mining Company was supplying 20 percent of the nation's mercury; |
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the burgeoning cattle industry, along with the production of |
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mercury, formed the backbone of the area's economy for many years; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Today, with Big Bend National Park drawing more than |
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250,000 visitors annually, Brewster County serves as a prime |
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tourist destination; in addition, chili cooks and citizens from |
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around the state and nation arrive each fall to participate in the |
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World Championship Chili Cookoff in Terlingua; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Brewster County are rightly proud of |
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the county's beauty, its rich history, and its many contributions |
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to our state; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby commend the citizens of Brewster County for |
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preserving the county's many amenities and extend to the county's |
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delegation a sincere welcome to Austin for Brewster County Day at |
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the State Capitol; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the |
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citizens of Brewster County as an expression of esteem from the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |