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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For 34 million years, the ancient granite formation |
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known as Hueco Tanks has brooded over the high desert basin of far |
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West Texas, and the Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site |
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preserves and protects this unique piece of Lone Star history and |
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geology; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated 30 miles east of El Paso, these three |
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massive red hills rise 450 feet above the desert floor; the name |
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hueco, Spanish for "hollow," comes from the countless depressions |
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in the stone that hold rainwater for months at a time; for |
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centuries, this was often the only water to be found between the |
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Pecos and the Rio Grande; and |
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WHEREAS, Human beings have been visiting Hueco Tanks for |
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10,000 years, and occasionally people have even lived there, in |
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small wattle-and-daub structures; in more recent times, the tanks |
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were used by the Mescalero and Lipan Apaches, the Jumanos, the |
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Comanches, the Kiowas, and the Tiguas, and the site is rich in |
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ancient pictographs and petroglyphs; and |
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WHEREAS, The Butterfield Overland Mail set up a stagecoach |
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station at the tanks in 1858, and for many years the land formed |
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part of a ranch belonging to the Escontrias family; in the |
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mid-1960s, Hueco Tanks became an El Paso County park, and in 1969, |
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the county deeded the tanks to Texas Parks and Wildlife; in 1971, |
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the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places; and |
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WHEREAS, Abounding in wildlife, archaeological sites, and |
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fascinating geological formations, Hueco Tanks is an invaluable |
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resource for scientists and historians, as well as a favorite |
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destination for hikers, birders, and rock climbers, and the |
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preservation of this natural treasure as a state park represents |
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the continuing commitment of the people of Texas to their rich |
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heritage; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the lasting cultural and historical |
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significance of Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site and extend |
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to the park's staff sincere best wishes for continued success in |
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their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |