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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Austin are celebrating one of the |
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city's distinctive features on May 3, 2017, with the observance of |
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Moonlight Tower Day; and |
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WHEREAS, In the late 19th century, various designs of |
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electrical moonlight towers were erected in cities across the |
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globe, including Detroit, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, |
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and London; Austin civic leaders, looking to light the city's |
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streets with power from the newly completed Great Granite Dam, |
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contracted with the Fort Wayne Electric Company to construct |
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moonlight towers around the city; and |
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WHEREAS, The company built 31 towers in 1894 and 1895, all 165 |
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feet tall with six carbon arc lamps mounted at the top; each tower |
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was guaranteed to provide enough light to read a watch within a |
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1,500-foot radius of the structure; the first tower was assembled |
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in the newly established Hyde Park subdivision, and the others were |
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strategically placed to illuminate as much of the city as possible; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, nearly half of the towers have |
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been lost to storms, accidents, and development, but 17 of them |
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continue to stand and to provide the city with light; officially |
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designated as state archaeological landmarks in 1970 and added to |
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the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, they were |
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prominently featured in the popular film Dazed and Confused, and |
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one of the structures serves as the pivotal center of the annual |
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Zilker Holiday Tree; and |
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WHEREAS, In commemoration of the centennial of the |
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installation of the towers, Austin Energy, the municipal electric |
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utility company, thoroughly restored the remaining towers in 1993 |
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at a cost of $1.3 million; with extraordinary care and expertise, |
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the company continues to keep the structures fully operational, |
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adding to the unique spirit of the city; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Austin is the only city in the world to |
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feature moonlight towers, which provide a vital link to the rich |
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history of the community, and it is truly fitting that a day be set |
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aside to pay tribute to these iconic local landmarks; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 3, 2017, as Moonlight Tower Day |
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and encourage residents in Austin and across the Lone Star State to |
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celebrate this unique element of the Capital City. |