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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Brewster County are gathering at |
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the State Capitol today to celebrate Brewster County Day; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, the |
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striking landscape of Brewster County incorporates mountains, |
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desert, grasslands, and forest, which are rich with wildlife such |
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as pronghorn antelope, white-tail deer, bighorn sheep, mountain |
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lions, black bears, and coyotes; and |
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WHEREAS, The region was first inhabited by nomadic hunters |
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9,000 years ago, and people began growing crops there 1,000 years |
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ago; the first Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century, but |
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the rugged terrain discouraged permanent settlement until after the |
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Civil War, when the arrival of the railroad and the presence of the |
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U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers enabled the rise of cattle |
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ranching; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1887, Brewster County is the largest |
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county in Texas, nearly as large as the states of Connecticut and |
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Rhode Island put together; the discovery of mercury in 1884 touched |
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off a mining boom, and by the early 20th century, the Chisos Mining |
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Company was producing 20 percent of the mercury in the nation; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the cattle industry, education, and tourism |
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are essential to the county's economy and culture; situated in the |
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county seat of Alpine, Sul Ross State University offers students a |
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wide range of bachelor's and master's degree programs, as well as a |
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low student-to-teacher ratio; Big Bend National Park features |
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spectacular mountain, desert, and riverine landscapes and attracts |
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up to 350,000 visitors a year, and the Terlingua International |
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Chili Championship, which is held every November, draws competitors |
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from across the state and nation; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Brewster County are justifiably |
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proud of their region's great natural beauty, its rich history, and |
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its unique place in the story of the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize Brewster County Day at the State |
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Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes |
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for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |