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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Brewster County are gathering at |
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| 6 | 7 | | the State Capitol today to celebrate Brewster County Day; and |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Located in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, the |
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| 8 | 9 | | striking landscape of Brewster County incorporates mountains, |
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| 9 | 10 | | desert, grasslands, and forest, which are rich with wildlife such |
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| 10 | 11 | | as pronghorn antelope, white-tail deer, bighorn sheep, mountain |
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| 11 | 12 | | lions, black bears, and coyotes; and |
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| 12 | 13 | | WHEREAS, The region was first inhabited by nomadic hunters |
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| 13 | 14 | | 9,000 years ago, and people began growing crops there 1,000 years |
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| 14 | 15 | | ago; the first Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century, but |
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| 15 | 16 | | the rugged terrain discouraged permanent settlement until after the |
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| 16 | 17 | | Civil War, when the arrival of the railroad and the presence of the |
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| 17 | 18 | | U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers enabled the rise of cattle |
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| 18 | 19 | | ranching; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Established in 1887, Brewster County is the largest |
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| 20 | 21 | | county in Texas, nearly as large as the states of Connecticut and |
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| 21 | 22 | | Rhode Island put together; the discovery of mercury in 1884 touched |
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| 22 | 23 | | off a mining boom, and by the early 20th century, the Chisos Mining |
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| 23 | 24 | | Company was producing 20 percent of the mercury in the nation; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Today, the cattle industry, education, and tourism |
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| 25 | 26 | | are essential to the county's economy and culture; situated in the |
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| 26 | 27 | | county seat of Alpine, Sul Ross State University offers students a |
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| 27 | 28 | | wide range of bachelor's and master's degree programs, as well as a |
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| 28 | 29 | | low student-to-teacher ratio; Big Bend National Park features |
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| 29 | 30 | | spectacular mountain, desert, and riverine landscapes and attracts |
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| 30 | 31 | | up to 350,000 visitors a year, and the Terlingua International |
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| 31 | 32 | | Chili Championship, which is held every November, draws competitors |
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| 32 | 33 | | from across the state and nation; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, The citizens of Brewster County are justifiably |
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| 34 | 35 | | proud of their region's great natural beauty, its rich history, and |
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| 35 | 36 | | its unique place in the story of the Lone Star State; now, |
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| 36 | 37 | | therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby recognize Brewster County Day at the State |
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| 39 | 40 | | Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes |
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| 40 | 41 | | for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |
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