| 1 | 1 | | 87R8106 JGH-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Morales of Maverick H.C.R. No. 33 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The picturesque and historic community of Fort Davis |
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| 7 | 7 | | deserves special recognition as the town with the highest elevation |
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| 8 | 8 | | in the Lone Star State, 5,050 feet above sea level; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Completely surrounded by the Chihuahuan Desert, |
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| 10 | 10 | | Fort Davis is situated among the Davis Mountains in what |
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| 11 | 11 | | geographers call a "sky island," a self-contained mountainous |
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| 12 | 12 | | region with a cooler and wetter climate than the hot, arid region |
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| 13 | 13 | | all around it; this impressive geological formation is the result |
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| 14 | 14 | | of volcanic activity 35 million years ago, and the area's forested |
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| 15 | 15 | | ecology is inhabited by flora and fauna that couldn't survive in the |
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| 16 | 16 | | desert below; for centuries, Native American groups, including the |
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| 17 | 17 | | Mescalero Apache, used this elevated, temperate region as a refuge |
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| 18 | 18 | | from the harsh conditions of the desert; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Fort Davis takes its name from the U.S. Army post |
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| 20 | 20 | | that was established in 1854, a location now preserved as the Fort |
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| 21 | 21 | | Davis National Historic Site; Brevet General Persifor F. Smith, |
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| 22 | 22 | | commander of the Department of Texas, personally selected the site |
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| 23 | 23 | | in part because the high elevation helped guarantee its "pure water |
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| 24 | 24 | | and salubrious climate"; thanks to its unusual geography, the area |
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| 25 | 25 | | was also blessed with ample timber, game, and forage for livestock, |
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| 26 | 26 | | which benefited the soldiers of the fort, as well as the ranchers |
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| 27 | 27 | | and other settlers who followed; through the decades, the town has |
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| 28 | 28 | | been popular with visitors who enjoy its cool nights during the |
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| 29 | 29 | | blistering heat of a Texas summer, a tradition that began in the |
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| 30 | 30 | | years before air conditioning and continues to the present; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | WHEREAS, In addition to the restored fort, the area's |
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| 32 | 32 | | attractions include the scenic beauty of Davis Mountains State Park |
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| 33 | 33 | | and its majestic Indian Lodge hotel as well as the magnificent |
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| 34 | 34 | | ponderosa pines of the Davis Mountains Preserve; motorists enjoy |
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| 35 | 35 | | driving the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop, which is the highest |
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| 36 | 36 | | section of the Texas highway system, reaching an altitude of 6,700 |
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| 37 | 37 | | feet; star-filled nights are another boon of the town's elevation, |
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| 38 | 38 | | and they are best experienced at the Star Parties hosted by the |
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| 39 | 39 | | nearby McDonald Observatory; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Uniquely situated amid rugged mountains and below |
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| 41 | 41 | | the spectacular West Texas sky, Fort Davis is beloved by residents |
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| 42 | 42 | | and visitors alike, and it has earned a well-deserved reputation as |
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| 43 | 43 | | one of the Lone Star State's "top" destinations; now, therefore, be |
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| 44 | 44 | | it |
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| 45 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 46 | 46 | | hereby designate Fort Davis as the official Highest Town in Texas; |
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| 47 | 47 | | and, be it further |
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| 48 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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| 49 | 49 | | 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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| 50 | 50 | | until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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| 51 | 51 | | passed by the legislature. |
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