Missouri HCR 76: Urges Congress to make the historic Butterfield Overland Trail part of the National Trails System

Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 76
99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE LOVE.
6032H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
WHEREAS, the rapid expansion of the western United States in the 1840s led to a
2 demand for long-distance overland mail service; and
3
4 WHEREAS, John W. Butterfield answered the call of the United States government to
5 develop and operate an overland stage route from Missouri to California; and
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7 WHEREAS, the first Butterfield Overland Mail Company stagecoach left Tipton,
8 Missouri on September 16, 1858, traveling through Moniteau, Morgan, Pettis, Benton, Hickory,
9 Polk, Greene, Christian, Stone, Lawrence, and Barry counties on a historic journey across the
10 United States; and
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12 WHEREAS, the Butterfield Overland Mail Company's first east-to-west stagecoach
13 completed its transcontinental mail run in twenty-three days, arriving in San Francisco,
14 California on October 9, 1858; and
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16 WHEREAS, the Company's successful completion of the 2,812 mile trip helped unite
17 the country and facilitate the development and expansion of the United States; and
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19 WHEREAS, due to the Civil War, the Butterfield Overland Mail Company ceased
20 operations in 1861; and
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22 WHEREAS, the former Butterfield Overland Trail became an important conduit for
23 Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War; and
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25 WHEREAS, during its brief existence, the Butterfield Overland Trail played a pivotal
26 role in the history of the State of Missouri and in fulfilling the aspirations of the United States;
27 and
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HCR 76 2
29 WHEREAS, in recognition of the perceived national importance of these routes, and in
30 response to public advocacy for the inclusion of these routes in the National Trails System,
31 Congress passed legislation that was signed by President Obama on March 30, 2009, (Section
32 7209 of Pub. L. 111-11):
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34 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of
35 Representatives of the Ninety-ninth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate
36 concurring therein, hereby urge the United States Congress to develop plans, ideas, and proposals
37 to commemorate and celebrate the historic Butterfield Overland Trail by making it part of the
38 National Historic Trails System; and
39
40 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of
41 Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for each
42 member of Missouri's Congressional delegation.
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