H.C.R. 11 Enrolled

1

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE
2 SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE
3 2012 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Don L. Ipson
6 Senate Sponsor: Stephen H. Urquhart
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor recognizes the
11 Sesquicentennial of the city of St. George.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . congratulates the people of St. George on the occasion of its Sesquicentennial as a
15 city.
16 Special Clauses:
17 None
18
19 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
20 WHEREAS, in 1861, in response to the cotton shortage created by the Civil War,
21 Brigham Young selected 309 families to establish a city to grow cotton in southwestern Utah;
22 WHEREAS, the majority of those called to the "Cotton Mission" immediately sold their
23 possessions and property and started the trek southward under the direction of company leader
24 Erastus Snow;
25 WHEREAS, extreme heat and wind, scarce precipitation, rushing torrents, loneliness,
26 sickness, sorrow, and even death were common challenges faced by the early settlers of the
27 place that became known as Utah's Dixie;
28 WHEREAS, in 1862, because of their personal commitment and belief in God, the
29 settlers remained dedicated to their mission and established the City of St. George between the

30 volcanic ridges as Brigham Young envisioned;
31 WHEREAS, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the original "Cotton Mission"
32 and establishment of St. George, the City of St. George, under the leadership of Mayor Daniel
33 D. McArthur, organized a 100-mile covered wagon trek consisting of over 300 persons that
34 journeyed from Parowan to St. George;
35 WHEREAS, the company, known as the "St. George Wagon Company, Dixie Cotton
36 Mission," was organized into wagon teamsters, outriders, and handcarts and wound its way
37 through cedar, sagebrush, and red rock canyons before arriving at its final destination in St.
38 George on October 15, 2011; and
39 WHEREAS, today, St. George is a thriving city of over 75,000 people and is the seat of
40 Washington County:
41 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
42 Governor concurring therein, congratulate the people of St. George for reaching the 150-year
43 milestone.
44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the City of St.
45 George and to Mayor Daniel D. McArthur.