HR1330 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1330 LRB099 22245 GRL 49626 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On April 10, 1816, in a log cabin now known as the Robinson Stewart House, a town was born; the leaders decided to call the new county seat Carmi, a name mentioned eight times in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and First Chronicles; and

WHEREAS, Carmi was a log cabin village founded on the bank of the Little Wabash River; there were no streets - only dirt roads; the village had promise of beauty and gracious living even in a backwoods settlement; and

WHEREAS, Many came to Carmi from Virginia and the Carolinas, where they had been accustomed to stately houses and appreciated good architecture, art, literature, and music; Carmi grew fast and settlers poured in; more and more cabins were built and the town was thriving; by 1818, White County was the third most populous county in the State; and

WHEREAS, The Little Wabash River which flows through Carmi once marked the dividing line between the forest and the prairie; and

WHEREAS, As the early settlers of White County poured into the area, a mill on the river became the first business in town to serve early farmers; today, Carmi continues to serve the agriculture industry; and

WHEREAS, Today, the majority of farmers plant grain, corn, soybeans, and wheat; there are also a growing number of farmers who are turning to vegetable and specialty crops and a growing number of farmers raising livestock; and

WHEREAS, Each year, more than $42.5 million of crops and $4.5 million of livestock and livestock products are produced and sold from White County; all of this is produced on 188,400 acres of cropland or 234,900 acres of total farmland, which is controlled and operated by 448 farms; and

WHEREAS, Farming is a major source of income in White County, but agricultural-related employment with fertilizer companies, grain elevators, implement dealers, seed dealers, accounting firms specializing in farm accounting, high school agriculture teachers, and many other areas of agriculture still provide most of the area's jobs; and

WHEREAS, Agriculture is a cherished way of life for people in White County and it provides a natural place to raise a family and enjoy the harmonious relationship between nature and the industrialized world; and

WHEREAS, Carmi is a community built on farming and continues to reap the rewards of strong agricultural tradition; and

WHEREAS, One of Carmi's most famous visitors was Abraham Lincoln, who visited the community to speak at a political rally in 1840 and stayed in the building now known as the Ratcliff Inn, which is a part of the White County Historical Society; and

WHEREAS, The area was rich in natural resources and early settlers used the river for transportation; the oil business in Carmi goes back to 1939 with the discovery of the first oil well in the area; nearly 75 years later, White County has produced over a quarter million barrels of oil per year and remains one of the top three oil producing counties in the State of Illinois; it is still a hub of the industry for the location of service companies; and

WHEREAS, The growth of the oil service industry is expanding the services already offered, from drilling and completion rigs, pulling units, supply companies, acidizing and stimulation, cased hole logging and perforating, drill pipe and casing inspection, coring services, down hole completion tools, rock bit services, down hole production chemical services, and injection pump and valve repair; and

WHEREAS, With a new facility that increases the reserves of obtainable coal by 140 million tons, White County Coal is positioned to aggressively develop new markets and additional services and to establish itself as the supplier of choice for customers, including services such as ash and scrubber disposal; and

WHEREAS, A surprising amount of Carmi history, including the Webb-Hay House, the Old Graveyard, Robinson Stewart House, the Ratcliff Inn, and the L. Haas Store Museum, still stands downtown; and

WHEREAS, Carmi takes pride in the tranquil beauty throughout the town, the dedication of its loyal citizens, the outstanding school system, and the continued success of the business community; and

WHEREAS, To commemorate Carmi's 200th birthday, 200 native trees have been planted to help beautify the town for future generations; and

WHEREAS, Carmi's bicentennial festivities planned throughout the year include Memorial Day, July 4th, Corn Day, and the It's a White County Christmas celebration in November; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Mayor Jeff Pollard and the citizens of Carmi as they celebrate the 200th anniversary of their community and wish them many more years of success and prosperity in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Mayor of Carmi as a symbol of our respect and esteem.