[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 105 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 105

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of Las Vegas, Nevada.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2005

 Ms. Berkley (for herself, Mr. Gibbons, and Mr. Porter) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Whereas for centuries before the first Westerners arrived in the area now known 
        as Las Vegas, Nevada, Native Americans inhabited the Las Vegas valley 
        and surrounding areas;
Whereas in the early 1800s, Spanish traders traveling the ``Old Spanish Trail'' 
        from New Mexico to California crossed the valley and named the area 
        ``Las Vegas'', meaning ``the meadows'';
Whereas in 1829, a young Mexican scout named Rafael Riviera became the first 
        Westerner to discover spring water in Las Vegas, in an area now known as 
        Las Vegas Springs;
Whereas approximately 14 years after Riviera explored the Las Vegas valley, 
        Captain John C. Fremont of the United States Army entered the valley and 
        recorded the name ``Las Vegas'' in his expedition journal;
Whereas the first settlement in the Las Vegas valley by Westerners was a 
        fortified mission colonized by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
        Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), which was abandoned by the Mormons after a 
        few years;
Whereas pioneer Octavius Decatur Gass occupied the abandoned settlement and 
        established a working ranch on the site;
Whereas in 1902, Helen Stewart, a subsequent owner of the Gass ranch, sold 1,840 
        acres of the ranch to the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad 
        Company, owned by Senator William Clark of Montana;
Whereas on May 15, 1905, the railroad company auctioned off parcels of land from 
        the old Gass ranch and a town site was created named ``Las Vegas'';
Whereas over the last century, Las Vegas has become the entertainment capital of 
        the world, with world class hotels, gaming, entertainment, and outdoor 
        activities for visitors of all ages;
Whereas in Las Vegas, millions of people have been entertained by legendary 
        performers such as Elvis Presley, Liberace, the ``Rat Pack'' (Frank 
        Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop), 
        Wayne Newton, Jerry Lewis, Siegfried and Roy, Celine Dion, and many 
        more;
Whereas in the 1990s, the population of Las Vegas boomed, making it the fastest 
        growing metropolitan area in the country;
Whereas in 2004, a record-setting 40 million tourists visited Las Vegas to enjoy 
        the city and the entertainment, as well as nearby attractions, such as 
        Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead, and the Hoover Dam;
Whereas Las Vegas is known as the ``Quintessential American City'' because of 
        its economic opportunity and the optimistic attitude of the people;
Whereas on May 15, 2005, and throughout all of 2005, Las Vegas is hosting a 
        Centennial Celebration in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding 
        of the city;
Whereas Las Vegas visitors and residents will join in the Centennial Celebration 
        by participating in a variety of commemorative events, activities, and 
        projects, including a centennial time capsule, an attempt to bake the 
        world's largest birthday cake, a return of Helldorado Days (a Las Vegas 
        tradition honoring the roots of the city in the Wild West), and a 
        wedding ceremony with 100 couples; and
Whereas the purposes of the Centennial Celebration are to commemorate and 
        celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Las Vegas, to educate 
        people about the history and culture of the city, and to leave a legacy 
        for future generations with regard to the centennial: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress recognizes the 100th anniversary of the founding of 
Las Vegas, Nevada.
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