HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 20
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates
Thompson, Mahan, McGraw, Susman and Boggs)
Proclaiming October 16, 1999, Railroaders' Day in West Virginia.
Whereas, Railroads were responsible for the early growth of
the eastern cities in this country by providing rapid and
reliable transportation for both people and commerce; and
Whereas, The steady growth of the railroads caused the
extension of migration into the west and virtually joined the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; and
Whereas, Railroads have had a significant impact on the State
of West Virginia, by connecting the coal fields with foundries
and power plants, by connecting chemical products with markets
and by generally bringing the people of the mountain state into
closer contact with the states around them; and
Whereas, Throughout all the development of the railroads, it
was the railroad worker who cleared the rights of way, set the
ties, laid the tracks, built the bridges and dug the tunnels,
many of them dying in the process; and
Whereas, Many of these railroaders are still with us today
and are deserving of being recognized; and
Whereas, There are many railroaders who are no longer with us and they are deserving of being remembered; and
Whereas, The National Association of Retired and Veteran
Railway Employees throughout the State are asking for the
resolution to be adopted; and
Whereas, It is proper that the appreciation of the State of
West Virginia for the work, suffering and sacrifices of the
present and former railroaders of this State be shown;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That October 16, 1999, be declared Railroaders' Day in the
State of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates encourages
all citizens to be aware of and observe this day of remembrance;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
be directed to forward copies of this resolution to Norman E.
Bias and to His Excellency, the Governor.