February 1999
- On this page:
- Unearthing History
- Sunken Treasure
- Hooked on Bass
- On Page 1:
- Direct Returns
- From the Comptroller: Rig Count Paramount
- On-line Tax Filing Available
- Energy Fules Foreign Investment
- Texas Accent on Foreign Banks
- Texas stats -- Fiscal and economic data
Unearthing History
State agencies preserve cultural,
historical sites for tomorrow's TexasTexas' diverse cultural background is revealed in its present-day archeological finds--shipwrecks, pioneer settlements, Indian artifacts, Civil War battlefields, cattle trails and settlements of early Europeans and Africans.
The state's 30,000 recorded archeological sites, including Indian campsites that date back 12,000 years, are among the oldest in the U.S. An archeological site is typically more than 50 years old, with some evidence of human endeavor. About 2,000 of these sites have been designated as Texas archeological landmarks.
While enchanting and educational, the sites are fragile. Visitors have unknowingly damaged or purposely destroyed historic gems, ranging from pictures drawn 9,000 years ago to the remains of prehistoric Indian camps. The educational and scientific value of an archeological site is compromised or lost once the site is disturbed or looted. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) estimates that 3,000 to 4,000 archeological sites are lost every year to looters and vandals.
While some of the archeological sites may be familiar historic homes or well-known landmarks, others are hidden behind cave overhangs, at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico or atop a mesa. Many are in wilderness areas. Archeologists employed by state agencies identify and assess the significance of each discovery to determine whether it should be preserved at the site or excavated. The state1s 45 archeologists are responsible for 9 million acres of public lands.
Archeological sites and artifacts on public land are protected by the 1969 Texas Antiquities Code, but private landowners are not required to report or preserve archeological sites or artifacts on their land.
Early inhabitants: Scientists date the earliest human activity in Texas at 12,000 years ago. Archeologists have found river terraces containing burned rock from hearths and baking pits revealing human inhabitants along the rivers of North Central Texas.
Weapons and tools found at mass bison kills on the High Plains have unlocked the secrets to strategies used by Paleo-Indian hunters dating from 10000 B.C. to 6000 B.C.
In 1982, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) uncovered human remains about 20 miles northwest of Austin. The site is known as Wilson-Leonard, but the remains have been nicknamed "Leanderthal Lady" because they were discovered near Leander. The site also yielded clues to 11,000 years of cultural history in the Archaic and Paleo-Indian periods.
In the carefully arranged grave, archeologists found the remnants of a last meal--the bones of a small rodent--a shark's tooth, probably worn as an ornament, a grinding stone and evidence of a bison killed about 11,000 years ago. They determined the site was abandoned sometime around 1000 A.D. The site is considered one of the most significant in North America: one of less than a dozen in the U.S. with human remains more than 9,000 years old.
Shipwreck rich: Texas' historical period dates from the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century, when the explorer Pińeda mapped the Texas coast in 1519.
A vessel of Cabeza de Vaca's that sank near Galveston was probably the first of the region's shipwrecks. Through the centuries, the Gulf Coast has not only claimed the ships of Spanish and French explorers, but those of Civil War and world war combatants. About 2,200 ships have sunk along the Texas coast, including many destroyed by German U-boats during World War II. These undersea sites may contain some of the most valuable historical information in the Western Hemisphere, according to THC.
Spanish and French explorers left their histories along the coast and other areas. Archeologists are studying a Panhandle site linked to the Spanish explorer Coronado, who pursued his dreams of gold as far as New Mexico and Kansas.
The Spanish conquest left Texas an abundant architectural archive. Some of the best-preserved Spanish missions are in Texas, including Mission Refugio in the South Texas city of Refugio, built for the conversion of the Karankawa Indian tribe in 1795.
Mud plaster huts on the Rio Grande date back 4,500 years, about the time the Egyptian pyramids were built, archeologists estimate. A 200-mile stretch of the river shore also contains some of the oldest and largest examples of pictograph rock art on the continent. Unfortunately, these sites may not last much longer--the mud-hut village is threatened by development, and many rock art paintings have been marred by graffiti.
Archeologists have determined that French traders in Texas supplied Indian villages along the Red River. Studies of these sites tell historians and archeologists not only how the explorers lived, but reveal how Europeans affected native American history and culture.
Later, the frontier became home to federal forts, pioneer housing dugouts, log cabins, stone and adobe dwellings, railroad camps, sawmills, cowboy camps and small industrial sites, such as iron or brick works. The Mexican-American War and Civil War left the state with numerous battlefields, campsites, arsenals and arms-manufacturing sites.
Agency digs: THC is responsible for historic and archeological preservation on state lands. The agency designates archeological landmarks, reviews archeological projects and enforces federal and state laws regarding the projects. Staff archeologists also conduct archeological investigations at major sites and work with local volunteer "stewards."
Any state agency that has a construction project involving more than 5,000 cubic yards of land must report to THC. The commission reviews each project and, if necessary, surveys the site. Typically, THC cooperates with the agency to protect the site and complete the construction project. The presence of archeological sites rarely prevents a project1s completion.
The General Land Office (GLO) manages 20.5 million acres of state land, including minerals and submerged lands. GLO archeologists review any action that may affect state lands, including offshore leasing and scattered public ranch land in West Texas.
The state leases some of this land to ranchers, many of whom have expressed interest in buying land with historic value. Some have already preserved historic buildings. Often ranchers serve as watchdogs for prehistoric sites in caves and rock shelters that may date back 10,000 years. In 1997, GLO archeologists determined that caves near the entrance of Maravaillas Canyon in the Big Bend's Brewster County served as an important prehistoric crossroads of trade and stone tool production.
In 1996, eight sites on a private ranch in far West Texas were designated as state archeological landmarks by THC. The landowner granted an easement that allows traditional use of the land while protecting artifacts and granting scholars and researchers access to them. GLO, which sold the land to the rancher, expects the agreement to serve as a model for preservation of other land with significant cultural resources.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) oversees about 600,000 acres on more than 200 public properties. TPWD employs archeologists in Austin, Fort Davis and Tyler to protect these archeological sites. TPWD has archeological interpretive displays at park sites showing how people lived during various times in Texas history, and has managers in each of the agency's regions who protect cultural and natural resources.
Archeologists who scoured Tyler State Park looking for small sawmills and other prehistoric and historic sites discovered an Indian camp containing bits of pottery dating to 1450. TxDOT first began mitigating the effect of highway construction on historic and prehistoric sites in 1970. The agency's archeologists and environmentalists also are involved with historic sites near the Alamo in San Antonio, an historic African-American cemetery in Dallas, routes of the "caminos reales"--ancient Indian trails later used by Spanish and American settlers and soldiersĐand other historic structures including metal, truss and suspension bridges.
The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has an abundance of prehistoric sites on its property. Few sites have been excavated, but along the shores of the Colorado River in Burnet County, scientists have located rock shelters that held extinct animal bones alongside Paleo-Indian artifacts, including Clovis spear points--a type first found near Clovis, N.M.--and even older tools and camping remains. Little evidence has been found of pre-Clovis human life in Texas. Thousands of Central Texas Indian mounds have been found on LCRA lands, some nearly an acre in size and nine feet tall. Some have contained ovens Indians used to cook agáve cactus.
Missions and cemeteries: The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) provides financial assistance to political subdivisions for water and wastewater project construction and improvement, which can disturb the environment of historic sites and often must be examined on foot. In 1997, TWDB had private contracts for 30 surveys throughout the state.
TWDB projects include extensive work in the El Paso County Lower Valley Water District. This region contains evidence of prehistoric settlements dating back 12,000 years, as well as the Socorro settlement of 1680, a Spanish mission older than any in San Antonio and the only presidio in West Texas. TWDB has also found artifacts from Chinese immigrants who worked on the first railroad in the El Paso basin.
Two staff archeologists with the Texas Adjutant General1s Department (AGD) oversee 50,000 acres of National Guard training sites, cemeteries, National Register historic districts and Native American sacred places. Archeologists have located more than 200 prehistoric sites dating from 5000 B.C. to 1700 near Brownwood. They also located an African-American cemetery at New Hope dating from 1880 to 1940 and a rock shelter at Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells with artifacts dating from about 1200 to 1600.
Lucrative finds: Nine Texas institutions of higher learning have archeological training or programs. Other areas of university studies, however, may get into the action in an archeological expedition. For instance, when the Leanderthal Lady was discovered, excavation, care and study of her skeleton and surroundings involved not only archeologists but physical anthropologists, the University of Texas J.J. Pickle Research Campus' radio carbon laboratory, historians, an environmental biologist from the Dallas Museum of Natural History and a forensic toxicologist from the Institute for Forensic Studies to do immunological and trace mineral studies. The University of Texas Health Science Center performed biomedical illustrations and CAT scans, most likely the first CAT scan on remains 10,000 years old.
Colleges and universities play a crucial role in preserving Texas history. Though an overall cost to discover, excavate and preserve these ruins has not been calculated, it is estimated that half of state agency archeological contracts are awarded to colleges and universities. Cultural and historic tourism is one of the most popular sectors of the state's travel industry, and Texas ranks fourth among the states in this type of tourism. In 1997, 22 million of 100 million leisure trips to Texas included visits to cultural, historical or archeological attractions, according to THC. About 48% of the tourists visited historic sites; about 43% visited museums.
Among non-residents visiting Texas in 1997, one-fourth ranked visiting cultural or historical attractions as their primary travel activities. These cultural travelers spend significantly more than other travelers--$106 a day compared to $89 a day by other leisure tourists. Cultural and historical travelers also take longer trips and stay in hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts more often. About 17% report spending more than $1,000 a trip, compared to 11% for all types of travelers.
Lifetime of lessons: The professionals aren1t the only ones making significant finds. A retired refinery foreman collected prehistoric stone tools and spear points along a 24-mile stretch of the Gulf shoreline for more than 15 years. His knowledge inspired four other amateur explorers to make detailed maps and records of their collections for scientific study. These collectors have spear points dating back 11,000 years, historic arrowheads, pottery, knives and drills.
Their collection prompted a study by the Minerals Management Service of the Federal Archeology Program. Without the careful record keeping of these amateurs, a systematic archeological study could not have been made and the artifacts likely would have ended up in someone1s attic with their histories forever a secret.
Contributing to this article:
Marjorie HersheyThe murky waters of the Gulf of Mexico hide gold, silver, jewels and artifacts that have lured archeologists and treasure seekers for decades.
In 1995, scuba divers located the wreck of the French ship Belle, part of explorer La Salle's 1684 expedition to establish a French colony in Texas. Explorers had been hunting for the ship for 17 years.
The discovery sparked feuding between Texas and France over ownership of the Belle and its contents. While France claims ownership, the ship1s permanent home is in Texas.
Scientists at Texas A&M University are working to preserve artifacts recovered from the fully excavated ship. The Belle is kept in College Station, submerged in a 60-foot tank of polyethylene glycol, a substance that fills in the cell walls of the wood to prevent warping, cracking and shrinking. Scientists hope the ship and its contents will help reveal how LaSalle and his colonists traveled and how they lived from day to day.
Scientists are conducting DNA tests on skeletal remains found in the hull. They hope to match the results with descendants of the explorers now living in France. Fine china, three bronze cannons and millions of glass beads are among the items found on the shipwreck.
History Defined
The Antiquities Code of Texas, amended in 1977, set the standards by which a dwelling, habitation, trail or artifact is considered historical. According to the code, it must be the site of an event of significance in the history of the country or state or be associated with a famous person or event that symbolizes an important principle or ideal. It may represent a distinct architectural type, period or construction technique or be important to the heritage of a religious organization, ethnic group or society. State historical landmarks may be designated on private land with the written consent of the landowner.
Hooked on Bass
Sports fishing is a $2.9 billion industry in TexasFishing for bass is a time-honored tradition in Texas. But bass fishing today is no longer just a casual hobby for some enthusiasts. With the state hosting thousands of bass tournaments each year, including some high-dollar competitions, many Texans have made fishing a way of life.
The nearly 5,000 square miles of inland water and six species of bass make Texas a popular choice for anglers. The state's 1.9 million anglers place the state second to California in the number of sports fishing participants, according to the National Survey of Fishing and Hunting by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The average freshwater Texas angler goes fishing 24 days per year and spends $140 per freshwater fishing trip. In 1996, Texans spent $2.9 billion on sport fishing: about half on fishing trips and the rest on equipment, according to Texas A&M University's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science.
Weighing in: Bass tournaments originated in Texas and later spread throughout the world. Today, tournaments are even held in South Africa, Italy and Japan. In 1955, Earl Golding, the outdoors editor for the Waco Herald-Tribune, talked his bosses into sponsoring a bass fishing tournament at Lake Whitney. Golding's idea for a state tournament drew anglers hungry for competition and bragging rights--no prizes were offered. This year the Texas State Bass Tournament will celebrate its 44th anniversary at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, near Jasper.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) estimates that as many as 3,000 to 5,000 bass tournaments are held in Texas each year. About 600 bass fishing clubs are active, many of which are geared to people of like interests and skill levels. The Texas Association of Bass Clubs was founded in 1971 with conservation goals to protect and preserve bass fishing in the state. It was the first organization in the country to bring together bass clubs within a state.
Estimating the number of professional anglers who make their home in Texas is difficult, but Texas A&M reports that 16% of Texas anglers--more than 300,000--fish in tournaments.
Bass tournaments can inject tourism dollars into local economies. The Jasper Chamber of Commerce, for one, actively recruits and sponsors bass tournaments. These tournaments generated an estimated $9 million for the city in 1998 in terms of visitor stays in hotels, motels and campgrounds, meals and gasoline for boats and vehicles. Boat dealers, fishing guides and sporting goods stores also benefit from bass fishing.
In most bass tournaments, anglers see who can catch the most fish--by total weight--within a specific time, but some competitions focus on the largest single fish. Tournament anglers are required to follow strict rules and obey all state and federal fishing laws.
Scouting and pre-fishing lakes before tournaments are necessities. Professional anglers study the lake and its topography, research fishing patterns, test successful lures and develop their own sense of where the fish might be found. Professional anglers bring lures in all colors and shapes and usually 10 or more rods. Well-prepared veterans also bring duplicate trolling motors, depth finders and boat motor propellers. In a competition, time is money, and the winners avoid having to return to shore for repairs or extra equipment.
For some, professional fishing has its rewards. Rick Clunn--formerly of Montgomery and now a New Mexico resident, is the only Texan to have won four world titles, and he has accrued career earnings of more than $1 million.
Among female professional anglers, one of Texas' best known is Kathy Magers of Rockwall, a full-time pro for 15 years. Her accomplishments outnumber those of many fellow "fishermen." She also gives instructional fishing seminars and hosts her own television fishing show.
No fishtales: The nation's highest paying fishing event, the Wal-Mart FLW tour, had a payout of $3.6 million for seven events in 1998. The second event in the series was held in February 1998 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The East Texas reservoir, covering 114,500 acres, is the largest manmade lake in the state and has a reputation for excellent bass fishing.
With so much money at stake, bass tournaments have had to crack down on cheating. A 1985 Texas law made fraudulent behavior in a freshwater fishing tournament a Class A misdemeanor. At a bass fishing contest at Lake Waco in 1997, state game wardens used the law to nab four competitors who turned in fish caught outside the regulated hours of the tournament. TPWD wardens had been tipped about the hidden fish and marked the catches with tiny electronic tags, which were discovered when the fish were submitted to the judges. Large bass tournaments may use polygraph or lie detectors as a means to prevent cheating. Major tournaments make collusion difficult by requiring that fishing partners be drawn at random and by holding the contests over a period of several days.
Bass tournaments are catch-and-release to ensure that area fish populations do not become depleted. Major tournaments penalize anglers whose bass die before weigh-in. TPWD helps make sure that bass remain plentiful by regularly supplying bass from hatcheries. Professional anglers take photographs of their trophy bass and measure the fish to have replicas made, rather than keeping the fish and having it mounted for display.
In one of the clearest illustrations of how popular bass fishing has become, Wheaties, the "Breakfast of Champions," placed Denny Brauer, an award-winning angler, on the cereal box.
Contributing to this article:
Diane Burnett Thomas
A whopper of a hatcheryThe Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, southeast of Dallas, is a unique $18 million educational center, aquarium, hatchery and laboratory designed to provide anglers and biologists an opportunity to watch and study freshwater aquatic life.
Among the features are a 26,000-gallon theater/aquarium stocked with Texas largemouth bass, sunfish and other native Texas fish; a 1.2-acre casting pond stocked with thousands of channel catfish in the summer and rainbow trout in the winter; an Angler Hall of Fame that recognizes people who have made contributions to conservation and fishing in Texas; a 178,000-gallon reservoir with large acrylic windows for viewing Texas fish and plants; a wetlands and alligator pond; and a fish hatchery/research complex.
In a 24,000-square-foot research complex, biologists identify fish species, conduct DNA testing to determine bass heritage and diagnose disease. Nearly 40 acres of hatchery ponds and an incubation room are also located there. Six 15,360-gallon indoor raceways are used for spawning largemouth bass and channel catfish, raising paddlefish and holding rainbow trout.
The project represents a partnership among the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas Inc., ShareLunker Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the City of Athens.
Carole Keeton Rylander - Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts