WHEREAS, On October 8, 1853, the Longmire-Biles party crossed over the South Hill in Pierce County; and
     WHEREAS, This wagon train would forever change the Puget Sound region; and
     WHEREAS, These two separate wagon trains became one at the Columbia River, blazed their own trail, and deviated from the established path of the Oregon Trail, eventually crossing over via the Native American trail of the Naches Pass in the Cascade Mountains; and
     WHEREAS, The high elevation of the pass proved difficult to the wagon party, but through the resilience of these men and women, along with their overwhelming courage to forge a new life for themselves, they emerged unscathed from the pass and began to make the trek towards the town of Alderton; and
     WHEREAS, The Longmire-Biles party reached the area that would be the town of Alderton within one week, and from there the party decided to continue their journey to climb the South Hill; and
     WHEREAS, To commemorate their crossing onto the South Hill and to mark where these men and women settled, Pierce County erected a marker to remind those who currently reside in the area of the settlers who came before them, established a new life for themselves, and paved the way for future generations to settle on the South Hill; and
     WHEREAS, These pioneers went further around the area and settled in various parts of the region, including the present day areas of 94th Avenue, Rogers High School, and Woodland Avenue, eventually stopping their trek at the Mahon Ranch, which is the current day Brookdale Golf Course, and laying the foundation for the area to flourish and continue to attract people to our region; and
     WHEREAS, The courage and resolve of these men and women to settle an uncharted area, to uproot their family, and to brave the difficulties of the Oregon Trail and Naches Pass in order to make a new life for themselves requires that we honor them and their journey;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Longmire-Biles crossing into Washington State and the establishment of South Hill and the areas surrounding it.