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Senate Joint Resolution 14 - IntroducedA Bill ForA Joint Resolution 1recognizing the fossil crinoid as the state
2fossil.
3WHEREAS, the study of fossils contained in sedimentary rock
4formations in the state provides geologists with evidence of
5the geological and paleontological history of the state;and
6WHEREAS, fossils of crinoids, marine invertebrates that
7live in all depths and temperatures, are abundant in the rock
8of marine origin underlying the state, including significant
9deposits in the cities of Burlington, Le Grand, and Gilmore
10City;and
11WHEREAS, the crinoid has survived approximately 500 million
12years of earth history and remains an active part of the
13world’s ocean life;and
14WHEREAS, crinoid skeletal fragments make up a significant
15portion of the limestone deposits of Iowa, providing Iowa
16industry with the limestone used for road base, as agricultural
17lime, as building stone, and as the raw material for cement
18including “portland cement”, which is used to form the most
19widely used type of construction cement;and
20WHEREAS, in addition to the economic benefits resulting from
21the presence of fossil crinoids, the crinoid has also brought
22recognition to the state and to citizens of the state as the
23result of the research of both professionals and amateurs;and
24WHEREAS, three of these researchers have received
25recognition in the global scientific community for their
26efforts: Charles Wachsmuth (1829-1896), a German immigrant who
27settled at Burlington and who, due to his collecting, research,
28and writings regarding the crinoid, received an appointment
29to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University;
30Frank Springer (1848-1927) who, as an attorney practicing in
31Burlington, became a friend and coworker of Charles Wachsmuth
32with whom he produced many texts on crinoids and for whom a
33room at the Smithsonian Institution is named; and Bernice H.
34Bean (1879-1966) who, as a farmer near Le Grand, collected,
35studied, and wrote about crinoids, saving thousands of
36perfectly preserved fossil crinoids from destruction, thereby
37providing universities and museums across the nation with
38exhibits of these specimens, including a past exhibit at the
39State Historical Building;and
40WHEREAS, pictures of crinoids found in Iowa have been
41featured on the covers of scholarly journals and magazines;and
42WHEREAS, members of the paleontology community have referred
43to the city of Burlington as “the crinoid capital of the
44world”;and
45WHEREAS, the fossil crinoid, also referred to as the sea
46lily, is a symbol of the state’s geological and paleontological
47heritage, has provided economic benefits to the state as a
48source of limestone, and is recognized for its completeness and
49beauty worldwide;NOW THEREFORE,
50BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1.STATE FOSSIL DESIGNATION. The fossil crinoid
2shall officially be designated as the state fossil of Iowa.
3 Sec. 2.OFFICIAL REGISTER. The edition of the Iowa official
4register shall include an appropriate illustration of the
5fossil crinoid, accompanied by suitable text in the section
6devoted to the state flower, state bird, state rock, and state
7tree.
8EXPLANATION
9The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
10the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
11This joint resolution proposes the official designation
12of the fossil crinoid as the state fossil. The resolution
13describes the way in which the fossil crinoid has benefited the
14state, including the fossil’s economic and aesthetic benefits.
15The Iowa official register shall include an appropriate
16illustration of the fossil crinoid accompanied by suitable text
17in the section devoted to the state’s official symbols.
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2fossil.
3WHEREAS, the study of fossils contained in sedimentary rock
4formations in the state provides geologists with evidence of
5the geological and paleontological history of the state;and
6WHEREAS, fossils of crinoids, marine invertebrates that
7live in all depths and temperatures, are abundant in the rock
8of marine origin underlying the state, including significant
9deposits in the cities of Burlington, Le Grand, and Gilmore
10City;and
11WHEREAS, the crinoid has survived approximately 500 million
12years of earth history and remains an active part of the
13world’s ocean life;and
14WHEREAS, crinoid skeletal fragments make up a significant
15portion of the limestone deposits of Iowa, providing Iowa
16industry with the limestone used for road base, as agricultural
17lime, as building stone, and as the raw material for cement
18including “portland cement”, which is used to form the most
19widely used type of construction cement;and
20WHEREAS, in addition to the economic benefits resulting from
21the presence of fossil crinoids, the crinoid has also brought
22recognition to the state and to citizens of the state as the
23result of the research of both professionals and amateurs;and
24WHEREAS, three of these researchers have received
25recognition in the global scientific community for their
26efforts: Charles Wachsmuth (1829-1896), a German immigrant who
27settled at Burlington and who, due to his collecting, research,
28and writings regarding the crinoid, received an appointment
29to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University;
30Frank Springer (1848-1927) who, as an attorney practicing in
31Burlington, became a friend and coworker of Charles Wachsmuth
32with whom he produced many texts on crinoids and for whom a
33room at the Smithsonian Institution is named; and Bernice H.
34Bean (1879-1966) who, as a farmer near Le Grand, collected,
35studied, and wrote about crinoids, saving thousands of
36perfectly preserved fossil crinoids from destruction, thereby
37providing universities and museums across the nation with
38exhibits of these specimens, including a past exhibit at the
39State Historical Building;and
40WHEREAS, pictures of crinoids found in Iowa have been
41featured on the covers of scholarly journals and magazines;and
42WHEREAS, members of the paleontology community have referred
43to the city of Burlington as “the crinoid capital of the
44world”;and
45WHEREAS, the fossil crinoid, also referred to as the sea
46lily, is a symbol of the state’s geological and paleontological
47heritage, has provided economic benefits to the state as a
48source of limestone, and is recognized for its completeness and
49beauty worldwide;NOW THEREFORE,
50BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1.STATE FOSSIL DESIGNATION. The fossil crinoid
2shall officially be designated as the state fossil of Iowa.
3 Sec. 2.OFFICIAL REGISTER. The edition of the Iowa official
4register shall include an appropriate illustration of the
5fossil crinoid, accompanied by suitable text in the section
6devoted to the state flower, state bird, state rock, and state
7tree.
8EXPLANATION
9The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
10the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
11This joint resolution proposes the official designation
12of the fossil crinoid as the state fossil. The resolution
13describes the way in which the fossil crinoid has benefited the
14state, including the fossil’s economic and aesthetic benefits.
15The Iowa official register shall include an appropriate
16illustration of the fossil crinoid accompanied by suitable text
17in the section devoted to the state’s official symbols.
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