The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-24
TOURIST TIMES.

The hospitable reception accorded our
recent visitors by the people of Helena
and their expression OF warm apprecia-
ton suggest the subject of the treat
ment of the tourist. That westward
travel this year Will be greater than ever
before we have every reason to believe.
There is no Paris exposition to attract
crowds across the Atlantic this summer
and home travel ought to reap the ben
eft. Summer and fall will see thou
sands OF travellers pass to and from the
Pacific coast. How can we best induce
them to give more than passing glance
to Montana in general and Helena in
particular? How are they to learn to
appreciate our towering mountains and
fertile valleys, our cloudless days and
cool, refreshing nights, our bracing air
and medicinal springs, our wonders OF
railroad construction and mining camps?
The question is of the utmost import
ance to the state, for the tourist OF to-
day is frequently the settler OF the fu
ture. His attention once arrested, there
can be no doubt OF the result. Montana
offers an unrivaled field alike for the
homeseeker and the capitalist.
Creature comforts and good accom-
mediation will count for much. In this
respect we are abreast of the times. Our
larger towns can boast of hotels that
equal any in the eastern states, and even
in the smaller centres Of population we
provide quarters which have the COM
nonsense merits a cleanliness and
courteous attention. The tourist will
linger longer and admire more intensely
if he is convinced that the hotel propri-
etor has no intentions of breaking his
bank. Nothing has a more deterrent
effect upon repetition of a travellers
visit than scale Of prices, on the part
of either hotel proprietor, livery man OF
guide, that is practically equivalent t.
the old demand of "hands up" City
governments can help largely by seeing
to the good condition of the streets,
by enforcing thorough sanitary regula-
tions, and similar enterprising work
Not one of these things escapes the eye
of the observant tourist, and he acts
and reports accordingly.
The railroads by judicious advertis-
ing have done much to assist the open
ing of the state But there is more for
them to do. A more generous system
of stop-over privileges would result in a
large accession to our population. 1t is
their interest, it would seem, to encour-
age the intlu. The tourist business,
rightly conducted, would constitute a
large and profitable part of their sum-
mer business. 1t would increase their
profits Indirectly as well. Such traffic
creates market for various products,
and the people who come for pleasure
frequently return for business. There
is no telling what capital may be poured
into the state by men who come here to
see the enterprise of the Broadwater, OF
the wonders of the National Park.
Montana prominently possesses re-
markable combination Of pleasure re.
sorts and business possibilities. The
capitalist who comes to enjoy the former
is quick to discern the advantages of the
latter. We cannot encourage too much
this summer travel and cater to it when
it comes, for with it is inwoven the
rapid development of our state and its
resources.