New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-01
KILLARNEY'S FUTURE.
AN IRISH OOM-AMERICAN MILLION
AIRES WELCOMED WITH RESERVE
THE ARGUMENT FOR A
NATIONAL PARK
Killarney. September II.

NATIONAL PARK.
Killarney. September II.
! The revival Of tourist traffic in the South of
| ireland has awakened a new note in Killarney's
/ wild echoes The mountain dew women, the SIN
envy boatmen ana the garrulous drivers may
/ have n Gaelic word for H. but n simple child or
nature from America readily translates It into
DOOM" The opening of new hotels and the
/ thrush OF American tourists and English fisher
men and golfers have impressed the dullest VIII
layers and beggars Of the Church Of the Soe-
trees" with the dignity OF industrial progress
Killarney has only one industry the working
~ the tourist and since the cessation OF poitl-
cal and agrarian agitation the trade has come
up by leaps and bounds. The insignificant
town. with It's Gothic cathedral gloomy monas-
terles and warehouses;. after slumbering I'M
easily through trOublous times. now has a wide
awake air and IS alive to the chance Of making
its fortune by hook or by crook Shabby cot
tages have been whitewashod garish bazaars
and curiosity shops have been built new
equipment Of boats and jaunting cars has been
provided and a fresh stock Of traditions and
stories has been pleced out in more ineligible
Kerry brogue. The gray dawn is breaking
and the horn Of the tourist hunter is heard on
the hill"
There is an undertone Of uneasiness and sus-
plclon in the hustle of expectancy now pervad-
ing the town The air has been filed with ru
mors Of the sale Of heavily mortgagcd estate.
which is the most picturesque tract ~ the lake
region The shOpkeepers, car drivers and
hangers on Of this tourist resort have been
dazed and bcwildered 10y the wild tales which
have come 10 the peaceful valley from the outer
world one day they have been set gossiping
over mysterious account Of Tammany deal
in Killarney real estate The next Munchausen
tale has credited Richard Croker. Of New
and Moat House. with "A benevolent intention ~
buying all Killarney and presenting it 10 the
Irish people This has been followed by de-
tailed reports Of a brisk competition for the con-
troll OF the Muckross property In which capt
taIst ~ Belfast Dublin brewer and a syndi-
cate Of American milllonaries are bidding
iiercey against one another Mr. Peck, Of Coz
hoes has next been heraded az the founder ~
a colony Of American millionares on the shores
of Killarney every one ~ whom will be- under
bonds 10 build palace and TO employ nifty
Irlshmen at a dollar a day. To this roseate tale
has been added q sequel that the British Gov
eminent viii thNart the wiles Of Yankee axe
grinders by purchasing all the lake property
and converting it into national park Ike the
Niagara reservation
Imaginative tales has convinced the light heart
"a hoatmen and bog oak carvers of Killarney
that the gay world has been fascinated by the
glamour OF Irish romance and that two CONT
nents ar gambling for the possession Of the
arbutus groves Of O'DonOghue and the rock OF
Colleen Rawn. Contradictions have followed
each fresh edition with fatal regularity. but
faith I'm the coming boom is the new supersti-
tlnn Of the town As the coaches trundle along
the road swarms Of iders and heggars stand by
eager To- Identify the fnanciers Of Tammany ana
peck's castle building millionaires. and to pick
up the sixpencrs which are to De flung 10y tn"
hushcl into the hedges Killarney does not un-
dDrstand what Is going on. for Mr. Herherts
own representatives assert that the negotiations
over the Muckross estate are stil hanging fire.
nul il has a chndlike and credulous faith in
mysterious boom which will enrich every way
side beggar
Nillionaires will be- welcomed to- Killarney 50
long AZ they keep their parks and water fronts
open 10 the public. and respect the single i'm
dustrv of the region the extraction Of shillings
from tourists Otherwise they VII be- regarded
as enemies Of ireland Ike the rack-renting land
tarons The conversion Of the Mucl0ross estate
into n series of private pleasure grounds where
tb. s,yarthv sons and daughters Of Kerry could
I'D, make. a living at the expense Of tourists.
would be deeply resented as an outrage against
Irish rights \ colony Of American or English
n,iuionoires is not wanted unless the boatmen
are to bc allowed free passage into Muckross
Lake and the ruined abbey. with its ancient
vow Ross Castle and Moorc's Innisfallen are
o,,eued without reserve to- excursion parties
| otberv.ise Killarney would cease 10 be- happy