Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
IN FOREIGN TRAVEL
Many Millions Are Spent Every Year
by Americans.
GREATEST TRAVELLERS In THE WORLD
We Pay an Enormous Tribute to
Hotels and Steamships.
THE BIG ITEM OF TIPS

Much has been said and written about
the great number of Americans who go
abroad every year, but few persons not
connected with ocean transportation realize
what an immense business has been built
Up in travel abroad. The bald statement
that 10000 Americans will go to Europe
this year conveys no adequate impression
of its proportions.
These figures, it must be remembered.
relate only to Atlantic travel. There are
increasingly large numbers of persons who
start on their wanderngs from Pacific
ports. This travel has received an unusual
stimulus this year from the events which
have turned the attention of Americans to
the far east Counting in the voyagers to
the orient, to South American and other
less visited points, there probably not
less than 100000 Americans who will visit
foreign shores this summer. If they all
went on one grand excursion it would re-
quire train of passenger cars thirty miles
long and feet of 500 steamers, forming in
single file a steaming line one hundred
miles long, to convey them.
Nearly two-thirds of these travellers want
to leave this country in May, June or JULY
and to return in August, September and
October. Therefore. the tide of foreign
travel is marked by movements as regular
as lnOSe OF ocean Itself. 1t rises sharply at
the beginning of May, reaches its height to-
ward the end of June. and commences TO
ebb along in August. The outward move
ment is at its height now, but there are in
dications that the return flow will begin
somewhat later than usual this season.
1t is during the six months of summer
travel that the companies operating the
great ocean lines make profits, enabling
them to keep their magnificent steamers in
operation the year around
To Steamship Companies.
There are thirty steamship lines CARRYING
passengers from New York some twenty
from other Atlantic ports and dozen from
different points the Pacific coast OF
course, many of these do their principal
business in freight, and have only a small
passenger capacity. The great passenger
carrying lines which operate the fast liners
number about a dozen altogether These
various companies run about $50 ships be
sides freight steamers and sailing vessels
Inc little Americans who lament so vast
an expenditure of money for foreign travel
would, be surprised to learn how large a
proportion of it remains in this country
Nearly all the voyagers must travel some
distance by rail before beginning their
ocean journeys. The amount spent in this
way and in unusual expenses in prepara-
uons for the journey is at least S25 for
each person. This makes an item of So
100000 to begin with, which goes directly TO
H.
person who goes abroad, too finds it neces-
sary to purchase extra clothing and travel
ing supplies to the extent of a least $50
All the liners outfit for their voyages on
this side. American meats American can
ned vegetables and American ice cream
supply their tables. But the men who sail
and own the vessels are for the most part
foreigners. and their earnings go into the
pockets of foreign shareholders
The cost of first cabin passage by all the
great liners is 500 during the summer sea-
SON Second cabin passage costs from $40
to $50. About tWo-thirdS of the Americans
going abroad travel first cabin and one
third second cabin. Accordingly, if the es-
timated number of Americans go abroad
companies something like s17.OOO.OOO. or
very nearly the amount of the Spanish in
demnity.
Into Foreign Pockets.
Thu cost of the stay in Europe, or wher-
ever the tourist may elect to roam varies
of course according to mis- means. tastes
and methods. The rule ordinarily laid
down is an average of $40 per day for each
person to cover all the ordinary expenses
of travel. As the length of the usual stay
is from six weeks to two months the out
lay for each person. judged by this STAN
dard, will amount to between $500 and 5000
OF course, there are many who spend sew
eral times this amount and an average Of
$500 for each person is very conservative
estimate. According to this calculation the
amount spent by Americans on foreign
touring this summer will not fall short of
$lO0,000,OOo. or more than is spent by the
governments of the smaller European
countries for all their expenses.
One item in our foreign travel account
that amounts to surprising proportions is
the expenditure for tips. The American
abroad realizes that he is expected 10 tip
and if inexperienced ne is likely to ovcrdo
the matter, distributing his fees with a Law
ishness that excites the contempt rather
than the admiration of the recipients
Five per cent of the amount purchased is
the established European tip. Walters in
the restaurants expect that; more they do