Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-07-16
The Influence Of The Summer Visitors.

nual influx of summer visitors to
Maine? This question in its relation.
however. to all New England rather
than to Maine alone. was the subject
of q symposium in the Sunday edition
of one of our great newspapers. Many
visitors, mainly permanent residents of
the leading resorts and sections fire.
quented by summer visitors. briefly
expressed their opinions. Naturally
they took many points Of view and
touched upon many phases of the
question, but the general summary
upon which all agreed was that the
effect has been something stupendous
and the influence almost all for the
better.
Here in Maine there is hardly sec
ton where revolution has not been
worked in the last third Of century
by summer visitors from beyond our
State borders. The increasing army
of vacationists. tourists. sportsmen.
health seekers, and former residents
who come to Maine. each summer.
from all over the country is a mighty
factor in the material prosperity Of
our State Their transportation and
entertainment make up one of our
greatest industries. and one whose
permanency seems much more assured
than our agriculturure or numbering
or fishing or ice cutting. Not only have
the, scores of important resorts that
dot our coast been built up and such
great inland resorts as Poland, kineo
and the RangeIeys created. but almost
every country town is feeling the bene-
fetal results of these thousands and
thousands of visitors. 1t is hard to esti-
mate the amount of money they leave
behind but we know that it is very
large and that its vitalizing influence
is felt in every channel of industry
and commerce.. Such a summary as
this may be trite and unnecessary, but
10 citizen of Maine should fail to ap-
preciate the vast importance of our
summer business and to do his share
to foster it in every manner.
But 1t is not only on the material
side that the summer visitor is having
much influence on Maine. Not only
have great hotels been built by the
reclaimed. thousands of homes along
the shore and on the country hillsides
made happier and more attractive.
and the whole State made millions rich
er in dollars and cents. This is much and
there is more to come. but there is also
another side. The summer visitor has
brought many rural community and
fisherman's hamlet into closer touch
with the world, introducing many of
tional and social living. Many the
library started and many the summer
churches opened through the pres
ence and influence of the summer
visitors. No doubt. some influences
not good have been brought along
also, but it is not to be doubted that
the better overwhelmingly Outweighs
the baser. No doubt, the acquaintance
with the city visitors and the atmos-
dreds of Maine boys and girls to dis
tant centers. but this exodus had be-
gun before the summer visitor was
numerous. If the summer visitors
have drawn many away. the increased
business caused by them has kept
many in Maine who would otherwise
have left us. And it is gratifying to
know that those who go away are COM
ing back. at least for the summer, in
increasing numbers. The Old Home
spirit is in the air and is one of the
most encouraging things which the
new century brings to Maine and all
New England.
And there is another good point to
remember. If the summer visitors are
doing much for Maine. so also is Maine
doing much for them. They get their
moneys worth for all they spend here
The best proof of this is that they
come again and bring their friends
with them. Nature has made Maine
to be the summer playground of the
nation. with. charms and attractions
such, as no other state can boast. and
wise choice is made by those who
come here in the summer months fo,
health or rest or sport. And let us
hope, also, that something of our owr
native New England honesty OF
purpose and 'manliness of char.
acter may so challenge the EN-.
ulation of those who come amons
us that, even while we gain so much
they shall not in any sense be the
losers by their coming. There is room
and welcome for them all, and ma,
the season of 1901 prove for Maine ant
its summer guests the best season vet
"A merciful man is merciful to hi
beast" and never is the mercy of ma