Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-29
Advert sinu the Summer Busina-e

Advertising the Summer Business.
The importance to Maine of what may
be called the summer people industry
is being more and more appreciated by
the people Of our State. 1t is one Of
our greatest industries and should be
fostered and encouraged by all possible
means. Many millions of dollars year.
ly are brought to Maine and left here
of people who come here during the
summer months from all over the land.
1t is not only the famous resorts of
the coast and interior that profit by
this influx, Bar Harbor, Old Orchard,
York, the islands, Rangeley, Kneo,
Poland and the many other places It
is not only these places, famed for
natural attractions, and the waters and
woods which attract the sportsman.
Every city and town profits by it, for
the tide of summer travel sweeps back
over the farms and to all the little vii.
lagos and ponds that dot the State. All
this. in a general way, is appreciated
by our people; but what we make
plea for is an inventory of this sum-
Nor business, complete and up-to-date
statistics concerning it, and figures and
facts which will show the world it's
growth and Importance and be the
surest means of increasing it.
New Hampshire, which is setting the
rest of New England numerous good
examples in these times, has done
something in this line which shows
that such an inventory and compila-
ton is not impossible. Labor Com
missioner Carroll of that state recently
published a report on this subject.
Tho figures are those for 1900 and we
publish some of the summaries here:
Capital invested in summer
property, so. 4f2 50 90
Number Of summer guests at
f3rmhouseS, boarding houses
and hotels. 153 ops
Number of persons occupying
cottages for the summer only % 352
Total summer recreation
Persons employed by summer
people and for their enter
tainment, 12,35i
employed, $685.. 9OI %
people, $i,9i7 ,s35. 90
railroad fares. COO 600 90
Cash received for stage fares e.215 ~
Cash received for lake
steamer fares. GoS59. 2l
and other buildings for sum-
mer use, OF M on
Total volume OF summer
business and investment Sc Cos. 3GI. Al
Could similar totals be given for
Maine they would far surpass those of
New Hampshire. for the summer BUSH
ness of the Granite State, large and
important as it is, is not to be COM
pared with that of Maine. In his re-
port for 1897, Labor Commissioner
Matthews touched upon this matter
and published some interesting tables
and articles. but with his limited faciIi
ties. and for lack of cooperation, the
work was of necessity very incomplete.
We wish Maine could give to the world
accurate and up-to-date figures on its
summer business. 1t would be the best
kind of an advertisement. would stim-
ulate our lawmakers to do more to en-
courage the industry, and would arouse
our business men to greater activity.
In New Hampshire also there is
another evidence of the hearty ap-
provai of the citizens of the policy of
making it the states business to bring
in summer business. There are now
issued n number of more or less pre-
tentious booklets and pamphlets by
the board of agriculture. setting forth
the advantages of New Hampshire
farms and summer homes. They are
more deliberately and more freely IL
Illustrated than any railroad advertising
matter ever seen. One of them is a