Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-23
A SUNNI PARADISE.
Maine the Popular Play ground
of the Nation.
$4,000 People in States Army Of
Summer Visitors.
Press Chief Factor in Bringing States
Press Chief Factor in Bringing State
a Attractions to Public Notice.

lions that rather surprised me. Inc
article was well written by one VINO
evidently knew his subject and had
given it considerable thought and
study. The article in question treated
on the subject of vacations and the
amount of money involved. l always
knew that we were a nation of restless
inortals but was hardly prepared for
the magnitude of the tourist business
ana the immense amount of money
mat changes hands every twelve
months. The collection of data and the
compiling of statistics for this article
must have been quite a task. The au-
thor goes on to say that between $1,000
ooO and $10,000,000 persons in the
United States take a vacation every
summer, and that they spend from
S4oo,OO0,O00 to $500, 100000 yearly in pur-
suit of pleasure. Comparing these fig
ures with the United States census it
shows that pretty liberal per cent. of
the entire population of the United
States believe that all work and no
play makes Jack a dull boy.
AS | glanced the article over l
naturally wondered if Maine was get
ting her share of all this tourist bust
ness and the tidal wave of gold dol
lars that was sweeping over the coun-
try. Judging by the immense amount
OF travel over the railroads coming
into the State and the B. & M. and the
NJ. c. r. r. being obliged to run sew
eral of their fast trains in sections, I
naturally concluded that Maine had
lost none Of her prestige as vacation
State. Pursuing my enquiry a little
further l saw an estimate made some
time ago by Colonel Boothby, mayor of
Portland, the official head of the ticket
department of the M. c. r. r., who
said that it was estimated that 100000
people annually visited Maine and dur
ing their. stay in the State left the
enormous sum of $10,000,000 to $12 ,000,
coo. This statement seems almost in
credible, but coming as it does from
one who in his official capacity as G.
P. & 7. A. of Names big trunk line
has made a study of the tourist situa-
ton in all its phases from the immf-
grant in the rear coach to the gentle
man in the Pullman, and who holds the
key to the situation, l believe this
statement to be both fair and con-
sentative. If correct Maine has every
reason to be proud of the position she
holds in the states as the tourist State
in the Union.
When Sir Ferdinando Georges OBJ
tanned from King Charles I. in the year
1859 the charter of the province of
Maine he little thought he was form
ing the nucleus for the greatest nation
al playground in the country. He
builded better than he knew, for today
Maine with her wealth of natural
scenery, of waterways, mountains and
valleys, her rugged coast line, and
above all her matchelss climate stands
pre-eminently the vacation State of the
Union. In looking at the map of the
old Pine Tree State one sees in the
31,776 miles of her area, or more cor
rectly speaking 20,320,240 acres, some
5000 rivers and streams like tiny
threads winding their way towards the
ocean. One also sees some 1900 lakes
and ponds generously sprinkled
through it's broad acres, affording
sport and pleasure to the thousands of
visitors who annually summer within
it's borders. Inland the wooded high
lands attract those who are seeking
the primeval forest, while every section
of the old Pine Tree State is made COM
Portable by the prevailing summer
winds. The coast line facing on the
broad Atlantic is some 226 miles direct,
but following the sinuosities of it's
splendid beaches and bays the coast
line stretches out until it is estimated
70
Names greatest length of territory is
some 800 miles while it's maximum
width is some 100 miles.
Prosperity has been knocking at
Names doors for years; every year
sees new faces at the various resorts,
every year brings the old ones back
again. All along the various lines from
Boston down little villages have
sprung up that during the summer
months find their hospitality taxed to
the utmost to accommodate the influx
OF summer visitors that have been at
tracted to the nations playground.
Every little town and hamlet has some
picturesque attraction, a summer para
disc to the traveller who is seeking
health and pleasure away from care
and noise in the hot and dusty cities.
But Maine has not always held the
proud position she now holds as the
nations playground; it is true her re-
sources were here. her rugged coast.
her mountains and streams and her
matchless climate; these were her
stock in trade, but years ago they
were practically unknown to the great
army of tourists who annually visit
| our shores. People had to be told of
! Maine and her attractions, her wealth
of natural scenery, her miles and miles
of game preserves. One naturally asks
who has done all this and to whom are
we indebted for all this wealth of sum-
mer travel that is pouring out upon
us, and whose numbers are increasing
every year. First and foremost comes
the press whose columns have always
been open to the advancement OF
Maine; gifted writers have graphically
painted word pictures of Maine and hel
scenic gems; editorial writers have put
their brightest thoughts in words OF
praise of the old Pine Tree State. Next
to the press comes the railroads whose
lines gridiron our State. Every roat
or trunk line maintains an advertisins
bureau of its own, a bureau of pub
licity, where are tons upon tons O.
booklets, pamphlets and folders show.
ing view after view in photograph,