The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-12-22
DISCUSSING
THE TOURIST
BUSINESS
fFrom Wednesday, Advertiser }

tFrom Wednesdays Advertiser.)
"what IL being accomplished In the
tourist business?' asked Mr. spalding at
yesterdays meeting Of the Hawaii
Promotion Committee.
Il think the outlook is bright" re-
Piled Secretary Wood cheerily. Il have
no hesita tion in saying 50. II is. or
course. hard TO say just what has been
accomplished.
IAN important suggestion made to
me by Mr.. Stevenson. the proprietor a
large hotel in Colorado Springs. and
who is now visiting Honolulu, is that
| II the steamship companies can only be
! Induced 10 establish basic round-trip
rate OF, say 800. II would undoubtedly
make a vast difference in the amount
/ OF traffic 10 the islands. II the price
were but 500 II would appeal more
generally to the travelling public.
Travellers would not care what the
special prices might be on the steamer
Itself. and some would not mind paying
a large extra sum for certain stateroom
accommodations. but the basic price OF
ticket at 800 is what Mr.. Stevenson
believes would make the best appeal
for the island trip"
Inc secretary went on 10 say AihA ~
had received letters from Mr.. Mullen.
assistant managers of the Palace hotel,
San Francisco, In which he stated that
interest in Hawaii was largely increas-
| ing. Mr. Wood stated that people were
not travelling much during the holi-
days. but after the holidays, travel
should be on the increase.
A letter was read from j. p. Ball
formerly an attorney in Honolulu, but
now established I'm Seattle in the law
business. giving some valuable point
ers on attracting tourists from the
northwest. especially those from Alas
ka who come down TO Seattle and
Portland in the winter time to spend
! their fortunes and have a good time
Mr.. Ball will be thanked for his sug-
gestions and next spring, Mr. Wood,
who may possibly make a trip into the
northwest, will have a talk with HIM
Mr.. Wood proposes to take from five to
six weeks on a trip in Washington,
Oregon, and make an effort to arouse
interest in Hawaii as a winter resort
Mr. Balls letter was as follows:
MR.. BALLS LETTER.
Seattle, Wash, Dee. 5, 1905.
To the Chairman and Members of the
| nHWdll 1TOuOllOn
Gentlemen: i have read with much
interest the initial statement to your
Committee of Mr.. II. =. Wood, your
new and wide.awake secretary, and its
perusal has suggested thought to my
mind that may be of value, and which,
with your Indulgence, / will briefly pre-
, sent.
As you are aware, Seattle is the ter
minus of the Northern Pacific and the
Great Northern railways, and also the
terminus, by traffic arrangements, for
the Canadian Pacific, the Burlington,
and the Union Pacific systems.
1t is also the home port of Jim Hall g
mammoth steamers, the Minnesota and
Dakota, which going to and returning
from the Orient carry large numbers of
tourists. Several other lines to the
Orient of lesser carrying capacity, also
make regular trips from Seattle and
Vancouver, b. c.
, In addition thereto, there are more
than score of large steamers plying
between this port and numerous points
in Alaska that carry to and fro thou.
sands of passengers yearly. In fact
Seattle is a great focal point for very
large and constantly increasing travel.
ing public, whereat rendezvous at all
times of the year, but especially in win.
ter, several thousand people of leisure
and means, who are ever on the look
out for some congenial place where
they may while away the time either in
quest of pleasure or health. Aside
from the constant and increasing influS
Of the general travelling public into
Seattle, there are domiciled here eaci
winter several thousand Alaskans OF
means, who come hither to radiato
herefrom TO outside places where they
may enjoy themselves and spend theil
accumulations as may best suit thei
fancy
The Seattle Post t-Intelligencer in I
recent article estimated that no fewe
than three thousand Alaskans wer'
then in this city 10 spend the winte
either here or elsewhere, and when il i
remembered that they are generally
people of large and ample means ou
for good time, and TO spend none,
freely, il must be conceded that thei
patronage is well worth contending for
! do know that there is very gen
eral demand here for facts and figure
concerning the Hawaiian Islands b,
people Of means and leisure, who ar
casting about for an acceptable objec
tive point.
Since my return here last Februar
from Honolulu, have been besiege
by large number OF people to furnis
general and specific information pei
tanning to the climate, hotel faeilitie
health qualities, pleasure 0pportnnitie
cost Of trip, cost Of living, and oths
details Of the Hawaiian Islands, all Q
which ] have endeayored 10 answer
the fullest manner possible out OF
stock Of information gained by q res
denee Of more thar two years In Hon
, lulu,
II has often occurred TO mo chs
your Committee is making a great mi
take IN not reckoning with, and TeaeI
, ing out for, the thTong OF tourists wi
} make Seattle their rendezvous, oT poll
. o. departure, Aside from San Fra
/ cisco and Los Angeles, there 10 80 pla'
where more missionary work s0nId
: probably done 20 secure tourists Il
: your Islands, than ~ Seattle, He
; there 10 an ever pushlng and snTRiI
! ihT0ng VI people eager 90 no Hhe