Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-11
rhs Summer Boarder Industry.


industries Of the State. Maine. from
its larger area and more varied attrac-
tions. entertains vastly more people
during the summer months than Ne"
Hampshire and the business is corre-
spandinely profitable and important
vet we have something TO learn from
New Hampshire in the systematic way
in which it advertises its charms 10 the
outside world. Maine as State mas
been nretty much content to be known
as 1.-The nations playground ana 'he
hunters paradise" and to trust 10 the
sumner visitors and the sportsmen .
On home and tell their friends about
our scenery and game. Perhaps II Is
because 1t has had more other INDUS
tries to depend upon than New Hamp-
shire possesses that it has failed to
hoom its summer business so persis-
tent,y and Systematically as its sister
state.
Fifteen wears ago the state OF New
Hampshire began systematic eHort 10
make known to the world its attrac-
tons for summer boardars. 1t was
conviction OF some of these most in
terestcd in the advancement OF the
state that here was 4 field for profitable
exploitation. New Hampshire agrlcui-
ture seemed to he decad, lent; its indus
tries we're holding their own, but the
character of the state itself seemed 10
he changing A concerted movement u
hiring summer boarders was started.
given its most powerful impulse by the
inauguration of the Old Home Week
idea OF Governor Rollins. and the state
Board Of Agriculture began to give us
time to inducing people to come to New
Uampshire to turn the abandoned
farms into summer homes. instead OF
irving to mako new farms out OF worm
ont ones-a task which had proved
homeless unless outside capital was in
terested.
In the latest publication Of the Stat"
OI
shire which IL summarized in the bos-
ton Transcript some OF the results Oh
this work are summarized. Compiled
statistics show that since 1890. the year
when the state immigration depart
m.pt launched its work. 12l3 summer
bomes have been built IN New Hamp-
shire. The number of summer visitors
has Increased from 5000 to nearly 2e.-
oOe each year. and thu cost OF summer
home. improvements since 1881. sum-
mer hotels and improvements. board
ing g-house and farmhouse improvements
nm account of summer board. reaches
IN. grand total Of Sll.Yei.e,5. A typical
town is Warner. near Kearsarge Noun
tain. which has the general attractions
Of New Hampshire towns for summer
boarders. and in which is summer
ZONES have been bull, in the last L"
wears nj a cost Of 81 500. while $14soo
has been spent on imprSE"ments. 1t Is
estimated that 3s5oO0 WAS left In this
town last season by summer boarders.
aud this town is by no means excep-
tional In the town of Carol the prop
er,y which is occupied Only in the sum-
mer pays three-fourths of the town
taxes. In Conway, White Horse AMI
Cathedral Lodges were bought by sum-
mer visitors and about enc hundred
acres OF land in both given to the state
for perpetual preservation. or course
the figures for Maine in regard to num-
homes built. and :ha summer hotel
property would be vastly larger than
those for New Hampshire and it would
be most interesting # equally reliable
and complete statistics could be pro-
cured.
Nature gave to. Maine and New
Hampshire majestic mountains. beaut-
full lakes. a charming :eacOast pure.
bracirg atmosphere. To these gifts
man has added much. and sCme things
that were overlooked at first are being
given heed. The forests and fish AMI
game are being. preserved; the high
ways are coming to deserve the name
of good roads," The people of these
states have come to 4 realization OF the
fact that, while they have been denied
In many sections fertile soil to pro-
duce great crops, they have something
which the states which produce the
worlds food supplies cannot oHer.
Along with the increased appreciation
from outside Of the beauties of northern
New England has come a general desire
within for social advance which shall
be commensurate with the progress In
material things, and each good work
brings along some other, making for
human progress.
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