Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-03-29
THE SUMMER VISITOR BUSINESS.

| Some of the people OF Vermont seem 10
take it for granted that the influx Of
summer visitors is largely matter Of
chance and that consequently it is use
less to make any particular effort to
direct the attention of the travelling pub
lie to the manifold attractions possessed
by the Green Mountain state. In far too
zens act on the supposition that people
who visit our State will come any way.
no matter how they are accommodated
or treated, and the former consequently
make no particular effort to promote
the comfort or convenience or pleasure
of summer visitors or strangers at any
other time of the year
This Indifferent and shftless way of
dealing with summer visitors is in marked
contrast with the business methods and
energetic means employed by our neigh
bors of the Granite State to develop
summer business, and when we contrast
the two systems, it is not difficult to un-
derstand why New hampshire has en-
joycd much greater profit from this
source.
We have before us a copy Of the special
report issued by the State labor bureau
of New Hampshire dealing with the in
terests and business of that common
wealth as Il summer resort. 1t recalls
the fact that in 1899 there was issued
| from the bureau of labor q report of
which was widely circulated and from
| which extracts were printed by the lead
| ing newspapers OF the country. The re-
port thus proved valuable as an sdver-
tisement for the States attractions. and
as n result of this and other measures
adopted to gain publicity for the beauties
of New Hampshire hundreds of thou
| sands of dollars have poured into that
| State both in the way Of investment and
, the spending of money by summer visi-
| tors.
| The present report shows that since the
| former one was published there has been
| a marked increase in the summer board
| ing business and a vast amount of money
has been expended in the erection of
summer homes Many farms which bare
| ly gave support to the families upon
them, have been sold To people Of other
States who have become summer resi-
dents Of New Hampshire.
During the six years since the last
report covering this industry. for it is
one OF our ncishborins States important
industries, there has been very large
increase in the amount of capital invested
| in summer hotels and boarding houses
More than one and IA half million dollars
have been expended at Breton Woods
| in the White Mountains alone; new
and magnificent hotel is now nearing COM
plcton an the Franconia Notch replac-
ing the long famous Profile house; and
Il modern hotel, costing over $4,000. is
being constructed on Lake Sunapee. In
other sections of the State there has also
been a large investment in new hotels
Such a marked growth in the summer
business being evident the worX OF secur-
ing the statistics of the same was com
menced late in the fan OF 1908 and the
figures obtained cover the summer sea !
son OF that year 1t was the purpose of
the commissioner Of labor to secure a |
correct report from every town where
boarders are taken, or summer cottages
are occupied, and it may be helpful in
Vermont to note how this work was done.
These statistics were secured, for the
town officers in IL position to know the |
facts concerning the business. In some
cases it was necessary to consult other
citizens acquainted with the subject
The report says there has been a mark |
cd change in the character of the sum-
mer business in New Hampshire in the
last few years. In former years the large
majority of the summer people were found |
in the hotels and boarding houses. while
IN the more recent years large numbers
have built camps and homes about our
lakes and rivers and among our hills
and mountains, whore they find rest and
enjoyment. At the same time there has
been increased demand for accommoda-
tons at the more expensive hotels where
every luxury can be found.
The report concludes as follows:
A comparison of the statistics herein
published with the report for 1899 shows
that the amount OF capital invested in |
the summer business has increased from
so, Ho,352 10 SEE 2s5.1 7s; and the number
Of summer visitors from 40, 80 to 500 243
The rapid increase in the summer bust |
ness of New Hampshire is due In large |
measure to the splendid railway facilities |
furnished by the Boston & Maine system. |
the Maine Central and Crank Trunk nail |
ways. The railroads have increased their