Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-30
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY
Hotels and Highways, and their In
fluc nee on Vermont's lie veIopme Mt.

Hucncr on Vermont's veIOpment. |
(From the st. Johnsbury Caiedonan.) 4!
In urging a greater development OF
summer business in Vermont the posi-
blities Of getting more boarders into
farmers houses seems TO be the aim OF
some Of the editorial writer's Of the state.
Boarders at farmers houses would be
good If the farmer had the time to give
them proper entertainment and modern
comfortable rooms and bath but without
these things the summer business among
Vermont farmers will make slow pro-
gress. There is however another way In
which Vermont might prepare for sum-
mer trade with great profit. and that Is
In the establishment Of line OF up-to-
date hotels connected with a belt line of
good roads.
People must recognize the great change
in travel that has been effected by tho
growing use of the automobile. Travel
Is no longer confined to valleys traversed
by a railroad but will go anywhere where
there are sufficient attractions. Good
scenery, good places to stop and good lines
Of communication form the attractions
that will draw the automobilists. With
an automobile at his command the tour
ist does not wish to make long stops at
one point. Like the humming bird he
wants to dash from beauty spot to beauty
spot. take a sip of its pleasure and move
on to new fields. So the longer this line
OF pleasure can be made In the state OF
Vermont the longer will the tourists stay
within its borders and the greater Will
be the profit to Eermonters.
At present too little OF the territory Of
Vermont is opened to the automobile
Tourist The norton Of nOn-reSt
dent tourists visit Manchester on the
west side. cross over to Woodstock on
HE east side and then take the shortest
route out of the State. An excellent ho-
tel at each place and the scenic route
between the two places arc tho attrac-
lions that secure this travel The value
~ this travel Is shown in the success OF
these two hotels and in the general In
crease in value Of real estate In their I'M
mediate vicinity In Manchester farms
that were placed in the grand list at
e1.NO and $500 a dozen years ago are
now in the list at from $4,000 to 80. ooo.
This increase in value has been made by
people coming to the hotel and liking the
location so we'll they bought property and
built fine summer homes there. The ho-
tel and its success has transformed the
place from decadent town into an up
to-date and thriving Vermont commun-
ity. While the increase in value of out
side property has not been considers BILE
and the demand for desirable home site.
there is constantly increasing.
With these examples before US 1t is
easy to see the value Of route ur the
west side OF the state to Burlington
across from there via Stowe and Norris
Vile to ST. Johnsbury and from here tr
Lake Memphremagog or into tx White
Mountains. This route would reach some
Of the finest scenery to be found In thu
state. Mt. Mansfield could be visited anC
the view from Walden heights and ir
Danvile OF the Green Mountains on ON
side and the White Mountains on thu
other Is one that can not be duplicated
elsewhere. From st. Johnsbury there arr
several attractive side trips and an hour.
run would take the tourist into the Whit
Mountain region, or a trip to Newpor
would furnish attractions that could no
fail to please any lover OF natural beauty
one requisite would be good hotels VIII
rooms with baths connected at prope
distances along the route There are al
ready good hotels at Rutland. Middle
bury. Burlington. Waterbury and fat
one a. Morrlsville. The natural division
of the trip from Burlington to St. Jc e
better accommodations on Mt. Mansfield
Then to complete the link better hote
in St. Johnsbury would nightly increas
the attractions OF tho route. So the i'm
portance Of the new hotel project her
that is being discussed becomes appar
ent.
Another necessity Is a line Of highwa
good enough to please the tourists an
this Is not difficult a problem a
might at first appear. 1t does not nea
macadam roads over the whole rout
but a rebuilding of the poorer sections an
a good system Of repairs for the rest {
the route. So the matter OF good road
Is feasible possibility.
Another thing thet could not fail to
beneficial would be an organized co-ope
alton OF the town authorities and res
dents along the whole line to devise way
and means and to form an effective fort
for the accomplishment OF this work.
Under present conditions the schen
seems desirable and II wisely managt
sure Of success. 1t is certainly worthy
serious thought and n deemed wise shou
be promptly and intelligently advocate