New-York tribune., 1909-11-19
TOURING In AUTOS
FRANCE DRAWS MANY
Protest against Tar on Viat-
mg Motorists.

With the approach Of winter and the re-
sulting cessation of motor car travel. one OF
the daily newspapers Of Paris has issued
resume OF the automobile season By secur-
ing the number of triptychs or customs
passports issued by the various clubs ana
associations. and estimating from other
sources. Il * made clear that the present
season has seen more Americans IN France
than ever before. The paper says:
There are so many doOrvays into
France that IN Is practically impossible 10
determine accurately the number of auto
mobllists who annually pass through for
the purpose OF travelling over the highways.
Such figures as are available. however
show that the season Just closed brought
a larger number Of automobile visitors from
America and England than any preceding
year"
IL is estimated In the seasons resume,
counting six persons as an average party
that twenty -four thousand tourists from
America and England visited France this
year. and the estimate is made the basis
for criticism OF French government
proposal for a tax on visiting tourists the
argument being;
1T is not always realized what valuable
asset the American and English tourist is
mains one month. The American rarely
stops less than six weeks. while the Eng
lishman is satisfied to run over for a
much shorter period The minimum ex-
penditure of a party Of automobilists
is 30 francs a day for each person.
this sum representing hotel accommodation.
food. upkeep OF the automobile and incl
dentals, but ignoring amounts spent on
works of art. presents and other items.
on such a basis the twenty-four thousand
visitors introduced into France this year
by the automobile must have left behind no
less than 9s.ooo0Oo francs. In view of such
a train Of gold the proposal of the French
government to impose a tax on visiting
automobilists appears 10 be an unsOund
policy"
That the clubs that supply infOrma-
tion 20 tourists and the spare parts and
information bureaus of American motor
car manufacturers have done away with
many OF the bOthers of tourists in former
years Is shown concluslvely by the follow
ing extract from the seasons resume.
~ feature of the development Of foreign
travel Is the number OF Americans who
now visit Europe in American automobiles.
Everything has been made so simple by the
various automobile associations that the
American automobilist plans for tour
through Europe with as little fear OF dif-
ficulties as If he we're about to make a run
through the Berkshires.
The extent Of this movement is shown
by the fact that three leading factories
have opened Paris travel bureaus in the
last two years. y. s. Goodsill, I'm charge
of the Pierce-ArrOw Motor Car COmpany's
Faris branch, reports 112 automobiles Of
that make in the first nine months of the
year. and an estimate of 125 for the whole
year.
'"The greater number OF automobiles are
the large six-cylihder models. carrying five
to seven persons. They usually remain I'm
Europe from six weeks 20 two months, Wis
iting France. Germany. Italy and England
principally. Intending tourists should OBJ
tain membership in the Touring Club 9f
France before leaving New York, and at
the same time secure a triptych for pa ssins
the French. Italian or German customs n
they purpose landing IN one Of those coun-
tries"