Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-11-15
"See AMERICA First
What Motor Age Says Editorially
ABOUT COLORADO

The American tourist of today is
not awre of the scenic fascinations -of
the great mountain sections OF the
west; he is not aware of the exhiara-
the fothills OF the Rockies, as well
as crossing the main ranges through
the various passes; he is ignorant OF
the boundless wealth of the great
plateau land between the Rockies and
the coast ranges, and he has not
grasped the stimulating benefits that
come from weeks of out-of-door life
in this the great tourists playground
of the American continent.
Colorado has within her borders
more OF mountain scenery than all oi
Europe can boast of. The motorist
refrains from touring Colorado be-
cause he considers the roads impossi-
ble and is not familiar with the hotel
accommodations. The tourist who
has spent weeks and travelled from l.
500 to 1000 miles through the scenic
centcrs of Colorado is amazed at find
ing the roads through nearly all of
the mountain passes better than the
roads of the Adrondacks or the White
mountains. This is true. The state
of Colorado has, through its convict
labor system, accomplished wonders
in road construction. building roads
that are being as scientifically con-
structed as many of the famed high
ways through Switzerland; in fact,
Colorado is timing at equaling, il not
surprising. Switzerland by engineer
sible to travel through the heart of
the Rockies and not encounter grades
OF over o per cent.
4-s-t
Today it is possible for tourist
driving himself, and with a party OF
four, to spend 3 weeks in the heart oi
the Rockies; to travel during this
period 1900 miles, and TO get more
vistas of mountain scenery, fathcm-
less canyons and other formations
consequent upon mountain ranges than
he could obtain in similar period in
the Alpine sections OF Europe
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The trouble with the American tour
ist today is that he does not know his
own country; he does not know the
ystic beauties it affords the motorist
who seeks the far-away fields OF west
ern grandeur. Unfortunately, those
celled grandeurs OF the continent have
not advertised these beauties as they
should have. They have been content
to let American tourists spend their
tens OF millions annually with the ho-
tells and inns OF Europe. Today they
are not awakened to the possibilitics
of turning the tide OF touring from
our big cities westward,
49,
The roads are there, the scenery is
there, the hotels. to an extent, are
there; the directions for the tourist to
follof are there, the signboards are
more prolific than in New England;
but, the tourists are wanting 1t re-
mains for the citizens of Colorado,
for the citizens OF Arizona, for the cit
izens OF Montana, for the citizens OF
Utah and for the citizens of California
and the cosat states to unite and pro-
claim to the American tourist what
they have to offer. Without this ii is
unnatural to expect that the tide OF
touring will turn to the west as it
should.
See America First is the watchword
that all OF these western states should
keep constantly before them. Their
messages must be carried to the cit
les of the central west and of the AL
legheny slopes. One announcement
will not serve to change the course OF
travel; two will not suffice; hundred
may fail to accomplish the desired re-
suits. One thing is certain, namely.
that if the great army of American
tourists was aware OF the phenome-
nal scenery OF the sections referred
to. and aware OF the relatively good
condition OF the roads. and was aware
of the reasonable hotel accommoda-
tions afforded that there would be
millions spent in the west central and
mountain states next year which will.
unless something is done, be spent in
the various countries in Europe.
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The entire country is not aware of
the phenomenal strides that have