Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-22
AUTOMOBILE ASSN
SEES GREAT 1915
Indications Are That There Will
Be Thousands of Tour
lists in State

The belief that Names summer
tourist business next year was to be
the greatest in the history of the
State, principally because OF the
European war. was expressed in the
annual report of D. w. Noegg, Jr.,
chairman of the Touring Information
committee at the annual meeting OF
the Maine Automobile Association
held at Portland last night.
In making this statement Mr. Hoegg
said:
THE outlook for tourist travel in
Maine for 1915 was never better. This
Is shown by scores of letters received
from individuals, hotels and tourist
bureaus all over the country. The
war in Europe will cut out the great
swarm of pleasure seekers who usual
ly go across the water, and even II the
conflict should end. the countries VIII
not be in condition to handle tourists
the coming summer. The two exposl-
lions in California will attract large
number, but there will be thousands
who do not care to get into the croWus
which will be the feature GOT the
Pacific coast all summer, and other
thousands who cannot afford to make
the long Journey across country, ana
New England is going to get the great
majority. And New England means
Maine! The Pine Tree States is the
most fascinating touring ground IN an
America and, thanks to the Maine
Automobile Association and klnoreu
organizations. about everyone Is De-
ginning to know it
In commenting on the business
handled by the Touring Information
department of the assoclatlon' inc
chairman said that from early sum
mer until late fall, the head once OF
the Touring Information Bureau IN
Portland was visited by thousands
seeking information covering the en-
tire State and even New HaInpsniie'
Vermont and the provinces Oh New
brunswick, Nova Scotia ana Quepee'i
So great was the business that 1t was
necessary to employ people to give
their time exclusively to the work.
One of the great tasks of the year
was that of directing tourists arouaa
the large amount Of road work IN
nrogress everywhere in Maine 1his
included the signing Of the detours, III
conjunction with the State highway
Denartment. the issuing of booklets,
describing the work in progress, ana
giving the roads around, as Wen aS
writing hundreds of letters ana eA-
nlsining to other hundreds just now 70
avoid the new work and use the pest
roads in doing it. 1t was almost I'M
possible to get good roads around th9
work in every case, but the oetoufs
we're the best obtainable and We're
chosen by officials of the association
who gave their time personally to in
Vestigate them.
Continuing the chairman says;
TT is unnecessary to say that TINS
work undoubtedly resulted in the say
ing of thousands of dollars for the
state. without these detours, signed
and described as they were, hundreds
of tourists would have been dlscour7
aged and would never have come into
Maine. Not only was the tourist
traffic looked after, but scores of
travelling men and others transacting
business through the medium of the
automobile, were given every possible
attention"
In his report Mr.. Hoegg made the
statement that Maine people were
working against their own interests.
Regarding this he said
There We're scores of instances
where Maine people worked against