Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-10


autoist who stopped for tho night at n
certain small rural hotel IN Southern
New England few weeks ago was
amazed at the number of cars in it's
garage, and the wide variety Of their
license tags. Being an observant au-
toist, he decided to make an inventory
OF them. with the result that he dis
covered cars from every State in the
Union except four.
There was nothing unusual about the
situation-no special cause to bring all
OF those motor pilgrims to that par
ucular place. or course, Southern New
England is the autoist's favored run
ming ground, but an equally represent
tative gathering might have been
round at some point along the Santa
Fc Trail, or in Yellowstone National
Park. or the North Carolina Allie
Ehanies, or any one OF a number OF
other picturesque sections of the United
States.
This is touring year In America.
and the significance of the fact is dit,i-
cult to ovcrcstimate. For MANY wears
the number or persons who set out in
their own machines to see their own
country has been doubling annually
also IN other years. great numbers
nave gone TO Europe to tour; but this
year that hcld has been closed, and
the auto-pilgrim has literally over
run his native land. greatly TO the
benefit both OF himself and the pcoulc
of his own country.
In the first place, we are all getting
better acquainted. This wide wander
ing across and up and down the con
tincnt does more than any other thing
10 wipe out the provincial lines be-
tween East and West and North and
south. TO make nation OF us. And
pcSginS along the roads, stopping
whore night falls. getting acquainted
al
first-hand contact. will accomplish
more along this line in a summer than
year of ohservation-car travel
Again. this gasoline travel is cart
ing large quantities OF money from the
centers of population to places where
IL Is less abundant and more needed.
Many backward county has dated its
rise to new prosperity from the time
1t opened a good county pike. Tourist
business is estimated to bring New
England S100,o00.oOo n year and over
n third of that is brought by the auto
lists. The West and the Northwest are
also getting their shares. The coun-
try town that supports one small gro
Gerry store and three large garages Is
becoming common. The South is rap
idly getting in on the good thing.
Florida has a fine set Of roads already,
and the other Southern States arc up
building them. About 5000 cars made
tl' run sNOuin last WINTER. ne men
that know say the number will multi
ply by about five when there arc good
roads all the way
What Attracts Tourists.
The things that attract the tourist
arc getting to be recognized as impor-
tant assets, just like oil wells and coal
mines and timber. Principally, there
are four: roads. hotels, historical in
tcrest and scenery. Any county that
can produce and properly advertise
these things has made its fortune.
Roads and hotels can, of course. be
produced artiicially almost anywhere,
but unless one or both of the other
elements arc present or in the vicinity,
these Will not avail much. The Ameri-
can tourist wants good going, good
living. and something to go for. His
favorite objective, taking him by and
large, is a place OF historical interest
n battle field, one OF the log cabins
where Abraham Lincoln was born. the
spot where Stonewall Jackson fell, the
ruins OF Jamestown, or the place where
Pocahontas saved the life of Captain
John Smith. a large battle field. like
that of Gettysburg, for example well
kept, dotted with monuments and pea
nut stands. and presided over by
decrepit and reminiscent veteran, is
perhaps the surcst drawing card. Such
a battle field will produce moro in
tourist traffic in one year than 1t would
in corn in half n century Here is
something large and obvious in the
way of an attraction, something to
look at and talk about. something un-
mistakably genuine. But If there is no
battle field available. almost any other
good tangible antiquity, vouched for by
some historical society, preferably
having price of admission and Il
souvenir stand in connection, will
serve the purpose.
Almost any state in the Union ought
to be able TO produce some good point
OF historical interest that will advcr
tisc we'll 1t may be said without cX
aggeration that history has been going
on for n long time almost everywhere.
Furthermore, the educational possible
ties OF the idea are immense. Our
auto roads may in timo become n sort
OF complete illustrated history Of
America.
Western Scenery Takes. =.
Scenery comes next to historical in
terest as a drawing card, and this. Of
course, has been tho making OF the
cry that takes Tho tourist wants good.
striking scenery with plenty Of dis
lance. height and color. and frequent
changes. Tho modestly picturesque
does not hold him. He wants to be
thrilled and astonished. Building roads
over thrilling ana astonishing scenery