The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-14
Tourist Business
Is Important

FlOFlud is one OF the mOSI lupoIt-
ant Of all the tourist states and Is
probably the most important winter
tourist state, therefore the tourist
business is vitality important to Flor
ida and as it is the attitude Of the
federal government not to interfere
with business any more than is nee
essary, there is very good prospect
that the tourist business in Florida
this winter will be nearly as large as
usual.
This state is doing its full share on
all drives in the interest and further
ance of the war but it will not be
able to continue in as strong a meas
ure if one of its principal lines of
business is materially affected Mil
lions Of dollars are expended in Flor
ida every winter by visitors and this
has enabled a great many people to
subscribe freely for Liberty Bonds,
Red Cross, War Savings Stamps, Y.l
M. c. A. and other war activities.
Many of these people are dependent
entirely on the tourist business for
their income and they would suffer
a considerable loss and probably
hardship if anything should interfere
with the conduct Of their business
this winter.
To obviate this the West Palm
Beach Chamber of Commerce has
taken the initiative for statewide
cooperative effort to lay the matter
before the federal directors Of trans
portation so they will be fully in.
formed of the Importance Of this
matter to a great many people. To
accomplish this a meeting OF state
I civic organizations, hotel men and
officials has been called for Jackson?
/, vile next Thursday, August 10, and
9 ii is hoped that plans can be formu-
? lated at this meeting for laying the
1 whole matter before the authorities
d in Washington and the senators and
q representatives from this state, SC
0 that no effort will be overlooked to
!, secure adequate transformation, with
: out interfering with the transporta
5. ton of troops and other war avtivl
: ties, for those who desire to spent
: all or a part of the winter in Florida
of This meeting will undoubtedly bt
70 attended by representatives from ev
!. cry board Of trade and chamber 0
a commerce in Florida and by man.
: hotel men, as it is imperative that
:, showing of good proportions be mad
,e in order to thoroughly convince tn
s. director general and the regional o.
an rectors of the transportation facil
an ties of the country, that this is Sc
rious matter for Fliroda and seriou
- interruption of the established toul
list business and work real hare
g. ship on many people and institution
w and would result in curtailing tn
government revenue to an apprec
able extent. There Is little dout
that an almost normal tourist bus
- ness will be done in Florida this viii
ter il transportation facilities ar
" provided, as a great many people wi
y want to come to this balmy climat
~ to escape the rigors of winter in tn
sections where quantities of coal al
: necessary to maintain even a cor
Portable condition and where there
very strong likelihood of anoth'
scarcity of coal this winter TT
q more people who come to Florida II
q less coal will be necessary, therefor
q as conservation idea it is advisab
q to encourage tourist travel to Il
q South.
q The people Of Florida would rath
suffer a loss than ask the COVER
ment to do anything that would
any way hamper it in the well la
plans for winning the war but '
believe a reasonable ratio of trar
portation can be provided to Ia
care of the travel South as it W
relieve other sources of congesti
and assist the people of Florida
keep their end up in the vario
drives for financial assistance to t
government. Jacksonville Tim
Union.