The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-11-14
PARK TOURISTS
ARE TABULATED
Figures Showing Trend
of Travel During
Summer of 1919
RECORD OF 1915

During the tourist season of Vel
lowstone National park, which closed
early in October, all travel records of
the great park were broken. The
aggregate number of persons visiting
the park during the year ended Oc-
tober ~, 1919, was 62,261, an in
crease of 1896 over the former
record year Of 1915, when 81, 1896
people entered the gates of the Yel-
lowstone. 1t must be remembered,
however, that 1915 was the Expo
sition Year" and large part of the
visitors of that year came to the park
on side tripe enroute either to or
from San Francisco. The average
annual travel for the past ten years
inclusive of 1915 travel, was approxi-
mately $4,000, and exclusive of the
Exposition Year" visitors averaged
about $4,000.
= On August 5, 1919, 1885 tourists
Der entering in any one day in the
history, of the Yellowstone.
Automobile Travel
Even more striking than these
figures showing the total travel in
the park this year are the statistics
of the motor travel-that Is, the
number of privately owned automo-
biles driven through the park, and
the number Of tourists carried by
them. A total of 10,737 cars en-
tered the park during the year,
carrying 1885 people. These cars
came from 46 states of the union,
the District of Columbia, Canada, the
Canal Zone, and Denmark. North
Carolina and South Carolina sent no
private motorists through the park
this year, but in August Governor
Thomas w. Beckett of North Caro-
lima and Governor R. A. Cooper of
South Carolina toured the Yellow
stone with fifteen other governors.
These two states, were also repre-
ed by large number of people
who came to the park by train.
The greatest number of private
automobiles entering the park in one
day was 202 on August 4, 1919.
This broke all previous records.
The total of I0,137 cars, carrying
1856 people, should be compared
with the previous record travel by
private motorists in 1917, when
5,703 cars, carrying 22,117 visitors
registered at the park gates. The
private automobile travel for 1919
was nearly double that of two years
ago.
Motorists Camp Out
OF the 1886 people who toured
the Yellowstone in their own cars
this year, approximately 60 per cent,
or nearly $4,000 brought with them
their own camp equipment, and in
most cases used and apprecited the
special camp grounds where wood,
water toilet facilities and at Nam
moth Hot Springs, electric lights,
were furnished without charge.
At times during the summer these
camp grounds were overcrowded, and
before the opening of next season
they will be expanded and new areas
opened for this use. Likewise more
wood will be provided, and con-
siderable sum will be expended in
improving the water and sanitation.
The popularity of these camps fully
warrants their development on a
large scale.
Travel by Rail
xOr2&e 21,275 tourists who came
to. tlsss$srk by rail and utilized the
facilities of the Yellowstone Park
Transportation company, 1853
made the complete tour of the park
roads. In addition, 1856 made short
trips.
AS rule tourists visiting the park
by rail remained nearly five days,
while the private motorists spent an
average of six days. During the
months of July and August there
were between 5000 and 5000 people
in the park every day, most Of them.
camping out and enjoying the beau
ties and wonders Of their mountain
playground in their own way.
Several thousand people spent a
considerable period Of time in the
park this year. This tendency to re-
gard Yellowstone National Park as
q great scenic area and vacation land
where weeks and months can be
spent in healthful recreation is very
gratifying to the National Park
service, which Is trying very hard to
get the public away from the idea
that this big park is little more than
a land of extraordinary natural
phenomena. 1t is one of the most
beautiful scenic regions Of the world,
Continued on page ten