The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-04-04
INLAND EMPIRE NEWS

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Spokane, Wash, April 3.-From all
preliminary indications this year will
ge record breaker in tourist travel
to the northwest. Last year the war
reduced long distance auto travel ma
terially, but now conditions are
changed and besides, trourist travel to
foreign countries is virtually pro-
hibited under government regulations.
At the same time there are thou
sands upon thousands of fasteners
whose thots have been turned to the
Pacific northwest thru the wonderful
record made by this section in war
activities, patriotic drives, Red Cross
work and kindred interests. Added
to this is the further fact that so
many eastern people have taken no
vacations for two or three years.
Now they have money to spend and
with more autos available since the
government allows full factory output
the tide of northwestern travel has
already commenced to flow
Several towns along the lines of es-
tablished auto routes have made spe-
cial preparations to interest the tourist
by the erection of suitable signboards.
Others are prepared to distribute in
formative literature, and still others
like Davenport, Washington, have pro-
vided free thourist camping sites
where shelter, wood, water and light
will be at the disposal of the visitor.
And now comes the humble grape
vine to beautify alleys, to cover I'M
slightly buildings and alta the same
time provide lucious fruit at small
cost. A campaign has been started
through the home demonstration de-
partment of the Spokane Chamber of
Commerce to encourage the growing
of grapes, which it has been found
thrive in the soil of the surrounding
country.
Argument is made that grape vines
require but little attention, that they
are hardy and always attractive, and
that they provide a most desirable
fruit for domestic purposes. The sug-
gestion has been accepted with en-
thusiasm in a number of nearby COM
munities.
Changing conditions in religious
worship is emphasized by the recent
action of the Free Methodists who, in
holding their convention in Spokane,
voted to moralize the Columbia River
Conference for wider latitude in the
use of musical instruments in houses
of worship. Considerable discussion
preceded this action. Advocates of
more melody quoted at length from
the bible to prove that the scriptures
authorized the use of stringed instru-
ments. 1t was pointed uot that music
and other entertainment features had
been successfully adopted by some de-
nominations without in any way af-
fecting the general religious atmos
phere.
Another innovation came in the de-
cision to ask that churches be made
social centers for the young people and
that instrumental music, singing and
literary circles be established.
One hundred merchants of the In
land Empire, located at widely scat
tered points, have organized the
Greasy Corporation and started in the
wholesale grocery business. The
stockholders are to receive benefits
of cooperative buying. Similar whole
sale houses have been opened in "a
cities. The manager says that mem
bership of 300 to 400 is confidently
expected. He says the plan will re-
duce the high cost of living for the
consumer, and will be deterrent to
mail order houses, as it will give the
retail merchant an opportunity to OPP
crate at lower cost, thru which saving
the consumer should ultimately profit