Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-05-07
GREAT RESORT
ON COAST, PLAN
OF PORTUGUESE
Estoril, Near Lisbon, to Be
Made Most Famous Pleas
ure Place in World
HAS A LOOK OF HELLAs


world in general, as never before.
When an enterprise such as this is
conducted on the millions scale, there
Is much graft, and plenty to go round.
So now there are accusations, and
incidentally there are tales Of vast
wastage, which also is perhaps in
eyitable in the cast of an enterprise
on such a large scale. especially when.
the Sociedad being in want of funds,
a semi-national institution cane to the
rescue with a loan of 1900 contos, con-
to being a thousand escudos or milreis,
and an escudo or milreis being nominally
the equivalent of an American dollar,
Enough worth less than half that on the
exchange now.
So the government, the press. the
Spectators, and everybody of an en-
terprising turn, is involved in this ire
mendous scheme of turning Estoril into
the biggest and most magnificent pleas
ure ground possible.
Whatever money may or may not be
made out Of it in the future-and it can
only be made TO pay on such a grand
scale by the world recognizing its merits
and supremacy and patrOnizing 1t ac-
-eordingly. as it may do-much is being
made out of il now, though the less acute
among those concerned are losing by it.
But REAL WORK
is BEING DONE.
However different from many other
speculations of its kind. real work is
being done, and the scheme goes for
ward.
II is really not so very far from COM
pletion, and 1t is an extraordinary bust
ness.
Enormous sums have been spent on it
already
Money is being poured into this enter
prise, which comprises the greatest
pleasure grounds in the world.
The handsomest and most compre-
hensive and best equipped OF such re-
sorts might be put in a corner of the
elaborated domains OF Estoril.
Portugal in general is favoring
scheme for getting back her war losses
and making her future profits out OF
visitors.
This being so. she has given much
attention TO the question of "turismo,"
to which all south European nations in
their shortage OF money are turning
their thoughts. especially Spain and
Italy.
Some cynics say it is the easy way
Of making a national living. and is only
a gIorifed form Of begging, which natur-
ally suits certain classes Of people or
nations.
However that is probably an exaggera-
ton.
Portugal in every way possible is about
to encourage the visitor to come TO ad-
= mire her and take advantage Of her
climatic excellencies. which, on the strip
OF coast west of Lisbon. known as the
Portuguese Riviera, where EstOril is, are
really fine.
Practically the whole of a countryside
has been taken over by the Sociedad for
the purposes Of this enterprise, an en-
terprise In which one man has been
prominent.
Some miles of land, covered with FIR
trees and shrubs Of all descriptions, ris-
Ing on a hillside almost from the sea-
shore at Estoril, were taken over, and
work commenced upon 1t according to
plan for providing every kind OF out
door and indoor entertainment on the
most luxurious scale.
The place is twenty five knometers
from Lisbon, and at present is connected
BY an inferior railway system which as
q T1le, needs an hour for the journey,
wits stops about every mile.
The SocIedad will alteL all that.
In the meantime the first thing to do
was to set about removing the primitive
ness Of this hillside and the valleys be-
yOnd, by means, first Of all. OF roads, for
in these parts OF Portugal, as in most
others. there are either no roads at all
or none that should be called by such a
name.
Scores Of miles Of fine new roads, well
cut and engineered, the best roads in
s>CCFtugal, have been made.
SCHEME ALREADY
NEAR COMPLETION.
But apart from the roads, the
scheme has advanced greatly toward
competition, and a view from the Estoril
railway station OF what has been done
might lead to the idea that little more
remains to be carried through.
For more than a quarter Of a mile up
the hillside, rising grandly in smphi
theeter, beautiful gardens have been laid
out, and even In the middle Of winter
flowers grow thick there, while the scene
Is framed with long rows Of tropical
palms.
The arrangement Of the gardens and
paths is admirable, one feature being a
series Of little lakes rising on different
levels from each other.
There is a long curving arcade of
shops on each side at the entrance to
the gardens, COrinthlan columns IN front
giving them dignity to suit the surround
lngs.
Half way along the gardens, a short
distance back on the right, is the half
completed hotel, which is part Of the
scheme. and which will be one of the
biggest, hotels In Europe-certainly the
biggest in the peninsula.
Adjoining it Is the also half-compIeted
bathing establishment - a magnificent
edifce with a most imposing entrance,
and an interior Ioftiness and grandeur
indicating that the architect has studied
deeply the ruins OF the Baths Of Caracalla
In ancient Rome. At the far end of the
gardens, looking down their full length
is the completed frontage of the new
casino, which viii embrace theaters. con-
cert halls and the like.
This and much more is at the core of
the estate Of pleasure, round about the
gardens.
Beyond them, in various places among
the surrounding parks and woods to
which the paths and the new roads lead,
are many other attractions.
- There is a new golf course laid out on
the grand plan of modern times, and the
only one of this kind in the peninsula,
except that at Ell PardO. near Madrid.
There is fine polo ground with grand
stand the whole length of it, tennis
cOurts-and everything.
On the top of a hill overlooking the
gardens and the whole scene, is the shell
Of an Acknowledging building, which
Is to be used as some kind of a house of
entertainment or refreshment for those
who climb up there.
The whole scene has a look Of Hellas
about 1t.
Frankly, Portugal herself, from her
own people, can never make it do so.
The prouotbrr hint hot fhav ia