The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-01-09
(From the Minneapolis Tribune:)


Visits of tourists in Minnesota
have grown tremendously in the past
two years. Fully 10000 more tourists
vacationed in Minnesota's summer
playground districts during the past
summer than in any previous year.
With the state of Minnesota Off
|cially interested in the exploitation
of it's natural scenic resources,
through the newly created Minnesota
Land and Lake Attractions board
which is directing the activities of
the Ten Thousand Lakes of Mime
sofa association, an extensive cam
paign of publicity has begun to show
results.
Never before have the motor high
ways of the state been so thickly
lined with automobiles bearing Ii
cense tags from all parts of the
United States and Canada.
Is Great Resource for State.
This great influx of recreation
seekers has brought about a realiza-
tion by the people of Minnesota the
vast possibilities this one great nat
ural resource offers.
The growth of this enterprise is
making it necessary for hotel and
summer resort proprietors to increase
their\ accommodations and improve
their facilities. Practically every
summer resort in the state is building
additional hotel accommodations and
in great many of the cities, new
hotels are being erected to take
care of the great tourist travel that
will come to Minnesota. hereafter as
result of the program of publicity
being administered by the Ten Thou
sand Lakes of Minnesota Association.
Minnesota has long been famous
for it's many lakes and recreational
advantages, but not until 1917, when
the Ten Thousand Lakes of Minnesota
association was organized, was any
effort made to capitalize this great
asset. The first campaign of pub
licity for Minnesota's summer play
grounds in 1918, under extraord-
mary conditions, with travel prac-
tically at standstill, demonstrated
what great benefits could be derived
Iby the entire state through the prop
er exploitation and development of
its scenic, climatic and recreational
attractions.
State Furnishes $4,000.
1t was the splendid results obtained
in this first year of activity that i'm
PEELED the 1888 Legislature to set
aside an appropriation of $4,000 to
further the work for two years.
There is no state in the Union that
can offer as much in the way of sum-
lmertime play as Minnesota. With a
M
campaign of publicity and education
Minnesota will assume her proper po-
sition among the best known vaca-
ton lands of the world
The Ten Thousand Lakes of Mime
sofa Association, although limited in
the extent of it's campaign by lack
of funds, has been able to put forth
in short period an impelling invi-
of the nation to "Come to Minneso-
Ita."
'.Fhe tourist industry in the United
or it is not" said Ivan A. Cope, ex-
ecutive Secretary of the Ten Thous-
and Lakes Association.
Publicity il. Great Need.
at is like any other industry. 1t
and cannot be dropped and taken UP
at will. The tourist industry, like ali
Iother industries, depends upon cap
Iital for it's development, and also
iapon transportation and publicity.
"The exploitation of Minnesota
vacation possibilities will bring in
Creased revenue into the state. I'm
It'll recently people generally have Civ
IN h.
amOunt of capital invested in this
Igreat national industry. It is esti-
mated that the revenue derived from
the tourist industry throughout the
country this year will reach $780,
100000.
"The state of California, which al
most entirely has been developed and
populated by the tourist travel, esti-
mates this industry to be worth $40
OOO, 900 each year.
lington and the province of British
Columbia, through the Pacific North.
west Tourist association, expended
100000 during 1917 and 1918 in
the exploitation of it's scenic and eli
matte advantages. In the state OF
Colorado the tourist industry is Sec
~AAN ShAy w VIC uilHIilS iIluuSLTy.
Auto Plays Big Part.
1 These figures indicate to some ex.
ltent the vast amount of capital which
is invested in the hotels, resorts, ath.
letic goods houses, local transporta:
ton and Quitting companies, and
producers who serve almost exclu.
Isively the large hotels and summer
resorts and all other adjuncts to the
development of vacation travel"
The automobile has played a lead
ing part in developing the tourist in.
idustry.
| There is no doubt of the import
lance OF motor car travel as a source
iof immediate income to the commu.
mites along travelled routes. How
ever, it is being realized more and
more each day, by all the bigger bust
ness men, that important as this i'm
mediate gain is, it is really second.
airy to the fact hat the motor tourist
offers the greatest possibilities for
populating and developing the
country's resources.
This is of vital Importance to Min.
nesota, which needs manufacturers to
embark in new industries, settlers for
vacant farm lands and investors to
lprovide capital to turn its raw ma
fterlol into concrete wealth. The mo.
tor tourist has the opportunity to see
THE country ground, become inter
Iested and get acquainted with con-
ditions, in manner not possible in
other modes of travel.
81 ,000, 900 Annually From Tourists.
When Minnesota spends 500. 600.
900 on the 10,00O-mile system of
paved highways, as contemplated in
the BabcOck plan, what will she re-
Iceive for the money?
The experience of New York state
may help answer that question. New