Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-12-12

nation from pubhc organization Hke
the tourist bureau than they do to the
railroads.
After five years of judicious advertis-
ing and organization work, the Denver
tourist bureau has made Denver the
point Of destination aud it is now Off
cially recognized by the federal govern
ment as the gateway TO IL national
parks and 80 national monuments, which
places Colorado in the same position to
scenic America as Switzerland is to
Europe.
The best barometer of the record Of
the Denver tourist bareau IN bringing
travellers to Colorado is shown IN the
expansion in the number of visitors 70
the Rocky Mountain national park, when
was created about the time that the bu-
reau came into existence.
Visitors Increased.
In 1915 there were $1,000 visitors to
the Rocky Mountain national park and
the average length Of stay was from
three to four hours. In 1916 the num-
ber of visitors expanded to $1,000 and
the length of stay was increased from
five to eight hours. In 1917 the num-
Der of visitors was III, 1876 and the az
erage length of stay was from four to
five days In 1918 the number was
101 ,497 with the average stay one to
two weeks. In 1919 the number of Wis
itors totalled 169,492 with stay rang
ing from two weeks to three months.
In 1915 there were 20,S95 more people
in Yellowstone park than in Rocky
Mountain national park.
Denver is Pioneer
Denver pioneered in free automobile
camps, afterwards adopted and carried
out in the Yellowstone and other ma
! tional parks In 1917 the free auto
camp Accommodated 1908 parties with
total of 12.2SS visitors Nearly Be-
! 600 persons. representing Canada. the
! District of Columbia and every state 10
! the union but Delaware camped at the
municipal camp this summer. The total
number of cars registered was 18Th and
the actual number Of passengers, 2S,9lO.
Upwards Of $12.00O,NO was expended
! BY 10000 automobile visitors in the state
4 in 1917. and the estimate for the amount
expended in 1919 was upwards of Sl4,-
! 100000
The main assets in a scenic way IN
| Colorado are the two national parks,
| the Rocky Mountain national park and
! the Mesa Verde national park. That
the state has been able to accomplish 50
much in the direction of expanding the
tourist industry in Colorado has been
due largely to the cooperation of all IN
tcrests against anv effort to commercial
I jze thp Mesa Verde There has been
| the friendliest cooperation Of the Dem
yer burau in promoting the interests
of all the other rational parks in the
west.
Highway Idea Formed
/ 1t was while a group Of Denver men
were in Yellowstone national park that
I the national parkto park highway link
irg all of the federal parks ia the west
was conceived. The Denver bureau got
back Of the project with the result that
7 the most nretentions public expedition
1, in behalf Of any scenic attraction vas
carricd ont. including a pathfindlng toui
Of the $500 mile circuit trip taking IN
all of the federal parks in the west,
followed by a circuit of the trip b!
officials Of the national organization,
leaving Denver August 26th and ending
November 9th, followed by a conference
of men interested in the federal devel-
opment Of the proposed highway.
Should Maintain Scenery.
Occasionally some Of our we'll mean
ing business men speak deprocatingly Of
the work Of the Tourist bureau and ad-
vance the idea that it would be better
to advertise Colorado as an industrial
state. and Denver as an industrial city,
says F. j. Chamberlain, president Of the
bureau. in his report for 1919. There
is no reason whatsoever why Colorado
would not become great Industrial state
and vet remain the playground IT Amer
lea There are millions OF acres IN the
state that are not mincraized and hay,
, none other than scenic value. excepting
, for grazing and growth Of timber inc
, ltse Of these millions Of acres by tourists
does NOT materially effect the USE tol
grazing and does not dlmlsh at ali It's
, value for tree growth. Are we the1
to saw that this great asset is not 60 bt
eynloited because we wish to become AZ
, Industrial state? There is nothing in
congruous in a combination of an in
, dustrial and tourist state. Let i!
) think of the tourist business as an in
! dustry, and let lis develop that industry
: the same as we would any other industry
in our state. It's value cannot be gain
saved Money put into circulation y,
tourists eventually reaches every man
woman and child in the commonwealth
in come form or other. The tourist i!
tho forerunner of the settler. Th'
thousands of tourists who motor through
the state. stopping and talking with th'
ranch men along the line Of road, are th
best sort of advertising material Tor I'm
mipratiOn. What tine industries OI LH'
state need more than anything else i
population and the tourists is bringln!
population
Montana Has Opportunity.
Montana has a wonderful opportunit,
with her two great national parks, tn
Yellowstone and the Glacier nationa
park. The Yellowstone, created IN 1877
i known nationally and International.
as one of the most wonderful scenic play
grounds il the world and is visited year
II by thousands Of people. There ha
been no playground more widely adver
Yellowstone. It has been more widel
heralded than the Rocky Mountain na
tonal park yer vas. Ths The Glacier ~ N
tional park set aside in 1910 as FEEDER
al playground, is regarded as one Of tn
most remarkable and beautiful scenic at
fractions Of the country.
Fairgrounds Great Assets.
Either Of these two great playground