The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-12-21

The Telegram has made an earnes;
effort to form an accurate estimate
of the extent of the tourist business in
Lakeland so far this season. Street
comment has it that the tide of tour.
list travel is away off compared with
former years but visit to the local
hotels reveals the astonishing fact
thai practically every hotel in Lake
land has been running close to capa"
city while some have actually been
compelled to turn away wOuld-be
guests. AS a matter of fact the real
rush never Legins until after Christ
mas and New Year season because
there are always so many who prefer
to spend the holidays at home with
family and friends. In all probability
the Florida invasion this year will not
De so great as during the peak Of
prosperity because of changed
economic conditions throughout the
country but there is no reason for
thinking that there will be any
marked slump, especially in view IF
the fact that the number of foreign
automobiles entering Florida is thus
FAR away in excess of any previous
year.
Inquiries received at the office ot
the Chamber of Commerce are so
numerous that one member Of the
staff is busy doing nothing else bu'
mailing out literature and answering
questions about Lakeland and Polk
county. With Lakeland now advertis-
ing her advantages in forty-six of the
leading dailies through )ut the United
States and Canada theSe is as a mat
ter of fact, every reason to believe
! that after the, holidaysz@the tide CT
travel to Lakeland ywfll be pnprece-
dented.
AS an indication of the trend to
ward FLORIDA the following from the
Charleston News of recent date is in
teresting:
The trend of the tourists who are
leaving Charleston and those passing
through is in the direction of the far
famed Sunny South. Edgar B. Hager
secretary of the automobile club re-
ported today. Many transient and
local tourists are seeking information
en- the roads throughout Florida he
said, and with the approach OF colder
weather the number of applicants is
increasing every day.
In this connection the following
from the Tarpon Springs Leader gives
new angle to the situation as re-
CARDS the effect of the repeal of the
war tax on railway tickets, effective
January 1, next:
Secretary Z. W. Blew, of the
Chamber of Commerce, takes the
view that the people of Tarpon
Springs have no cause to be down
hearted or pessimistic over the gen.
eral conditions in this city or the out
look for the tourist season now open
ing. The fact that tourist travel to
Pinellas county has been somewhat
lighter this fall than last has led
some to fear that the tourists will not
be here in great numbers this win
ter. So far as Tarpon Springs is con-
cerned, a good tourist season seems
assured. Mr.. Blew has been carrying
on an enormous correspondence with
prospective visitors and has learned
that many who ordinarily would have
come earlier are waiting until after
the first of the year because of the
saving in railroad fare that will re-
suit after the war tax on railroad
tickets is abolished on January l. In
the case of some families this will
mean a saving of from $40 to $25.
Mr. Blew is in constant touch with
all sections of the north and he be-
lieves the consideration of cheaper
transportation after the first of the
wear iS-a imnOrtant factor in de-
ferring the influx of tourists. But
he is. sure they will come in large