The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-10-10
MONTANA RECORDS /,
LARGEST R NUMBER !: ] \
OF PARK VISITORS
Auto Traffic Greatly
Exceeds Number
Travelling by as
.r.s Rail. '.84s..1
IDAHO IS SECOND

IDAHO IS SECOND ]
Tourists Represent Peo-
pie From Every
Section
Montana recorded the largest
number Of visitors to Yellowstone
park the past season, and Idaho was
second, 1t is noted, however, as pre-
dicted several years ago, that the
park highway has diverted most of
the traffic from the Yellowstone
highway. However, most of them
came out on the west side. It Is
likewise observed that auto traffic
vastly exceeds railroad traffic to the
park, according to, report OF the
national park service, department OF
the interior, released for publication
recently. Visitors to Yellowstone
national park, numbering 1851
people during the 1921 tourist sea-
son just closed, again broke all
travel records to Americas largest
and best known national playground.
Every state in the union and thir-
teen foreign countries were repre-
sented by creditable numbers of mo-
torists and rail visitors, showing the
tremendous national popularity OF
the Yellowstone. w N.f
Though the total gain in tourists
for the season is not large, the in
crease of 2,158 automobiles carrying
1854 passengers is the outstanding
feature of American tourist travel
during the summer, which has been
marked by financial difficulties, and
other adverse travel conditions.
The character Of the travel to Yel-
lowstone national park, 70 per cent
of which came with their own means
of transportation has made 1t neces-
sary to plan extensive Developments
of hotel and camp accommodations
and other facilities, especially for the
who is given every possible
consideration and aid. Motoring
seems to be the most popular means
Of touring the country and high rail-
road rates may be partly responsible
for this, altho all three railroads
reaching park gateways, the Burling-
ton route, the Northern Pacific and
the Union Pacific offered liberal 'ex-
cursion rates during the summer.
Motorists as a rule carried, their own
camping equipment, but many TOOK
of the large hotels, and
permanent camps, both of which
rendered excellent service at very
reasonable rates.
Differing from the patronage OF
most summer resorts, Yellowstone
tourists represent all classes OF peo-
pie, from every section of the United
States, with especially large repre-
sentations from California, Oregon,
Washington, the Dakotas, Illinois
and hundreds from Colorado, Kan
sas, Michigan, Indiana, Texas and
The records show an in
crease of more than so per cent IN
motor travel from all Of ythe above
mentioned states. 4;
Automobile Travel
The national park service, fully
the tremendous growth
in automobile touring was prepared
to direct in the interest OF safety the
motor cars as they toured the park
highways and accidents were rare
events. The roads were constantly
kept in splendid condition by many
road crews established and santa
tion improved as the motorists
thronged the park
The greatest number OF tourists
entering the park in afsingle day in
the history Of the Yellowstone, 1863,
registered at the park gateways on
August 8, as compared with l49S,
August 2, 1920; and 1855 on August
S, 1919.,4 On this record breaking
day 308 automobiles, carrying 1175
people were checked in at the four
entrances to the park, as compared
to 273 automobiles carrying 947
people, August 8, 1920. ..
Rail Travel
The leading entrance for rail tour
lists visiting the park, was the west
ern or West Yellowstone, Mont. en-
trance, while the eastern or Cody,
Wyo. entrance led in motor travel
with the north or Gardiner, Mont.
entrance, taking second place in both
motor and rail traffic.
A new approach road leading to
the south entrance thru the secenic
Wind river valley and Teton noun
tain region was opened in August
and will hereafter be very popular
with park visitors. Also the Hoback
canyon route leading into the jack
son Hole thence to the south gate
way was completed this year and will
be ready for travel next season.
Rail visitors decreased 5,S17 peo-
pie under that of the record estab-
lished during the 1920 season. This
is probably due to higher rates and
economic conditions Of the country
during the summer. The 24,469
tourists, compared with 30,5S6 tour
lists Of 1920, represent every state in
the union and thirteen foreign
Countries. -