Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-07-15

/ by four that Of Michigan. No camp
sites whatever are reported for several
of the states. such nS Arkansas, Della
ware. Maryland Mississippi, South
Carolina and West Virginia. though
steps are being taken Ia organize some
IN preparation for the 1872 touring
season.
Conveniently Distributed.
When considering the distribution of
camping grounds the feature which
will probably be of most value To- the
average tourist Is that relating 10 their
frequency along The main lines of in
tcrStatc traffic. Those tranScuntinental
highways that seem To have progressed
furtheSt In this respect are the Yellow
stone trail. the National Parks high
way and the Pixies Peak. Occan-to-
Ocean highway. These three important
routes are practically on Il par one
with another. because each of them
now possesses almost an even 100
camp sites. Moreover, the average
distance between these sites il only
about - or 10 miles. thus inSuring
satisfactory camping privileges at fire.
quent intervals practically all the way
from the Mississippi river to the Pa.
citic coast. Although not strictly
speaking a trausc0ntincntal route the
Custer Battlefield highway is. never
thclcSS. worthy of mention in this con
u.,sffnu tnuS,np.sb mn
less than - camp sites, located AT very
short intervals along route that eN-
tends only from Omaha Ia Glacier Ma
tionu park. Among the main north
AMI south highways the leaders In this
respect are the Pacific highway and
the Jefferson highway. with 81 and GO
camp sites respectively; then comes
the Meridian highway with I6. The
National park-to-Park highway. which.
MS It's name implies. Is Il circuit tour
comprising practically all Of the ma
tional parks. is likewise literally sup
piled with camping grounds
West Is Best Provided
All these figures are Illuminating
but without doubt the most striking
result al the entire investigation lies
IN the demonstration thai more than
so per cent Of the existing camp sites
are located west OF the Mississippi
river In other words. ii Is evident
NJ glance that what has come To- be
regarded as u we'll established inStitu-
ton III the West is almost au unknown
quantity in the eastern states. Tu
thuSc motorists who have fallen into
the habit Of expecting To find camping
accommodations almost everywhcr"
throughout TIA" western part of the
country il will come as distinct shock
to learn that such populouS and
wealthy states aS New York, MaSSa-
chuScitS and New Jersey are practi
cally devoid of organized camping
grounds ut the present time An cX
hauStivc investigation diScloSeS the
surprising fact that in all New England
there are but - municipal and private
camp sites. of which u OF them are in
Connecticut. New Jersey is even worse
of in this respect. with only one while
New York j. IN much the same cate
CORY far as municipal camping
grounds are concerned hut fortunately
for those who tour through the state
reservations in the Adirondacks and
the CatSkillS. the New York state CON
Servatiun commission has recognized
the necessity for providing camping
facilities In these semi public preserves
and has accordingly installed fire.
places Ia the total of 10 in the Adiron
dackS and - in the CatSkills.
From the above il is obvious tina,
weSterncrS who tour through the East
this coming summer must be prepared
In advance to expect a dearth Of camp
ing places. NJ least the kind To- which
they have become accustomed in their
travels throughout the West In most
cases they will he forced Ia find their
own camping places iniead of relying
on those which have been prepared in
advance for their reception. To the
average camper this will not he any
real hardship. only an annoyance. bur
the lack Of facilities of this kind j.
bound Ia have reaction by tending "a
4 Discourage motoring through the East
by those who have already become
confirmed campers. obviously the
remedy is to establish many more
camp sites just as rapidly as possible.
and there is no doubt that automobile
clubs and chambers Of commerce In
4 the eastern states will sooner or later
realize the necessity that now exists
and take steps Ia provide the needed