Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-22

many of them leave thousands of dol
lars within the State for they come
early and stay late, and buy literally
when here, while nearly everyone will
admit that no tourist can come into
Maine for even as short a pe.iod as
two or three days and leave much
less than $50 through the various
transportation. lodging. stores, and
other channels. The average Of SIS
apiece, then, is considered decidedly
low. and many who have made deep
study Of the situation would place
this figure at 500, and even more.
Based on, the low estimate, then.
there were in 1913 approximately
1900 tourists who came into the
State. At an average of s75 for each
one this meant that s33,0o0ooO were
left by these visitors in Maine during
that year.
The latest available figures are for
1919, when it is estimated that 600,-
600 tourists came into the State, leav-
ing an average of SIS; or in other
words. these visitors handed over to
the people Of Maine to be distributed
in every line Of business from the
farmer to the bootblack, and from
the hotel man to the transportation
company, approximately $45.000.000.
This shows q tremendous development
in the summer tourist business in six
years time, but it must be remember
ed that in 1919 business in the Unit
ed States was at q high point money
was plentiful. the boys were coming
back from France, and everybody
was celebrating.
One of Names greatest develop
ments in connection with the summer
business during the past few years
has been the establishment OF boys
and girls summer camps OF which
there were last year several hundred,
taking care of over 5000 boys and
girls. They constitute one Of the
most profitable features Of the tour
list traffic. because these boys and
girls remain in the State for period
OF eight weeks. and require immense
amounts Of food, clothing and equip
mcnt to carry them through this
period. Not only this, but they are
tho magnets which draw to the State
other thousands of fathers and moth
ors. brothers and sisters, near and
distant relatives. all Of whom are SO
interested in these boys and girls that
they come to Maine to see what they
are doing, and ascertain how they are
getting along. Then they. in turn.
become fascinated with the beauties
Of the State and extend visits which
were originally intended to be for u
day or~two into periods Of weeks and
even months.
1t is said that these camps are in
| creasing at an average rate Of about
II u year, and Maine is proving to
be the ideal place for establishing
them. 1t has lakes; it has remark
| ably healthful climate: it has beau
tiful scenery with which to attract;
and it has also, what is decidedly
necessary, accessibility, or. in other
words. it may be reached from the
large centers of population with the
minimum OF expense and time. 1t
is estimated that the boys and girls
! in these recreational camps, Or
really Summer schools, annually
leave in the State, alone. in the
neighborhood of from S1,250,000 to
| 100000.
| There was time when the hunt
ing camps were frequented only by
real hunters and fishermen, but this
| is now past. Today the average
! hunting camp is nothing more than
Summer resort hotel, only with a
much longer season. 1t opens early
| in the Spring for the fishermen; il
continues throughout the Summer
for the tourist and vacationist, who
prefers to spend his annual rest
period among the health restoring
forests of the State: and then in the
! Fall it remains open for the hunter.
| In 1920 alone the nonresident fish
| ing licenses in Maine numbered 49,
| 3G4. which, at 81 apiece, furnished
a revenue to the State Government
| OF S27.92S, and hundreds of thous-
! ards of dollars to the business in
| terests of Maine. Now that they
have been raised in price by the Leg
islature the returns to the govern
ment will be much greater. The
number Of hunting licenses issued in
1920 to out-of-the State people
numbered 2,5SS. Owing to the fact
that there are different fees for diff
ferent licenses, the amount received
from these by the State Government
is not calculable at this time. 1t
easily amounts to many thousands
of dollars. and it is plain to under
stand that the money these hunters
leave in Maine will reach other
thousands OF dollars.
An industry that brings into
Maine an annual revenue Of nearly
$50,o00.000 is worth saving, and that
Is the principal reason why the State
OF Maine Publicity Bureau is now
being organized by means of sub
scriptions. Then. If to this Summer
income is added the immense revenue
which may be derived from the
proper development Of Winter
sports. there is no telling where the
figures may reach. Prominent bust
ness mon in the State who are be-
hind the proposed bureau believe
that through the publicity planned
in connection with 1t Names tourist
and recreational business can be
doubled In due course Of time, and
OF course. every additional dollar
brought into Maine through this
source means additional wealth and
prosperity to every industry and to
every inhibitant within the limits of
the State.