Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-09-05
ENDLESS PROCESSION
OF MOTORS MOVES
THRU LOOP
ALLEN PARK FILLED
MANY TURNED AWOY FOR LACK
OF ROOM TO PITCH TENTS IN
PUBLIC CAMPING GROUNDS -
SCORES SLEEP IN CARS ALONG
CURBS.


meth to the contrary has ottawa wit
messed such an influx of tourists as
that wich crammed the city from
early dawn Sunday until late last
night. While the inpourlne travel
ers began arriving as early as Sat
urday noon, the main body did not
begin to put in its appearance until
Sunday morning with the result that
the streets were lined from early TIL
late with an endless procession OF
automobiles.
II is estimated that fully 10000 peo.
ple and half that number of automo'
bios either spent a portion or the
two day holiday here, or passed thru
at some period during the forty eight
hours en- route to some point along
the scenic Illinois river for an out
ing
Scores Slept in Cars.
Because of the unprecedented in
fux Ottawa found itself without
means of accommodating the count
less numbers in quest of rooms for
one or both nights. Hundreds OF
tourists, finding themselves unprovid-
ed with lodgings drew their machines
along the loop curbs and slept there
for the night Others headed into
the residential sections for a more
quiet place to snatch a few winks OF
sleep while sprawled out in the bot
tom and on the seats of the gas bug
gy
At no time, since the invention OF
the gas buggy has the city experience
ed such an inpouring of strangers.
They came in all styles OF motor
vehicles ratified down old lizZies,
high priced motors and trucks. Any
thing good enough to travel was
good enough to get the pleasure seek
ers to and from their destinations and
starting points They were out for
fun and from the happy faces beam
ing out from under the tops OF scoot-
ing cars it was apparent they were
having it, regardless of the inconven-
fences they had to put up with.
Merchants, particularly restaurants,
ice cream and soft drink tradesmen,
estimate that $4,000 would be
small guess at the amount OF money
left in their places over the two
days.
Allen Park Crammed.
Allen park has. never before, and
probably never will again, experience
ed such a rush of business Sat
urday night 4OS cars filled with gay
campers poured into the park and
attn TDd
Fully hundred more cars were not
registered Sunday night the num-
Der Of campers passed the peak when
i'm excess of 500 cars were assigned
camping quarters for the night The
park became so congested the over
flow was sent into the spring grounds
until that filed up, and from there
the tourists drifted down the hard
road, seeking out suitable places to
spend the night. The line of camp
ers extended about three miles west
along the concrete pike. The public
camping grounds took on all the as
poets of tented city and the merry
making was feature that stood out
above all else. The tourists became
big family and they set about hav-
ing a big time, which they did to the
kings taste.
Hotels overfilIed.
The sleeping proposition in Ottawa
was a serious one. Hotels were fill
ed to overfowing, rooming houses
were crowded, private homes, which
had never before opened their doors
to strangers were filled by the tour
lists and even then scores and scores
of visitors had to sleep out in their
machines, Alien PARK, the cities free
camping ground, was filled to over
flowing by the visitors. even the hi
ly road being pressed into service
Sunday night tourists were camped
all along the hard road from Ottawa
to La Sale.
For the first time in the history o.
the state park, people had to be turn
ed away The park was absolutel!
filled to overflowing, and not anoth
er single machine could be crowded
within the grounds. At one time i
was said, machines were stopped
almost two miles back on the road
waiting to get in the grounds.
Ottawa hotels were filled Saturda,
night, and the rooms vacated afte
one night were. refilled early Sunday
Rooms in the Ottawa hotels whicl
are used but three times year, o.