The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-08-12
in preparation for the 1922 touring
Conveniently Distributed.

conveniently 6ISSii0NlS0s
| When considering the distribution OF
| camping grounds the feature which
will probably be Of most value to the
average tourist is that relating to their
| frequency along the main lines of in
| terstate traffic. Those transcontinental
highways that seem to have progressed
furthest in this respect are the Yellow
stone TRAIL the National Parks high
way and the Pixies Peak, Ocean-to
Ocean highway. These three important
routes are practically on a par one
with another, because each of them
now possesses almost an even 100
camp sites. Moreover, the average
distance between these sites is only
about % or 80 miles, thus insuring
satisfactory camping privileges at fire.
quent intervals practically all the way
from the Mississippi river to the Pa
cifiC coast. Although not strictly
speaking a transcontipental route, the
Custer Battlefield highway Is, never
theless, worthy of mention in this con-
nectiOn, inasmuch as it possesses no
less than 80 camp sites, located at very
short intervals along a route that ex-
tends only from Omaha to Glacier Ma
tional park. Among the main north
and south highways the leaders IN this
respect are the Pacific highway and
the Jefferson highway, with 81 and 80
camp sites respectively; then comes
the Meridian highway with 46. The
National Park-to-Park highway, which,
as its name implies is 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 of the entire investigation lies
in the demonstration that more than
80 per cent of the existing camp sites
are located west of the Mississippi |
river. In other words, it is evident
at a glance that what has come to be
regarded as a well established institu-
ton in the West is almost an unknown
quantity in the eastern states. To /
those motorists who have fallen into
the habit of expecting to find camping |
accommodations almost everywhere
throughout the western part Of the
country it will come as a distinct shock |
to learn that such populOus and
wealthy states as New York, Massa-
chusetts and New Jersey are practi-
cally devoid of organized camping
grounds at the present time. An ex-
haustive investigation disclOses the
fact that in all New England
there are but 35 municipal and private
camp sites, of which 21 of them are in
Connecticut New Jersey is even worse
off in this respect, with only one, while
New York is in much the same cate
CORY so far as municipal camping
grounds are concerned, but fortunately
for those who tour through the state
reservations in the Adirondacks and
the Catskills, the New York state con-
servation commission has recognized
the necessity for providing camping
facilities in these semi public preserves
and has accordingly installed fire
places to the total Of Sc in the AdirOn-
dacks and II in the Catskills.
From the above it is obvious that
westerners who tour through the East
this coming summer must be prepared
in advance to expect a dearth of camp
ing places, at least the kind to which
they have become accustomed in their
travels throughout the West. In most
cases they will be forced to find their
own camping places intead of relying
IN those which have been prepared in
advance for their reception. To the
average camper this will not be any |
'eal hardship, only an annoyance but
he lack of facilities Of this kind is
pound to have reaction by tending to
discourage motoring through the East
~ those who have already become
confirmed campers. Obviously the
emedy is to establish many more
amp sites just as rapidly as possible,
md there is no doubt that automobile
lubs and chambers of commerce in
he eastern states will sooner or later
ealize the necessity that nows exists
md take steps to provide the needed
amping facilities