Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-08

using to the fullest extent the natural
advantages which 1t possessed, and
making up any deficiencies with
vision.
Ten years ago we began to hear of
Florida as the winter resort of the
Atlantic Coast and more and more OF
our friends travelled thither for longer
and longer periods during the winter
months. Suddenly, we are awaken
Ing to discover that these winter
visitors are investing millions of dol
lars in Florida. in its lands, in it's
groves, In its development, and we
shall awake in the 1880 census to
discover that Florida is duplicating
the phenomenal growth of Southern
California, in not merely its winter
tourist development, but in its in
dustrial expansion and commercial
development, using the natural adj
vantages which 1t possesses, and fill
ing up its deficiencies with vision.
We are often told that we are 'off
the map" up here in the north
eastern corner of our country. 1t Is
very interesting and very important
to observe that Southern California
and Florida are very much more
handicapped by their location In the
southwestern and southeastern
corners of our country, respectively.
-thousands of miles from the CEN
tiers of population.--than Is Maine
with it's northeastern location, within
q few hundred miles of the metro
politan centers of the East, and with
in q days journey of Chicago and
the great middle West. Either by
train or by automobile. delightful
and easy trip is afforded to Maine,
whereas to Florida or to Southern
California. there are long wastes to
he traversed Of desert sands or of
| southern mud.
In my judgment. Maine in this dec
| AIDE must do what Southern Cali
fornia did IN 1900 to 1910. and
Floridl in 1910 to 1920. 1t must SELL
itself as the summer tourists state
par excellence TO the whole eastern
half of the United States. This is
plainly our present talent to use.
Nor is this merely a dream. The
! opening gun in this campaign was
fired two years ago by the Maine
Publicity Bureau with Hiram Kicker
at its head. During the last two
years believers in Maine have in
vested each year between forty and
fifty thousand dollars in telling the
country about Maine. The response
| of the country has been tremendous.
One hundred thousand additional
tourists came this last year. accord
ing to the most reliable check which
could be made, and millions of dol
lars of additional money were. left
Ill Maine by these visitors.
The camps for boys and girls are
| affording a most attractive avenue
to draw people to our lakes and
streams. The possibilities ~of this
are just scratched-and with these
youths come their parents in ever
increasing numbers to spend their
vacations here with US in automobile
travel and recreation.
The state, in my judgment, should
cooperate in proper ways in stimu-
lating this great enterprise. Let the
state protect our natural scenery
which is our greatest natural asset
both along our Takes and streams
ana along our highways by proper
regulation and restriction of the
| advertising signs. Let the state
properly regulate and protect the
constantly increasing traffic on its
highways and provide full and ade-
Guate information regarding its var
led attractions and available routes.
AS the vacation season constantly
extends, Maine will reap increasing
Dement'S, and the tourists that come
10 rest will see with new vision our
industrial. commercial, and agri-
cultural possibilities. This is the
story of California and of Florida.
Already Maine farms have been
! bought and great orchards have been
developed by these summer visitors.
and our apples are now competing in
the markets of the East with the
product of tthe West Alreadv
abandoned factories have been taken
over and industries started by these
visitors who like to spend more of
thelr time In Maine. The winter at
fractions and possibilities in Maine
are just beginning to be realized, and
It's possibilities as an all the-year-
round residential state for red blood
ed men and women are lust begin
ming to be realized.
1 am not telling you of a dream.
l am telling you of fact and this
is unfolding before our eyes. Practi
cally all the resorts in Maine will
tell you of increasing patronage this
past year. and the Maine Publicity
Bureau is given credit for this in
crease. by all the experts on adyer-
tlsing in the country. Let lis seize
this opportunity and make the most
OF 1t. Let the State cooperate in
proper ways and predict that in the
next ten years Maine will see a de-
velopment without parallel in this
great and profitable business. and
that we shall have laid tho foundation
1or commercial, Industrial. and aeri-
cultural expansion in the decade from
1850 to 1910, which may well parallel
the development of Southern Cali
fornia and Florida.