The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-01-18
WOULD DISCONTINUE
FREE TOURIST CAMP
MAYOR TOOLE'S VIEWS
Board of Trade Goes on Rec
ord---M. H. Sullivan Talks
on Gasoline Tax

~
| n list camp for three years, tn
people of Wallace have reach
ed the conclusion that a small
fee should be charged for the excel
ent accommodations provided and vii
therefore adopt a schedule of charges
that will cover the cost of mainto.
nance of the camp and which will he
come operative with the opening q
the tourist season this year At Last
this is the policy favored by the board
of trade as expressed by an almost
unanimous vote at the meeting yes
terday, after hearing the views OF
Mayor Hugh Toole on the subject
which also reflected the attitude OF
the city council; also the views of F.
C. Pulaski representing the forestry
service in this district The ques-
ton came up last week and action
was deferred until Mayor Toole could
be heard on the subject, as the regu-
lations governing the tourist camp are
in the hands of the city government.
Mayor Favors Fee.
Upon being called upon yesterday,
Mayor Toole explained that the ex-
pense of maintaining free service at
the tourist camp up to this time has
been paid Jointly by the city and
board of trade, the latter paying two
thirds. After three years of free ser
vice the mayor said he was in better
position to pass judgment upon the
question. Last year there were in
round figures 5000 cars parked in the
camp He estimates the cost of fuel
at $3.50 and incidentals at 500, and
for four months the caretaker was
paid $500. making the total expense
of maintaining the camp $3.50. This
was too much for the city to pay and
he thought it was not right for the
board of trade to ask the people to
pay it through direct subscription.
Last season Mayor Toole said he ar
ranged with the caretaker to sound
out the tourists stopping in the camp
on the question of charging a fee.
This showed that tourists coming to
the camp from the west who had
stopped at many pay camps on the
coast, were almost unanimous in fav-
oring a charge. Those who opposed
it were generally from the east whose
experience had been almost wholly in
free camps. There was another small
element of the hobo" order which of
course opposed a fee, and also a con-
siderable number who tried to make
the camp headquarters while peddling
goods or while seeking a job to earn
enough to carry them to their destin-
alton. AS a result of the caretaker's
investigation, Mayor Toole said he
was convinced that 80 per cent of the
tourists, which includes the desirable
class, expect to pay for accommoda-
tions and prefer to do so.
Suggests Fees to Be Charged.
Mayor Toole pointed out that by
a system of charges Wallace
would naturally lose some tourists.
for with free camps on both sides at
Mullan and Kellogg, and with good
camp sites along the road, a certain
number will pass up the camp in Wal
lace if a fee is charged. Allowing for
4 loss of 1000 cars, based on the travel
asst year, Wallace will get 1000 from
which to collect fees. At 25 cents per
EAR per night this would bring ii
revenue of $500, which is not enough |
10 maintain the camp. The mayor |
thought that a fee of so cents per car |
'or the first night and rs cents for
each additional night would provide |
sufficient revenue and would be cheer
July paid by the tourists, most of |
whom prefer to pay.
H. ]. Rossi said that It had been
that by charging for use of
he camp we would cause many tour
SITS to camp along the road and in the
'orests and thereby increase the dan
ger of fire, and asked the mayors
yiews on that phase of the question.
Mayor Toole thought there was
nothing in that argument, since there
we're camps maintained free on both
tides of us available for those who
objected to paying
Forest Service View.
e. c. Pulaski, of the forest service,
bought if a charge was made it would
end to increase the camping in the
woods, which would make it necessary
o maintain a close watch day and
light to prevent fires. The forest
ervice he said had provided a free
amp near Larson. but the Mullan
,eople objected to it because it took
business from them. and it was there
ore practically abandoned so far as
maintenance by the forest service
s concerned Mr. Pulaski did not
wish to appear as opposed to charg-
ng fee, his purpose being merely
o call attention to the possible result