San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-17
TOURISTS AND THROUGH TRAINS

1t is conceded by seasoned American
travellers, who have tested the various
winter resorts of this continent, that San
Antonio has the longest and best-sus-
tanned winter climate of any section in
America or Euroe Florida has short
and hectic season and that state draws
an extraordinarily large crowd of wealthy
tourists, who fill the great hotels TO
overlooking at amazingly high prices.
The season is short one, and the hotel
owners have to get in their crop of hay
IN quick order. The season in Cali
fornia is longer one, and the tourist
crowd is distinctly greater. while the
season lasts. Southern California. in the
winter season, represents a large per-
centage of all the well-to-do from the
middle region. The East pours its pleas
ure seekers into Florida and the Caro-
linas, and the middle section Journeys
two thousand miles to California.
The winter season travel is a recent
development in America. 1t has only
been within the last quarter of cen-
fury that it has reached such tremend-
Gus development. 1t represents the
growing wealth of the people, allied with
natural desire to escape the rigors of
the northern climate, and to get in touch
with fashion, as fashion takes an I'M
portant part on the winter Fairgrounds.
There is relaxation in joining up with a
pleasure-seeking army, even if it is ex-
pensive, and may not last dong. Cali
fornia has profited heavily in its tourists
and now counts upon the yearly migra-
ton as the Dakota farmer counts upon
his wheat crop for his years profit
1t is proper to ask why California
draws so heavily upon the tourists OF
the middle section when the distance
covered is so great, and the journey,
in the main. so deadly uninteresting.
Has California a climate so enthralling
as to call for this big patronage? It
has to be conceded that it has a climate
of noble contrast TO the lake winds and
prairie zcphyrs of the great middle West.
If the San Antonio region can set forth
much more even climate. more bright
days, and an elixir to the air which
California cannot possibly equal, why
is it that California gets the great cali,
with the long journey, and San An
tonic attracts only a few ardent winter
visitors?
The chief reason is that San Antonio
does not have solid through train SER
vice from Chicago, which is the clearing
house for the bulk of all the winter tour
ist travel from the middle section. Solid
through trains leave Chicago for San
Francisco and Los Angeles. When a
passenger steps aboard one of these
trains he knows that. barring accident
he need not trouble himself about his
luggage or his meals. He does not have
to worry about catching another train
at some midway point. He is booked
through. He has no worries on that
point
The management of the roads center.
ing in San Antonio will honestly de
clare that they arc furnishing splcndidly.
equipped trains from St. Louis and New
Orleans, all of which is gospel truth
They will also tell you that they rur
some through sleepcrS to Chicago. Thai
does not satisfy the Chicago tourist. MOI
enlighten him. He knows, if his train
is late in reaching ST. Louis or New
Orleans his car will be hitched on &c
another train, such as to knock out hi: